





































       V37 N1 / 2022 

©2022 American Medical Writers Association. All rights reserved.  
ISSN 2163-5315

AMWAJournal.org     4

ABSTRACT
Lori L. Alexander is the 2021 recipient of American 

Medical Writers Association’s (AMWA) Harold Swanberg 

Distinguished Service Award, which is given to an active 

member who has made distinguished contributions to med-

ical communication or rendered unusual and distinguished 

services to the medical profession. Sadly, Lori lost a brief 

but courageous battle with cancer in June 2021. In the fol-

lowing pages, you’ll hear from Lori Alexander’s colleagues, 

friends, and her wife, Deb. We hope you’ll gain insight into 

who Lori was as a person, her passions, her professional 

accomplishments, and the immense mark she made on  

the field of medical communication.

Lori L. Alexander was one of America’s most influential 

medical communicators. Her work in medical communica-

tion, extensive service as a volunteer leader of the American 

Medical Writers Association (AMWA), experience as an 

educator within the field, and passion for health literacy 

and creating clear medical information empowered thou-

sands of medical writers and editors, whose work in turn 

has touched the lives of millions of people.

 Clear communication is essential to scientific research, 

meaningful patient-physician interactions, and better 

health outcomes.  When the resources produced by medical 

communicators enable people to better understand their 

treatment options, it helps them make more informed 

health care decisions.  Medical writers engage in developing 

the required documentation for clinical trials and approvals 

of new drugs and medical devices, as well as with writing 

reports on trial results and implications. Medical writers 

and editors also help prepare the millions of science, health, 

and medicine articles published each year. 

 Lori’s work in medical communication spanned a vari-

ety of settings and she was a master at editing, writing,  

and developing educational resources for health care  

professionals and lay audiences. She began her medical 

communication career as an assistant editor in the editorial  

department of Lahey Clinical Medical Center and later 

became a senior copyeditor of the Journal of Bone and 

Joint Surgery. In 1998 Lori became assistant director of 

the Publications Department of the American Society of 

Clinical Oncology (ASCO). In 2004 Lori and Deb founded 

Editorial Rx, Inc, specializing in medical writing and editing, 

and publications development and management.  In this 

capacity Lori worked with medical and health-related asso-

ciations, advocacy groups, research foundations, medical 

institutions, medical publishers, government agencies, and 

physician-authors.  

 Lori’s contribution to the field includes service both 

within and outside of AMWA.  She was also an active 

member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and the 

Center for Plain Language.  The University of California San 

Diego (UCSD) Extension recruited Lori to help set up and 

develop a Medical Writing and Editing Certificate Program 

on regulatory writing, journal publications, continuing 

education, and grant writing. She was also an instructor 

of Medical Terminology and Business Communication 

at Newbury College and she developed and led several 

AMWA Workshops, including “Medical Terminology” and 

“Using Principles of Classical Rhetoric to Enhance Medical 

Communication.”  

 Lori joined the AMWA staff after 6 years of service on the 

AMWA Board.  Lori understood the roles of volunteer leader 

and staff and the important synergy of the relationship in 

achieving organization goals.  She called the opportunity 

to guide and manage the educational program at the asso-

ciation that had been “my professional home for nearly 20 

years” an “opportunity of a lifetime.”  Working with her in 

both capacities was an exciting and enriching opportunity 

of my lifetime.  The AMWA staff enjoyed working with Lori 

in both capacities, and we are incredibly grateful for her 

leadership, mentorship, and friendship. 

—Susan Krug, MS, CAE, AMWA Executive Director

Compiled by Susan Krug, MS, CAE, and Cynthia L. Kryder, MS, MWC

2021 Swanberg Award Tribute
Lori L. Alexander, MTPW, ELS, MWC—A Tribute 

CONFERENCE

http://www.amwajournal.org


AMWAJournal.org     5Lori L. Alexander, MTPW, ELS, MWC—A Tribute

Lori wore many hats at AMWA: Journal Editor, Chair of 

the Annual Conference Programming Committee and the 

Education Committee, workshop leader, head of the strate-

gic planning initiative, President of the Board of Directors 

(BOD), and most recently, AMWA Education Director.  I 

don’t know which hat was her favorite, but I do know she 

was thrilled and honored to be able to use her vision to 

propel AMWA Education into the future.

