We’ve Got a Makeover! Check Out Our New Look


Hi Reader,

I'm thrilled to share some exciting updates from Guanine Medical Academy!

Our website has a fresh new look, and it’s designed to help you navigate resources more easily and connect with the tools you need to grow as a medical writer. Check it out here:

What’s New:

Free Digital Library – Explore downloadable PDF resources, expert tips, and tools designed for aspiring and professional medical writers.

"Learn from an Expert" Podcast – Tune in to inspiring conversations with professionals in medical writing and life coaching. I’m excited to announce that I’ll be starting a series of Q&A segments within the podcast! I’m currently gathering questions from learners, so if you have a question you'd like me to address, simply reply to this email and ask. I'd love to hear from you!

Online Courses – The "Mastering Advisory Board Coverage for Pharma" course is now live and available at a discount (there are a few hours left at this price). Check the course here:

1:1 Coaching Sessions – Personalized support to help you break into medical writing or level up your current skills. For this one, I will be able to accept more learners starting on August 1st, and I'll send you a reminder when it is open.

Thank you for being part of our growing community!

Thank you for joining the Pen and Parents Newsletter, a resource for freelance medical writers who also wear the badge of motherhood!

Nisreen Shumayrikh, PhD

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Guanine Medical Academy

"Busy parents make time; they don't wait for it." As a wife, mother, and medical writer, I know the challenge of balancing family life with professional growth. That’s why I created the "Pen & Parent" Newsletter. This is a space for fellow parents navigating the world of medical writing and science communication. Through Guanine Medical Academy, I also teach foundational courses and share real-world insights, productivity tips, and encouragement drawn from my own journey.

Read more from Guanine Medical Academy

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...

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...

A woman works happily on her laptop.

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...