Hi Reader, What if I told you that I used AI to write this article for you today? Would you continue reading it? Probably not! Or perhaps you would continue, but with a little more caution. You might wonder whether the ideas are truly mine. Did I verify the evidence? Are the references real? Did I protect confidential information? And, perhaps most importantly, did I contribute enough thought and expertise to deserve your trust? These questions capture much of the discomfort medical writers...
18 days ago • 4 min read
Educational Piece Building a Cohesive CME Deck That Actually Teaches Hi Reader, I’m back with my educational piece series, and today I want to develop a guide from my own experience for continuing medical education (CME), specifically slide deck project. A CME slide deck can look deceptively simple from the outside. The final deliverable may contain only 40 or 50 slides, but behind those slides are dozens of decisions about educational strategy, scientific accuracy, storytelling, visual...
about 1 month ago • 13 min read
Hi Reader, One of the most frustrating things about freelance medical writing is unrealistic deadlines. I can tell you that I have faced this aspect countless times since I started working in the medical writing business. Clients have no idea how long a project can take, and deadlines are often discussed before the work itself is fully understood. Questions I often hear from my clients: “Can you finish this by tomorrow?” “It’s only a short deck.” “We just need a quick review.” And suddenly...
4 months ago • 5 min read
Hi Reader, Thank you for being part of Guanine Medical Academy! First, I want to sincerely apologize for not being as active with my newsletter as I would have liked. That said, I haven’t forgotten about you—I’ve simply been dedicating my energy to something exciting behind the scenes… and now it’s time to share it with you. We’re on YouTube! 🎉 Yes, you heard that right! After much thought, I’ve launched a YouTube channel to teach, support, and inspire medical writers. On the channel, I’ll be...
5 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, My kids are back to school, and suddenly the house feels… quiet. September has finally arrived after a summer of sticky ice cream fingers on my keyboard and constant “Mom, can I…?” interruptions. If you’re also a parent and a freelancer, you know what this season feels like. It’s not just back-to-school for the kids; it’s back-to-focus for us. But before this fresh start, the summer brought its own mix of challenges and joys. What Was My Experience Like This Past Summer? Freelance...
about 1 year ago • 3 min read
Lessons from Covering an Ad Board Mastering Advisory Board Coverage For Pharma Start Learning Today! Hi Reader, Today I had the opportunity to cover an advisory board (ad board) for a new client, and it turned out to be a fantastic success. The client was delighted with the final deliverable and immediately expressed interest in more collaboration. Let me tell you more about it! The Nature of Ad Board Projects Many Medical Writers Miss The project wasn’t just about capturing what was said in...
about 1 year ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Can your beliefs change the outcomes you experience? Make you sick, or protect you from harm? Modern medicine increasingly says yes. The way patients anticipate side effects or benefits can shape what they actually experience. This is now called the science of placebo and nocebo effects. The placebo effect shows us how positive expectations can trigger measurable health improvements even without an active treatment. Its lesser-known counterpart, the nocebo effect, reveals the...
about 1 year ago • 3 min read
Educational Piece Two Essential Skills You Need to Master for Advisory Board Coverage in Pharma Hi Reader, When it comes to covering pharmaceutical advisory board (ad board) meetings, not all information is communicated equally. Medical writers must be prepared to capture only what truly matters. Success in this type of project depends on mastering two critical skills: 1. Selective Listening Ad boards are dynamic. You’ll hear clinical debates, off-topic comments, and side conversations, but...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader I'm excited to announce that my course "Mastering Advisory Board Coverage for Pharma" is now available on Udemy!Originally offered only on a private teaching platform, I determined that this specialized course should be made available to a wider audience on Udemy, making it more accessible than ever.If you're a medical writer (or aspiring to become one) and want to master the art of turning complex pharma advisory board discussions into clear, impactful reports, this course is for...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read