Welcome to the September 2024 chapter newsletter.

CHAPTER NEWS

• New President-elect Adam Fix

• West Metro Medical Writers Social Hour

• Chapter Members Attending Annual AMWA Conference

• Join our AMWA North Central LinkedIn Community

FEATURE ARTICLES

• Call for Submissions: Share Your Expertise in Our Chapter Newsletter

• News from National: A report from the August 2024 Chapter Advisory Council meeting

CHAPTER NEWS

New President-elect Adam Fix

We are delighted to announce that Adam Fix, PhD, has been appointed as the new President-Elect for the North Central Chapter of AMWA. Adam has been an active and dedicated member of our chapter, contributing through his roles as Chair of the Publications Committee and frequent contributor to the chapter newsletter. His enthusiasm and experience will be assets as he assumes this new leadership role. As President-Elect, Adam will work closely with our current President and the Board of Directors to continue advancing our chapter’s mission and supporting our members.

Adam is replacing Kristen Hutchison as President-Elect. Kristen made the decision to step down to pursue an educational opportunity. We are grateful for her contributions to our chapter and wish her the best in her future endeavors.

Please join us in congratulating Adam on his new role. We look forward to the exciting future that lies ahead under his guidance.

West Metro Medical Writers Social Hour

Please join us for an informal get-together on October 19, 2024, at 3:00 pm. We will meet at Big Stone Mini Golf at 7110 County Rd 110, Minnetrista, MN, 55364. Although this event is in the west metro of the Twin Cities, everyone is welcome. Please email Michael Franklin (franklin.editing@gmail.com) if you’d like to attend.

Chapter Members Attending Annual AMWA Conference

Six members of the North Central Chapter will attend this year’s American Medical Writers Conference in New Orleans, LA, on October 23–26, 2024. The national conference is a great opportunity for AMWA members to develop their skills, learn about the latest developments in medical writing, and network with peers. Additionally, some of our members will be participating in the Chapter & Regional Networking Dinners on October 24. These dinners are a fantastic chance to forge new connections and strengthen our professional community.

Stay tuned for updates and stories from their adventure in New Orleans!

FEATURES

Call for Submissions: Share Your Expertise in Our Chapter Newsletter

By Michael Franklin

The Publications Committee is excited to invite you to contribute to our chapter newsletter! This is a wonderful opportunity for you to share your knowledge, insights, and experiences with your medical writing colleagues.

We welcome articles on a variety of topics, including but not limited to:

• Medical Writing: Best practices, case studies, and innovative approaches

• Industry Trends: Emerging developments, technologies, and regulatory updates

• Project Management: Tips, tools, and techniques for effective project management in medical communication

Whether you are an experienced writer or new to the field, your contributions can foster a rich and engaging newsletter that benefits all our members.

Submission Guidelines:

• Article Length: 500-1,500 words

• Format: Word document, double-spaced (visualizations encouraged!)

• Deadline: Submissions are welcome at any time

• Submit to: Michael Franklin, Publications Committee Chair (franklin.editing@gmail.com)

• Review Process: The Publications Committee reviews and proofs all submissions. Revisions may be requested.

If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to Michael Franklin at franklin.editing@gmail.com.

News from National: A report from the August 2024 Chapter Advisory Council meeting

By Naomi Ruff, CAC representative

Hello North Central Chapter! As a reminder, the mission of the CAC is as follows:

The CAC serves to maintain a connection between chapter leaders and the AMWA Board of Directors by advising the AMWA board on the organization’s strategic direction as it affects the chapters and acting as a sounding board about issues that have an impact on chapters and the national organization.

It also serves as a way to bring news from the national organization to chapter members and for the chapter (and its members) to bring issues of concern to the national board. Have an issue that you want discussed? Let the chapter board know: bod@amwanorthcentral.org.

Notable news

1.     Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) updates

a.     A new DEI Committee is being formed to (i) collect, review, and analyze available DEI-related data and resources, to help identify the organization’s gaps, trends, and needs and (ii) recommend initiatives and actions for BOD consideration.

b.     Two on-demand webinars, one for AMWA leaders and one for the general membership, will be available this fall.

2.     A new AI Task Force is being formed to

a.     Review the current AI resources available to membership and perform a gap analysis

b.     Provide reports with recommendations to the BOD as appropriate

c.      Create a system or process that can be used by staff and committees to vet submissions that pertain to AI

Look for an upcoming call for volunteers with expertise in AI to participate on the Task Force.

The Schedule at a Glance & full Program for the annual conference (MWCC) are available on the AMWA website. The mobile scheduling app has also been released.