 I got to know Lori after she invited me to join the AMWA 

Journal Editorial Board. Her passion for AMWA was obvi-

ous, and she was never shy about reminding us that we 

needed to create content for medical writers AND editors in 

all work settings. 

 Lori was a masterful communicator. She loved words, 

and she loved to write, and she loved inspiring that same 

passion in others.

 Among Lori’s many gifts was her unique ability to recog-

nize leadership skills in others. And once she got you to say 

“yes” the first time, she wouldn’t let go. Many of you know 

what I’m talking about. Lori was a quiet but forceful leader 

who encouraged people to use their talents, to move out-

side of their comfort zones, and to aspire to be more. She 

inspired us by her example.

 Lori was first my colleague, but she quickly became 

my friend. I was inspired by her ability to always look for-

ward—to that next webinar, to the next workshop, to the next 

conference, to the next trip to Broadway. Lori had a deep 

passion for giving and doing for others, and she did more 

than simply write a check. She regularly prepared meals 

for residents of a local shelter, and each year she bought 

Christmas gifts for needy families. She was a remarkable, 

generous woman who found joy in sharing her gifts. The 

medical writing and editing community—and the world— is 

richer for having had Lori in it.

—Cyndy Kryder, MS, MWC, AMWA President 2018–2019

Lori would laugh at me for starting this with a quote from 

the Dalai Lama, but it seems so true to her and her legacy: 

“Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped 

into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching 

effects.” — Dalai Lama XIV

 This tribute to Lori reflects the effect of her life on us. 

Obviously as her wife, friend, and collaborator, Lori’s effect 

on me is profound. 

 Lori first turned my head in the late 1990s when she syn-

thesized a complicated abstract into clear, understandable 

English. She was one of those rare people who can flow from 

copyediting to structural editing to document design and 

back. Her elegant tables, nonredundant prose, and realistic 

timelines brought rigor and simplicity to work and life that 

was often messy and complicated.

 Lori understood firsthand the need to integrate proven 

research results into patient care. Two of her siblings were 

allied health professionals and her mother did triage admit-

ting work at a local emergency room.  Like me, her passion 

at its core was writing. She wrote television screenplays 

in her 20s, had an agent who brought her promising close 

calls, and lived with a cat named Malibu. But Hollywood 

was not meant to be for Lori, which was our gain in the field 

of medical communication.

 Lori and I are essentially the same age, 2 months apart, 

and we are Boston girls; we experienced the transition 

from paper to computers in medical literature in parallel 

time. In the 80s you would have found each of us wander-

ing the stacks of the Harvard Medical Library several days a 

month, checking references for our respective journals. We 

ate at the same Lebanese-American food truck, went to the 

Harvard Coop for supplies, and drove up and down Storrow 

Drive to and from our respective homes. 

 Flash forward 10 years later and Lori and I finally are 

working together and soon thereafter, become a couple after 

studiously not dating for a year as professional colleagues. 

We loved each other that much. By this time, I had joined 

AMWA. I attended my first meeting in 1987 in Boston and 

was hooked. I took to heart that to make medical writing a 

profession, you have to treat it as a profession. Lori joined 

in the 90s, and, similar to her approach to everything she 

enjoyed and thought important, she was all in. And she had 

the skills, the vision, the camaraderie, and the humor to 

take us all along with her. 

Lori Alexander with Susan Krug, Brian Bass, and Cynthia L. Kryder

http://www.amwajournal.org


AMWAJournal.org     6Lori L. Alexander, MTPW, ELS, MWC—A Tribute

 Flash forward to the future—which was Lori’s specialty 

as a leader—she was committed to creating and delivering 

AMWA programs to meet the needs of medical communica-

tors tomorrow as well as today. 

