The Indiana Chapter Dec 2010 Newsletter FROM THE PRESIDENT, AMWA INDIANA CHAPTER December 2010 Dear Chapter Members: The Indiana AMWA Chapter currently has 115 members. Most of the members are located in the central area of Indiana. Very few Chapter members outside this area are active in the Chapter, but this year we plan to investigate using teleconferences, webcasts, a blog, or other new technology to enable members outside Indianapolis to participate remotely in the events. For several years, we have had 2 to 3 programs or networking events per year. This year, we hope to have at least 3 networking plus at least 2 program events. The networking lunches or dinners will allow members to get together, socialize, and discuss common issues. The program events are being planned, and we hope to have invited speakers with a roundtable discussion format. Such discussions may be held either at the local restaurants or other affordable places. The announcements on the events will be distributed via email and will also be posted on the Chapter website (http://hoosieramwa.org). We will continue to provide the Newsletter with 2 new columns planned for the editor and for members. With our current financial balance of approximately $12,900, we hope to be able to provide either a student or a member scholarship to attend the national AMWA conference in 2011. More details will be coming. My perspective and main objective for the Chapter are pretty simple: to provide more opportunities for the Chapter members to network and increase their professional skills through volunteering and supporting the Chapter events. This year, we are also planning to learn more of the freelance science and medical writing. Finally, the Chapter committees are determined this year to achieve more for the members and for the following years that come after us. Your comments and questions are valued and encouraged via email and via the Chapter blog that is coming soon (see David Caldwell’s article on p. 2). Pam McClelland, PhD, President AMWA Indiana Chapter AMWA Indiana Chapter Newsletter December 2010
UPCOMING EVENTS: 2011 Chapter Conference in Planning When and Where Save the dates for the 2011 Ohio-Indiana Chapter conference, which is scheduled for April 29 and 30, 2011. The conference will be held in Columbus, Ohio. Open Sessions and Dinner Roundtables Open sessions will continue to be offered, and we are going to add a new component, dinner roundtables (Friday night, April 29). Think about giving your own open session at the OhioIndiana Chapter conference. On the basis of last year's conference responses, we're especially interested in topics devoted to either new or veteran freelancers. Open session are 75 minutes in length (including Q&A). We need 5 open session presenters. Similar to the breakfast roundtables at the national AMWA conference, the dinner roundtables are intended for attendees to share experiences and ideas about the topic. We are looking for approximately 7 dinner roundtable leaders. Possible topics include: - Tips for Training New Medical Writers - Money You've Spent for Your Freelance Business Submission Instructions For open session: Submit your name, contact information, proposed talk topic (e.g., Patient-Reported Outcomes, Heath Economics, MicrosoftÂŽ Office2007), a 100-word summary of what your topic will cover, and the target audience (e.g., regulatory writer, freelance, or patient educator). It is acceptable to propose a multi-speaker session or panel if you are willing to recruit the speakers. For roundtable: Submit your name, contact information, proposed table topic, and 2 bullet points summarizing agenda for the discussion. All submissions will be reviewed by a group of Chapter members to select open session and roundtable topics. Please submit your ideas by December 20, 2010, to Heather Haley at haleywriting@gmail.com. Call Heather at 513-377-5444 with specific questions regarding roundtables or open sessions. (Information provided by Laura Oberthur Johnson, PhD, Education Chair)
Page 1 of 3
The Indiana Chapter
New Features of the Chapter Website New podcasts Have you ever missed a stimulating Chapter event because you had to meet a deadline or because you couldn't bear the thought of traveling 6 hours round trip to attend? Now you will have the option of listening to podcasts of Chapter programs—one of the next best things to being there. To hear a podcast, visit the Resources page of the Chapter website (www.hoosieramwa.org). Find the widget near the top of the page, click its Menu button, and then click the listing for www.hoosieramwa.org. Scroll to and select a listed podcast (only a test podcast is currently present) and a window will open to play the podcast. (Note that the Menu lists additional biomedical podcasts and blogs. Please let me know of others that might interest Chapter members; davidccaldwell@att.net.) New interactive online Chapter forum The website also offers a forum for discussing any aspect of biomedical communication, including our Chapter. Collective intelligence can be a powerful force for progress—toward your professional goals, AMWA's national and Chapter goals, and the general goals of biomedical communication. Ask for help with a writing problem, meet