3 Competencies That Make You a Premium CME Medical Writer
Leading figures in medical writing, Dikran Toroser, Genevieve Walker, and Joan Affleck, recently shared their perspectives in an issue of the AMWA Journal on the skills continuing medical education/continuing education (CME/CE) writers will need to succeed in the current market.
Inspired by their thoughts, here's my take on three premium skills that CME writers will need.
Cultural awareness
An ethical compass
Hands-on, high-touch language skills
Are You Ready to Break into CME/CE Writing? Take this 4-minute quiz to find out your strengths and weaknesses.
Cultural Awareness in Medical Writing
Medical writing and medical communications is a global and diverse enterprise. So how do we build inclusion, equity, and cultural respect across identities and cultures in CME/CE content?
1. Use inclusive terms. Move beyond the gender binary and use preferred names to demonstrate respect and validate lived experience. At the very least, model safety by adding your pronouns to meeting introductions, your email signature, and Zoom profile. The American Psychological Association offers a comprehensive guide on inclusive language and can be a great place to start.
2. Add alternative text (or alt text) to images in CME materials. You'll find great resources on content accessibility at the National Center on Disability and Journalism and digital accessibility from Harvard University and digital.gov., allies in inclusive language in healthcare communications.
3. Avoid discriminatory or stigmatizing language. Embrace intersectionality, acknowledge history, oppression, and systemic bias, and ask the people you are working with about their preferences for identity- or person-first language.
There are several updated resources on inclusive language, cultural competence, and cultural humility specific to medical writing.
Start with this AMWA resource
The 11th edition of the AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors provides specific guidance on using and reporting race and ethnicity in the biomedical literature, including CME writing, as does the JAMA journal network.
The Council of Science Editors shares a thoughtful perspective on inclusive sex/gender language in medical publishing.
A combination of employee grassroots activity and Californian legislation allowed Heather Clemons to pursue a unique, health equity-focused CME and quality improvement process at Sharp Grossmont. Listen to our conversation on the Write Medicine podcast on diversity, inclusion, and health equity.
Ethical Compass and Continuing Medical Education Content
Like just about everything else these days, medical content is created at speed. Turnaround times for content deliverables in CME/CE are getting even shorter.
But there's no room for shortcuts.
Medical writers need to be acutely aware of ethical codes in CME. After all, writers are important bricks in the firewall between industry and education.
So supercharge the ethical compass you need for your specialty or niche in CME. Start with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education.
Hands-On, High-Touch Language Skills
Templates, automation, and OpenAI's ChatGPT-generated content are already here.
Can AI help? Yes (I wrote about how AI can help in Medium).
But medical communicators are and will continue to be better than AI in finding and interpreting credible, evidence-based, trackable data and source materials.
Skill in using textual, visual, and numerical data to communicate clinical data and research implications from bench to bedside and beyond, with precision, nuance, and care is more indispensable than ever.
If you need to brush up on these skills, the American Medical Writers Association, AMWA, the European Medical Writers Association, and many other organizations offer plenty of options.
Use this reading list as your writing skills starter-pack or guide.
Get Ready to Become a CME Medical Writer with WriteCME Pro
WriteCME Pro is designed for CME writers by a CME writer who transitioned from academia and clinical care to building a sustainable CME writing business. Learn more about the key skills medical writers need to grow their careers and other practical, hands-on skills that will help you accelerate business growth when you join the supportive community at WriteCME Pro. Discover how WriteCME Pro can help your medical writing journey. Unsure? Schedule a time to talk with Alex, our founder, about what’s next for your career.
Get access to the best medical writing resources online and start your career as a CME/CE medical writer today!
→ Join WriteCME Pro, a CME-specific, skills-based membership for CME writers who are ready to create CME content with confidence.
→ Listen to the Write Medicine podcast or watch our YouTube channel for weekly best practices in creating content that connects with and educates health professionals.
→ Subscribe to the Write Medicine newsletter for tips, tools, and tactics to help you create CME/CE content with confidence