 Lori was a builder—of sentences, articles, daily meeting  

newspapers, departments, your member magazine, her 

own business, a life of travel, and community including the 

AMWA community. She was a family woman and loved to 

see the world firsthand. She had actionable bucket lists. She 

took risks and had managerial courage. She was a powerful 

example of what you can do when you share your strengths 

with others. 

 Lori would want all of you to be successful, to make a 

difference, and to have fun doing it. For a small person, Lori 

had huge footsteps and an even bigger heart. We all stand 

on her shoulders as we face the future without her.

—Deb Whippen, AMWA Board of Directors 2012–2014,  

Editor and Publisher, Editorial Rx, Inc.

Those reading these words know that AMWA’s mission is 

to promote excellence in medical communication and to 

provide educational resources in support of that goal. I 

have never known a person who exemplifies that mission 

more than Lori Alexander. Rather than talk about what Lori 

accomplished, I’d like to reflect on why and how I think she 

was able to achieve so much. 

 Lori had a deep love of language. Not just words but all 

aspects: how words fit together, the structure of a paragraph, 

the nuance of verb tenses, how punctuation enhances clar-

ity—don’t misuse a colon! Seriously. Lori’s love of language 

wasn’t based on a love of rules, being the smartest person 

in the room (even when she was), or detail obsession. It was 

grounded in shaping communication so that the intended 

recipient could receive the best understanding, period. 

Whether writing or editing, every detail of every commu-

nication was under scrutiny. Lori left no stone unturned to 

deliver her aim.

 And that brings me to the second part, the real magic 

of her work. That’s Lori’s love of her fellow person. Lori 

devoted both her career and her personal life to the pursuits 

that would bring the greatest benefit to others. I think this is 

why she and Deb had such a perfect partnership—kindred 

spirits in the kindness and wisdom of their hearts. 

 It pleases me to know that truly, it is Lori’s work in the 

field of medical communication—through her legacy of 

mentees and the improvements she has made in the field—

that will help future physicians and patients learn how to 

adapt to the advancements that are coming in care for brain 

tumors, other cancers, and other diseases. As a cancer sur-

vivor and a professional working in the field of medical edu-

cation, I will continue to be inspired by my colleague and 

friend, and I know that is true of countless others.

—Lisa Greaves, Division Director, Educational Meetings  

at American Society of Clinical Oncology

I still remember that first conversation I had with Lori 

Alexander in the early aughts roughly 20 years ago. She was 

interviewing as a candidate for editor of the AMWA Journal 

and I was leading the search committee. As impressive as 

Lori’s experience and qualifications were on paper, meeting 

her by telephone that first time we spoke was unforgettable. 

Lori was sharp, creative, innovative, and enthusiastic—not 

only about the journal, but about the medical communica-

tion profession itself. She embodied the collaborative spirit 

of AMWA so completely that it was easy to get lost in all the 

ideas she proposed and directions she envisioned. However, 

it was her solitary strength and depth of purpose that kept 

you grounded and focused. 

 Lori went on to lead the journal to unprecedented 

heights, and she continued her leadership and service to 

AMWA well beyond her 10 year editorial tenure. I always 

enjoyed hearing her speak, whether giving workshops or 

attending committee and board meetings. Lori had the 

knack to bring people and ideas together, interwoven with 

the spark of creativity and a genuineness of mutual care 

and appreciation. Lori left us far too soon. She made an 

indelible impression on me, both as a friend and a col-

league in the organization we all love and support.

—Tom Gegeny, MS, ELS, MWC, CMPP 

AMWA President 2009–2010

Deb Whippen and Lori Alexander

http://www.amwajournal.org


AMWAJournal.org     7Lori L. Alexander, MTPW, ELS, MWC—A Tribute

Lori gave me the big break I needed when I was beginning 

my freelance graphic design and medical illustration busi-

ness. Early in my career, my work consisted of mostly small 

jobs with medical organizations in Boston. I met Deb and 

Lori while they were both working at the Boston area office 

of ASCO, a global oncology organization, in the late 1990s. 

