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WINTER  
2024

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FROM THE GUEST EDITOR › Tom Drake

THEME ARTICLES
A Beginner’s Guide to Writing for Health Economics and  
Outcomes Research › Annie Cheang

Growth of Health Economics and Outcomes Research and  
Real-World Evidence in Medical Communication, and Opportunities  
for Medical Writers › Tom Drake, Lisa Baker, and Caitlin Rothermel

Navigating Real-World Evidence Reporting Guidelines  
› Laura E. Happe and Meg Franklin

TOPICAL FEATURE
2024 Medical Communication Compensation Report Executive Summary 

AROUND THE CAREER BLOCK
Leaving the Lab for Biotechnology Writing: A Story of Zero Regrets  
› Cecilia Petrus and Paul Naphtali
 
CE CRAFT CORNER
The Narrative Edge: The Power of Storytelling in Needs Assessments  
› Rhona Fraser

CONSCIOUS WRITING
Crumbling Sentences: Isolated and Expletive Pronouns Weaken  
the Foundation of Clear Medical Writing › Crystal R. Herron

CREATIVE WRITING
The First Dance › Brianna C. Landis

EVERYDAY ETHICS
The XYY Story as a Cautionary Tale: How Scientific Misinformation  
and Common Biases Can Negatively Impact Lives and Opinions  
› Helena I. Ebeling and Jonathan R. Beckwith

FREELANCE FOCUS
› Brian Bass, Melissa L. Bogen, Sherri Bowen, Lori De Milto, Cathryn D. Evans, 
,and Alex Howson

Q1: How do you handle scope creep on a project? What strategies do 
you use to define project boundaries and manage client expectations?

Q2:  What are the most effective strategies for negotiating rates with 
potential clients, especially when there is a significant disparity between 
your proposed rate and the client’s initial offer?
Q3:  How do you stay competitive in the freelance medical writing and 
editing market? What strategies do you use to differentiate yourself 
from other freelancers?

56%
42%

29%
27%

26%
24%

21%
20%
19%

17%
15%
15%

13%
11%

9%
7%

5%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Artificial intelligence (AI)
Advanced medical writing skills

Editing/quality control
Freelancing

Regulatory writing
Infographics/visual communications

Professional development/career advancement
Plain language/lay audiences

Regulatory submissions
Continuing medical education

Grant writing
Leadership/management

Project management
Publications planning

Health equity and disparities
Other (please specify)

Sales training
72

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  EDITOR-IN-CHIEF  Michael G. Baker, PhD
 GUEST EDITOR Tom Drake, MA, 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, MA, MS, MWC 
 Around the Career Block Cecilia Petrus, MSc
 Technology Talk  Kyla Ross, BS, MS 

 REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS
 Freelance Focus Brian G. Bass, MWC
  Melissa L. Bogen, ELS
  Sherri Bowen, MA, ELS
  Lori De Milto, MJ
  Cathryn D. Evans
  Gail V. Flores, PhD
  Alex Howson, 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 
 2024–2025 PRESIDENT Roshawn (Shawn) Watson, PharmD, PhD, BCPS 
 2024–2025 BOARD LIAISON Qing Zhou, PhD, ELS 
 2024–2025 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, 9841 Washingtonian Blvd, 
Suite 500-26, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. 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.

©2024 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        V39 N4 / 2024 

 48 SCIENCE SERIES
Cardiovascular Disease in the Americas: Social  
Determinants, Public Health Policies, and  
Recommendations (Part 1) › Alan Silburn

 
 53 Cardiovascular Disease in the Americas: Social  
  Determinants, Public Health Policies, and  
  Recommendations (Part 2) › Alan Silburn
   
  AMWA NEWS
 57 From the President › Shawn Watson
 
 58 Introducing the 2024–2025 Board of Directors
  › Shawn Watson
 
 59 AMWA Certificate in Regulatory Writing  
  Core Knowledge › Lynne Munno and Aaron Van Etten
 
 61 The AMWA Medical Writing & Communication  
  Conference Location Selection Process  
  › Shawn Watson, Kim Korwek, Julie Phelan, Jen Minarcik,  
  and Susan Krug

 63 Dues Update in 2025 Supports AMWA’s Enhanced  
  Member Value › Shari Rager

 65 From Novice to Expert: Establishing a Job Level  
  Framework for Medical Writers ›Janice Worley,  
  Andriana Papaconstantinou, Angela Burnett, Zhiming Zhang,  
  Kimberly Jochman, Laura Sheppard, Julia Cooper,  
  Julia Forjanic Klapproth, Joan Affleck, and Jeanette Towles  

 72 Results of the 2024 AMWA Member Experience  
  Survey › Kimberly Korwek, Jennifer Minarcik, and  
  Sarah Dobney
  
 74 CALENDAR OF MEETINGS

Contents

http://www.amwajournal.org