local people that share your interests, promote or suggest an exciting event, suggest ways to improve the Chapter, or comment on biomedical communication practices. Just go to the Chapter Forum page and write down your thoughts; no registration is required. Or, click Options (next to the green cogwheel), select "Subscribe via email" or "Post by email," and follow the instructions to register or subscribe to send or receive postings by email. New Chapter blog! You have professional expertise in, and opinions about, biomedical communication. Why not help others grow professionally and show your accomplishment by writing an article for the website's new Blog page? We invite everyone in the Chapter to contribute. Please submit your article on a topic of your choice—short or long (within reason), formal or informal—to the Chapter's web chair, Julie Beyrer (beyrerj@lilly.com). AMWA's strategy includes using advances in electronic technology to communicate with, and to educate, its members. Please let Julie or me know of any suggestions you might have for improving the Chapter website. David Caldwell, PhD
AMWA Indiana Chapter Newsletter December 2010
Indiana Chapter at the 2010 Annual Conference in Milwaukee - Professional Activities by Indiana Chapter Members - Teresa Armstrong, ELS, led the workshop “Package Inserts (RR/PH)” - David Clemow, PhD, led the open sessions “Practical Application of the Medical Writing Competency Model” and “Defining and Refining Medical Communication: Competencies, Research, and Theories” - David Clemow, PhD, led the roundtable “Medical Writing Function, Structural Integration, and Operational Support in Global Pharma Company” - Qing Zhou, PhD, and BethAnn Garni-Wagner, PhD, served on the 2010 Annual Conference Student Scholarship Committee. - Pam McClelland, PhD, Anne Wolka, PhD, ELS, and David Caldwell, PhD, attended the Board of Director’s Meeting as Chapter delegates. - Chapter Greet and Go: Around 20 Indiana Chapter members gathered at the Chapter Greet and Go on Thursday, November 11, evening. The members dined at the acclaimed “Safe House” restaurant in downtown Milwaukee and enjoyed stimulating conversations over foods with a “spy” theme.
The Best Of: Highlights of Local and National AWMA News ♦ New Way to Get Involved in AMWA: Pocket Trainings! AMWA recently announced the launch of pocket trainings (http://www.amwa.org/default.asp?id=533), mini tutorials created by AMWA members to cover a variety of topics useful to medical communications professionals. Three pocket trainings (on Adobe® Acrobat, EndNote®, and making the most of your ad in the AMWA Freelance Directory) are already available at the link above. You can propose a topic using AMWA’s proposal form for pocket trainings (Pocket_Training_Proposal_Form.pdf at http://www.amwa.org/default/pockettraining/Pocket_Trai ning_Proposal_Form.pdf). Please complete a separate form for each pocket training that you would like to propose, and return your form(s) to Scott Thompson, Chair of the Pocket Training Subcommittee, at thompsonscott@cs.com.
Page 2 of 3
The Indiana Chapter 71st AMWA Annual Conference, October 20-22, 2011, Jacksonville, FL ♌ Call for 2011 Conference Short Sessions: One-hour short sessions will be offered at the 2011 AMWA Annual Conference. You can share your medical writing expertise by submitting a proposal for a short session (see http://www.amwa.org/default/conference/2011/2011callf orshortsessions.pdf for short session guidelines and a submission form, along with suggestions for topic titles). Complete and return your submission to AMWA no later than January 13, 2011.
has regional chapters throughout the United States and Canada and members in 26 countries throughout the world. Through an extensive educational program, various publications, and unparalleled opportunities for networking, AMWA encourages and enables its members to extend their professional expertise.
♌ Call for 2011 Conference Posters: Do you know something you'd like to share regarding innovations, advances, research, or discoveries in medical writing? Don't miss your opportunity to create and display a poster for AMWA's 2011 Annual Conference. Complete and submit your poster abstract by March 18, 2011. For more detailed information, please visit http://www.amwa.org/default/conference/2011/2011callf orposter.pdf
2010-2011 AMWA Indiana Chapter Board: President:
Phadungchom (Pam) McClelland, PhD
President-Elect:
Anne Wolka, PhD, ELS
Secretary:
David Caldwell, PhD
Treasurer:
Julie Beyrer, MTSC, ELS
Membership/Scholarship Chair:
BethAnn Garni-Wagner, PhD
Program Chair:
Elaine Crabtree, MA, ELS
Program Committee: Education Chair:
Laura Oberthur Johnson, PhD
Education Committee:
Barbara Lightfoot, BS, CCRP
Newsletter Editor:
Qing Zhou, PhD
Editorial Committee:
Svetlana (Lana) Dominguez, ELS
Past President:
Kristin Bullok, PhD
Contact any Board member with questions or ideas for the chapter. See the website for contact information: www.hoosieramwa.org.
About AMWA: The American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) is a national organization for writers, editors, and other professionals in medicine and science. The association was founded in 1940 and AMWA Indiana Chapter Newsletter December 2010
Page 3 of 3