I really wanted to take on larger publication projects and 

Lori offered me the opportunity to be the designer on the 

quarterly ASCO News publication. We worked well together, 

and with her recommendation and support, I went on to do 

many other ASCO publications, print collateral, and con-

ference work, which was a huge boost to my career. When 

Lori became Editor for the AMWA Journal in 2003, she once 

again offered me a fantastic opportunity. That began my 

wonderful relationship with AMWA, which has continued to 

the present. Our close work together on many types of proj-

ects continued when she and Deb started Editorial Rx.  

 Professionally, I was awed by her skills at planning, orga-

nizing, and executing projects. She had a strong vision for 

the AMWA Journal and we worked together with the lead-

ership on a redesign. Her attention to detail as an editor 

was top of the line and I learned so much from her. I am 

so grateful to have had Lori in my professional life, but 

after working so closely together for so many years, we also 

became great friends, always sharing with each other what 

was happening in our lives day to day.

 Personally, I admired what a beautiful adventurous 

person she was—always planning out her next bucket-list 

trip. She was warm and welcoming and had a wicked sense 

of humor. She loved to decorate for every holiday, which I 

loved to kid her about. I will miss her so much, but know 

she positively impacted not only my life but many others.

—Amy Boches, graphic designer, AMWA Journal

Lori Alexander was one of a kind and in many ways her 

contributions to AMWA and the field of medical writing 

were immeasurable. She was never one to brag, or even talk 

about, her accomplishments. She just went about doing her 

job and finding ways to contribute her time and her won-

derfully creative ideas, wherever needed. 

 I had been an AMWA member for more than 10 years 

before I met Lori, and it wasn’t at AMWA. I met her when, at 

the suggestion of a fellow AMWA member, she offered me 

a freelance job working at the ASCO annual meeting as a 

reporter for the daily newspaper that they published  

during the meeting. It didn’t take long for me to see what a  

consummate professional Lori was. Working for the ASCO  

Daily News was one of the most challenging and fulfilling 

freelance jobs I ever had; and when Lori asked me back the 

next year, and the next, and the next, I knew I had finally 

made it as a freelance medical writer. 

 I couldn’t have been happier when I learned that Lori 

had accepted the position as Editor of the AMWA Journal. 

Based on my experience working with her at the ASCO 

Conferences, I knew that AMWA was about to benefit in 

ways we couldn’t imagine. And we did...

 I am grateful to have had the opportunity to both work 

for Lori—through ASCO and her business, Editorial Rx, 

Inc.—and with Lori on the AMWA Journal and many of the 

projects she chaired. I could never say “no” to my dear friend 

Lori, and every time we worked together, I learned some-

thing new. Lori Alexander made me a better medical writer, 

and her many contributions to the field of medical writing 

and AMWA are truly immeasurable.

—Donna Miceli, DLM Writing Services, Retired  

Freelance Writer, Editor & PR Consultant

Lori was the consummate penguin fan. She loved every-

thing about them. It was a highlight of her life to travel to 

Antarctica to see them in their natural habitat. But I’ll get 

back to that in a moment.

 The Swanberg Award is such a fitting tribute to Lori in rec-

ognition of her amazing career and innumerable accomplish-

ments. Like Dr Swanberg, Lori was also a transformational 

leader of AMWA. There was no role Lori held that didn’t 

result in major change for the better. Lori brought skill, exper-

tise, and, importantly, a talent for uniting others to the table.

 There is a picture of Lori in the photo gallery of her 

Facebook page in which she’s sporting a mask that says, 

“Less me and more we.”  That singlehandedly describes 

Lori’s leadership. Ever self-effacing, she truly looked for 

ways to build bridges with others and to generate such 

enthusiasm for an initiative that many already-very-busy 
Lori receiving an award in 2012 for 10 years as 
Editor of the AMWA Journal.

http://www.amwajournal.org


AMWAJournal.org     8Lori L. Alexander, MTPW, ELS, MWC—A Tribute

people willingly jumped in to give of their time and talents. 

