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SUMMER  
2020

107

58

Figure 2. Critical appraisal of HCP-targeted literature: Role of medical writers

Medical Writer 

Mention drug 
to drug 

comparison 
and dose 

details Mention 
random 

assignment, 
blinding 

details and 
comparability 

of groups

Mention 
study power, 
P value, and 
confidence 

intervalEnsure all 
endpoints 

(positive and 
negative) and 
all subgroup 
analyses are 

reported

Mention 
intention-to-
treat results

Mention 
absolute risk 

ratio and 
numbers 
needed to 

treat

HCP, health care provider

51

RESEARCH
Balancing Science and Promotion in Medical Writing
� Anita Bhat and Chinmayee Joshi

RESEARCH 
Outsourcing Services of Regulatory Submission Writing 
in the Pharmaceutical Industry � Yan Zhou

FEATURE  
ICMJE Proposes a New Author Disclosure Form for Work 
Submitted to Medical Journals � Andrea Blotta

FEATURE  
The AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and  

Editors—What’s New in the 11th Edition � Kelly Schrank, 

Stacy L. Christiansen, and Annette Flanagin

FEATURE 
Lifting the Veil on Compensation for Employed Medical 
Communicators � Roshawn Watson

AROUND THE CAREER BLOCK 
Strategies to Advance Your Medical Writing Career  
Part II: Identifying Opportunities and Developing Skills
� Yanni Wang and Lindsey Summers

EVERYDAY ETHICS 
Guiding Ethical Interactions with Health Care Professionals: 
Follow the Codes � Julie Ravo 

FREELANCE FOCUS
Brian Bass, Lori De Milto, Cathryn D. Evans, and Ruwaida Vakil

Why is confidence important in succeeding as a freelancer? 
How did you build your confidence?

Why is in-person networking still important in the digital age?

 51

58

62

64

70

74

77

80



Contents
 EDITOR James R. Cozzarin, ELS, MWC

 MANAGING EDITOR Jennifer Workman

 SECTION EDITORS

 Around the Career Block Lauren McMahon, PharmD  

 Media and Technology Tara Ann Cartwright, PhD

 Practical Matters Qing Zhou, PhD, ELS

 Regulatory Insights Jennifer Bridgers, MS, MWC

 Science Series Paul C. Dolber, PhD

 Social Media Jennifer Minarcik, MS

 Statistically Speaking  Thomas M. Schindler, PhD

 Everyday Ethics  Julie Ravo, BA, MA

 Members Matters   Melory Johnson, VN 

 REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS

 Freelance Forum Brian Bass, MWC

  Melissa L. Bogen, ELS

  Sherri Bowen, MA, ELS

  Lori De Milto, MJ

  Cathryn D. Evans

  Gail Flores, PhD

  Phyllis Minick

  Ruwaida Vakil, MSc, Editor

 In the Service of Good Writing Laurie Endicott Thomas, MA, ELS

 EDITOR AT LARGE Haifa Kassis, MD

 EDITOR EMERITUS Lori L. Alexander, MTPW, ELS, MWC 

 EDITOR IN MEMORIAM Ronald J. Sanchez 

 2019–2020 PRESIDENT Ann Winter-Vann, PhD 
 2019–2020 BOARD LIAISON/ 
 AT-LARGE DIRECTOR  R. Michelle Sauer Gehring, PhD, ELS, CRA 

 2019–2020 STAFF LIAISON Shari Rager, MS, CAE

 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Susan Krug, MS, CAE

 GRAPHIC DESIGNER Amy Boches, biographics

EDITORIAL OFFICE: ManagingEditor@amwa.org. Instructions for authors available at: 
www.amwa.org/journal.

ADVERTISING: Contact marketing@amwa.org or (240) 239-0940. All advertising 
is subject to acceptance by AMWA and should be for products and services relevant 
to professional medical communicators. AMWA is not responsible for the content of 
advertising and does not endorse any advertiser or its products or services.

SUBSCRIPTION: The AMWA Journal is published quarterly. Subscription is included 
with AMWA membership. Nonmember subscriptions cost is $75 per year.

CONTACT: American Medical Writers Association, 30 West Gude Drive, #525,  
Rockville, MD 20850-4347. Phone: (240) 238-0940; Fax: (301) 294-9006;
Email: amwa@amwa.org.

The AMWA Journal is in the MLA International Bibliography and selectively indexed  
in the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) print  
index and the CINAHL database.

The opinions expressed by authors contributing to the Journal do not necessarily 
reflect the opinions of AMWA or the institutions with which the authors are 
affiliated. The association accepts no responsibility for the opinions expressed by 
contributors to the Journal.

©2020 American Medical Writers Association. All rights reserved, worldwide.  
ISSN 1075-6361

AMWA JOURNAL MISSION STATEMENT 

In support of the mission of the American Medical 

Writers Association (AMWA) and to advance the broader 

profession, the AMWA Journal publishes content that 

reflects the interests, concerns, and expertise of medical 

communicators. Its purpose is to inform, inspire, and 

motivate medical communicators.

M
O

R
E        V35 N2 / 2020 

82  STATISTICALLY SPEAKING 

  The Evaluation of Efficacy, or How Do We Know   
  Whether a Treatment Works? Part 1  
  � Thomas M. Schindler and Helen Bridge 
 
87  MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY 
  Freedom to Write: New Tools for Streamlining  
  Document Development From Start to Finish

� Elizabeth Clarke and Krithi Bindal

92  SOCIAL MEDIA 
  How Social Media Helped Prepare Me for Life  
  in the Time of Corona � Larry Lynam

96  REPRINT
Predatory Publishing – What Medical  
Communicators Need to Know � Andrea Bucceri, 

Peter Hornung, and Thomas M. Schindler

101  AMWA NEWS
From the President � Ann Winter-Vann

American Medical Writers Association  
Annual Financial Report, 2018-2019 � Julie L. Phelan

Medical Writer Certified � David B. Clemow 

AMWA’s Second Medical Writing Executives Forum: 
Redefining Talent Acquisition, Development,  
and Engagement—Ideas to Action � Cynthia L. Kryder

Exciting News. #AMWA2020 is Going Virtual!

Mary Elizabeth Williams, 2020 Alvarez Award  
Recipient � Elise Eller

  




