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FALL  
2023

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FROM THE GUEST EDITOR
Overcoming Obstacles and Building Bridges in Global Medical 
Communication › Elizabeth Kukielka

THEME ARTICLES
Lost in Translation: The Vital Role of Medical Translation in Global 
Medical Communication › Amanda Xiaoqing Mao and Ishani Thakkar

Open Pharma: Driving Positive Change in the Communication  
of Pharma-Sponsored Research › Jo Gordon

Science Without Borders – Can Translation Tools Bridge the  
Language Gap? › Claire Beeby, Eleanor J. Raynsford, and Charles Pollitt

SCIENCE SERIES
The Gut Microbiome–Human Body Symbiosis: Relevance of  
the Ubiquitous Microbial Community on Health and Development,  
Part 1 › Smitha S. Dutt

FREELANCE FOCUS
› Brian Bass, Melissa L. Bogen, Cathryn D. Evans, Alex Howson,  
 and Ruwaida Vakil

Q1: What are the potential benefits and limitations of using ChatGPT  
in medical writing, and how can these be mitigated?
Q2: What ethical considerations need to be taken into account when 
using ChatGPT for medical writing, particularly in relation to patient  
privacy and data protection?
Q3: How can ChatGPT be used to assist medical writers in creating 
patient education materials, and what challenges need to be  
addressed in this context?

CONSCIOUS WRITING
3 Common Phrases That Tarnish Credibility in Medical Writing 
› Crystal R. Herron

41

5 Ipsen-sponsored
publicationsa,11–15

with abstracts and PLSs 
of similar length

covering a range of therapy 
areas and study types

4 languages
translatedb

A

French

German

Slovenian

Mandarin

4 bilingual
reviewersb

Word selection

Grammar

Phraseology

Claritye

Non-translated

Additions Deletions

using Google Translate with medical writing 
experience evaluated

4 survey categories 
assessedd

20 translations per
document typec

5× PLSs

5× abstracts

Misspellings

Phrases Tone

Grammar/syntax Punctuation

Symbols/units/numbers/dates

Accuracy Likelihood of 
misinterpretation

诶

14

AMWAJournal.org     9Article Title

Figure 4. Infographic: Open Pharma recommendations for plain language summaries of peer-reviewed medical journal publications. Adapted/
Reprinted from Rosenberg A et al.6,7 PLS, plain language summaries.

More exposure 
for your work

Practitioners can 
apply your findings

Researchers in 
developing countries 

can see your work

Taxpayers get value 
for money

Higher citation 
rates

Your research can 
influence policy

Compliant with  
grant rules

The public can 
access your findings

7



  EDITOR-IN-CHIEF  Michael G. Baker, PhD 
 GUEST EDITOR Elizabeth Kukielka, PharmD, MWC, CMPP   
 MANAGING EDITOR Rachel Mosher, MA  
 SECTION EDITORS
 Progress in Publications Qing Zhou, PhD, ELS
 Regulatory Insights Jennifer Bridgers, MS, MWC
 Science Series Naomi Bishop, MD
 Statistically Speaking  Thomas M. Schindler, PhD
 Everyday Ethics  Julie Ravo, BA, MA
 Freelance Focus Ruwaida Vakil, MSc
 CE Craft Corner Haifa Kassis, MD
 Practical Matters Elizabeth Kukielka, PharmD, MWC, CMPP 
 Around the Career Block Cecilia Petrus, MSc 

 REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS
 Freelance Focus Brian Bass, MWC
  Melissa L. Bogen, ELS
  Sherri Bowen, MA, ELS
  Lori De Milto, MJ
  Cathryn D. Evans
  Gail V. Flores, PhD
  Phyllis Minick
 In the Service of Good Writing Laurie Endicott Thomas, MA, ELS
 Conscious Writing  Crystal R. Herron, PhD, ELS

  EDITORS IN MEMORIAM Lori L. Alexander, MTPW, ELS, MWC 
  Ronald J. Sanchez 
 2022–2023 PRESIDENT Elise Eller, PhD 
 2022–2023 BOARD LIAISON JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM 
 2022–2023 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.amwajournal.org.

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.

©2023 American Medical Writers Association. All rights reserved.  
ISSN 2163-5315

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

RE        V38 N3 / 2023 

  AMWA NEWS
 35 From the President › Elise Eller

 36 Officer Candidate Slate for the 2023-2024 Election  
  › R. Michelle Sauer Gehring

 38 AMWA Fellowships for 2023 › Abbie Miller  

 39 2023 John P. McGovern Award Recipients  
  Jessica B. Steier, DrPH, PMP, and Andrea C. Love, PhD   
  › Elise Eller

 40 2023 Walter C. Alvarez Award Recipient  
  Katelyn Jetelina, PhD, MPH › Michele W. Sequeira

 41 2023 Harold Swanberg Distinguished Service  
  Award Recipient  
  Joan Affleck, MBA  › Abbie Miller

 42 2023 Golden Apple Award Recipient  
  Hope Lafferty, AM, ELS  › Abbie Miller

 43 2023 President's Award Recipient  
  Don Harting, MA, MS, ELS, CHCP  › Elise Eller

  2023 CONFERENCE PREVIEW
 44 Continuous Learning and Connection at the 2023  
  Medical Writing & Communication Conference  
  › Michele W. Sequeira  
  
 45 CALENDAR OF MEETINGS 
  

Contents

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