Lori allowed people to be at their best—to offer their best 

ideas and their best work. 

 And, like her beloved penguins, she overlooked difficul-

ties and instead focused on what could be achieved, not on 

what couldn’t. You see, penguins don’t spend time worrying 

about not being able to fly, but they are excellent swimmers 

and effortlessly fly through the water. And one species uses 

the sun to navigate from land to sea, adjusting for the sun’s 

changing position in the sky throughout the day. In all these 

ways, penguins have adapted to the challenges their envi-

ronment poses. Lori did the same, but she also mobilized 

our profession to move in new and even better directions.  

Lori set an incredible example for others, and she did so 

with a fair dose of good humor.  I can’t think of anyone more 

deserving of AMWA’s highest honor.

—Melanie Fridl Ross, MSJ, ELS, AMWA President 2010-2011

I was fortunate to meet Lori early in her AMWA career. She 

told me that she wanted to get more involved in AMWA and 

that she did. Once Lori set her mind to something, nothing 

stopped her—thus her lengthy list of AMWA accomplish-

ments. She had an affinity for education, and her contri-

butions to AMWA’s education program, in my opinion, will 

never be equaled and will live on through the many medical 

writers she influenced. 

 I worked with her on multiple education initiatives, 

including the Certification Commission, in which she made 

major contributions as a subject-matter expert, includ-

ing in item development. Lori always said “yes” whenever 

someone asked her to help. When she became the AMWA 

Education Director, for the first time, we had someone at 

headquarters who was an actual medical writer and who 

readily understood members’ needs. Lori charted a new 

course to expand AMWA’s educational offerings. Her legacy 

to that program will continue, and we members will con-

tinue to be the beneficiaries. 

 When I think of Lori, I hear her infectious laugh and 

remember her stories. Lori always had a story. In her work-

shop on classical rhetoric, she promoted the use of sto-

ries in scientific publications. That workshop caused me to 

rethink scientific writing, and I teach her philosophy to my 

students. Lori said, “A story engages you. It taps into your 

imagination. It connects you with others. Medical writing 

lacks stories.” She was correct, of course, and gave us simple 

guidelines for adding story to manuscripts—if only by just 

switching to first person or giving patients a voice. 

 When I think of Lori, I also hear her say, “If you have a 

minute, I’d like to run this idea I have by you.” That was the 

hook, and I was always honored to be part of Team Lori 

for whatever new idea she envisioned. Lori often said how 

grateful she was for the opportunities AMWA gave her to 

help do her job better, to network with colleagues, and to 

grow as a leader. What Lori gave back, however, was legion. 

If every medical writer who benefited from Lori’s wisdom 

planted a seed in her memory, a vast wilderness of flowers 

would be the result.

 The Nobel Laureate Anatole France said, “To accomplish 

great things, we must dream as well as act.” Lori did both, 

and she will be greatly missed…

—Marianne Mallia, ELS, MWC, AMWA President 2002–2003, 2010 

AMWA Swanberg Award Recipient

In an organization with more than its share of brilliant,  

talented, and generous members, Lori quite simply was a 

rockstar. Her commitment and passion for the mission of 

AMWA were unrivaled. Her imprint will be lasting.

—Victoria White, Former Editor-in-Chief, AMWA Journal

I have long felt that Lori was a natural choice to receive the 

Swanberg Award. Anytime AMWA is mentioned, it is Lori 

who pops into my mind. You would be hard-pressed to find 

another member who has devoted more time and energy to 

helping AMWA live up to its mission. 

 I first met Lori when I was at a crossroads in my profes-

sional life. I had just left industry and entered the freelance 

life.  At the 2011 AMWA Conference in Jacksonville, I met Deb 

Whippen and she immediately got me involved in AMWA 

Florida and turned me over to Lori who realized she had 

some “fresh volunteer material” to develop. She wasted no 

time talking me into volunteering on my first of many “Lori-

run projects.” Lori was the mentor I had no idea I had always 

been searching for, but I am just happy I realized what I gift 

the universe had presented me when I needed it most.

 A project or team led by Lori was sure to accomplish its 

goals and it was always rewarding to be a part of them. Lori 

led with kindness and was always inclusive long before it 

Lori and Scooter.

http://www.amwajournal.org


AMWAJournal.org     9Lori L. Alexander, MTPW, ELS, MWC—A Tribute

was in vogue. She had a knack for taking you out of your 

comfort zone and getting you involved in areas that didn’t 

just get the job done for the organization, but left you 

rewarded with new skills for future use. You wanted to do 

more because she inspired you with all the confidence you 

needed to get the job done. 

 Lori was a naturally curious soul with a thirst for learn-

ing and a drive for teaching and sharing what she knew. She 

was passionate about storytelling as a vehicle for medical 

communication and as the master communicator, she was 

every bit the skilled listener as she was the gifted storyteller.

 It was always exciting to get one of those calls, “Hi Larry, 

this is what we are thinking about doing, and I think you 

would be a great fit.” I am grateful for each of those experi-

ences. Lori did a solid for our founder and award namesake, 

Harold Swanberg. We are so lucky for the legacy Lori has left 

for us as a guide for the next leg of the AMWA journey.

—Larry Lynam, Annual Conference Committee 2012–2018, 2018 

President’s Award recipient

I can think of no one more deserving to receive the Harold 

Swanberg Distinguished Service Award. Lori Alexander’s 

contributions to AMWA vastly exceed the criteria of distin-

guished contributions to medical communication. I first 

met Lori while attending an AMWA BOD meeting as a chap-

ter delegate and later, I had the honor of joining the BOD 

and serving alongside Lori. I am just one of many that Lori 

brought into her network, and I am honored. 

 Lori and I also worked together with UCSD to create and 

grow an educational program for new medical writers and 

editors. It leverages the multifaceted expertise of several 

AMWA members including Yeshi Mikyas, Donna Simcoe, 

Dikran Toroser, Noelle Demas, and Lynne Friedmann. Since 

its launch in 2016, the program has continued to expand and 

grew stronger. Much of its success is attributed to Lori, who 

in 2017 took a leadership role in the program and served as 

the program’s consulting director. On monthly faculty calls, 

she pushed each of us to continuously improve our courses, 

and she was a favorite of the students. Lori brought leader-

ship, grace, and a strong understanding of our field to the 

program. When she took the position of Education Director 

at AMWA, Lori ensured that she could continue to serve as 

the director of the UCSD program, and for that, we are all 

eternally grateful.  The program itself has certified over 50 

students. When she stepped away earlier this year, it took 2 

folks to fill her shoes. Her presence is and will be missed. 

 No one could say no when Lori asked, no one. What I 

recall is her sense of humor. If ever we were sitting next to 

each other, I knew I would be stifling laughter. I will always 

be most grateful for her friendship. Her authenticity was rare, 

and her example will serve as guidance for me and so many 

others. May we honor her today and always with our work, 

with our welcoming community, and with authenticity.

—R. Michelle Sauer Gehring, PhD, ELS. Instructor,  

UCSD Extension, AMWA Secretary 2020–2022

I was surprised when Lori Alexander asked me to join the 

AMWA board during her year as president. I was also  

nervous and quite honored. I soon learned that Lori had a 

gift for including others. Many may shy away from inclusion, 

but Lori embraced it. She always made room for others to 

contribute in their own way, all while providing support and 

lighting the path.

 I also learned that Lori was highly productive on her own. 

She literally performed the work of many and made it look 

easy. I think this combination—including others and high 

productivity—is what allowed her to accomplish so much.

 I was able to witness Lori’s craft up close, and I was 

astonished by her drive, compassion, and commitment to 

medical writing. She truly loved what she did, and this made 

work feel like play.

 AMWA is blessed to have had Lori leading on multiple  

fronts over the years, from the AMWA Journal to conference  

planning and education initiatives, to name a few. 

Lori with her gavel for starting her term as AMWA President 
2016-1017.

http://www.amwajournal.org


AMWAJournal.org     10Lori L. Alexander, MTPW, ELS, MWC—A Tribute

Undoubtedly, her departure leaves a void that cannot be 

easily filled, but her leadership is an inspiration that endures.

 It’s truly fitting for Lori to be honored with AMWA’s high-

est award. Lori, thank you for being a wonderful mentor and 

friend. Although you are greatly missed, it lightens my heart 

to think that you are spending time with penguins.

—Theresa Singleton, PhD, AMWA Board of  

Directors 2016–2019

I first “met” Lori when she emailed me in 2016 suggesting I 

submit an interest form for the AMWA Executive Committee 

(EC) as she was starting her AMWA Presidency. The email 

ended with the postscript: “I noticed on your LinkedIn pro-

file that you’re looking for an opportunity to join a nonprofit 

board—I hope AMWA fits that!”—which I now know is so 

Lori. I first met her in person in an elevator. I was so ner-

vous, because she was and always will be a giant in our field 

(those who know us might chuckle, I’m almost a foot taller 

than Lori). But Lori was so genuine, warm, and caring that 

I quickly felt comfortable, and it wasn’t soon after that we 

became friends. Just last week I found a card from a gift she 

gave my daughter who had a brain tumor in 2018—tears 

came to my eyes but smiles also came to my face. Because 

she was President when I joined the EC, I’ll always think of 

her as the model AMWA President; never did I imagine that 

we’d lose her during my presidency. Lori will be so missed, 

but she will always be with us.

—Gail V. Flores, PhD, AMWA President 2020–2021

I first met Lori years ago when I was a delegate to the 

AMWA board, and I must say I was instantly comforted by 

her warmth and inclusiveness.  Over the years, I’ve had a 

chance to work with Lori on several initiatives while she was 

President of AMWA and later as Education Director. Each 

experience was not only an opportunity for me to learn 

something new and to grow my professional expertise, but 

also gave me the chance to inform others about the role 

public relations and marketing plays in the field of medical 

communication. Lori understood that medical communica-

tors work in a variety of settings and across multiple areas. 

She had the desire to develop educational resources to sup-

port members that work in the different niches within medi-

cal communication. 

 When I think of an inclusive and servant leader for 

AMWA, I think of Lori. We as an organization are now 

reaping the benefits of Lori’s passion and commitment to 

AMWA. I can’t think of anyone more deserving to receive 

the 2021 Swanberg Award. I am comforted to know that her 

legacy will live on through AMWA and will inspire many 

medical communicators along the way.

—Katrina R. Burton, AMWA President 2021–2022

Lori was so many things to so many people. To me she was a 

dear friend, a valued colleague, a trusted leader, a generous 

resource, a joyful spirit, and a kind heart. But I think there’s 

one way to sum her up—Lori was an accelerant. She always 

set my mind on fire with her energy and enthusiasm.

 Working with Lori when she was Editor of the AMWA 

Journal, she brought so many innovative ideas to the table. 

Nothing was impossible. She would light a match with a 

simple thought or suggestion that would ignite collabora-

tion as it spread across the room. During her AMWA pres-

idency, Lori fused the organization together behind a new 

governance structure that strengthened AMWA while bring-

ing it into compliance with evolving guidelines. As Director 

of Education, Lori’s passion for teaching others fueled an 

explosion of new educational products and programs that 

will continue to serve AMWA and the medical writing profes-

sion for years to come.

 Receiving the 2021 Harold Swanberg Distinguished 

Service Award for Lori’s contributions to the medical com-

munication profession is a great and well-deserved honor. 

The honor of knowing Lori, working with her, and learning 

from her, is all ours.

—Brian Bass, MWC, AMWA President 2013–2014,  

2017 AMWA Swanberg Award Recipient

Lori teaching at the 2018 AMWA Medical Writing & Communication 
Conference.

http://www.amwajournal.org



