Contents V36 N1 SPRING 2021AMWA Annual Financial Report, 2019-2020 Julie Phelan, MD, MBA / 2019-2020 AMWA Treasurer It has been a pleasure servicing as Treasurer for the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) over the past year, and I am pleased to provide this financial report for the 2019-2020 fiscal year, which ended June 30, 2020. I begin this report acknowledging that during the last 2 quarters of the fiscal year, the COVID-19 pandemic caused severe disruption to everyday life and a recession. The leadership of AMWA quickly put a plan in place to minimize the impact of the pandemic. AMWA staff successfully converted to a remote work environment, and expenses were curtailed. Meetings and travel plans were cancelled, and vacant staff positions were put on hold. The success of the 2019 annual conference in San Diego, popularity of live webinars, increase in membership, and careful management of expenses helped to sustain AMWA through this uncertain time. The full financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may not be experienced until next year. Financial Performance AMWA’s net income for the 2019-2020 fiscal year was $448,106, with significant investment gains contributing to the results. Revenues Overall, revenues exceeded budget expectations by 6%, largely because of the success of the annual conference. Membership income, annual conference income, and education and certificate program income continue to be AMWA’s major sources of revenue, providing 89% of AMWA’s program revenue. Net investment income of $115,074 accounted for 5% of AMWA’s total revenue (Figure 1). Figure 1. Sources of program revenue for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2020. Membership 35% Annual Conference 38% Education/Certificate Program 16% All Other Revenue 11% 52 48 30 3 4 7 11 15 26 30 FROM THE PRESIDENT 2020 CONFERENCE COVERAGE Freelance Focus: Jam Session for Seasoned Freelancers � Brian Bass, with commentary from Cathryn D. Evans, Sherri Bowen, and Melissa L. Bogen Walter C. Alvarez Award Address: Every Person Is a Patient: Finding the Story in the Science � Mary Elizabeth Williams John P. McGovern Award Address: Learning Curves � Lisa Sanders Session Reports: • Tricks and Tips for Time Management • Low-Cost and Low-Effort Ways to Create Infographics and Visually Appealing Slides • A Powerful Combination: The Value of the Writer-Editor Partnership • Editing: Hard Knowledge, Soft Skills • Collaborative Writing: Ensure Success With an Effective Strategy • Strategies for Effective Risk Communication • Mentoring Programs: One Size May Not Fit All • Analysis of Mentoring: From Marginal to Maximal • Knowing Which Button to Push: Communicating the Value Proposition of Medical Writing • What the Best Medical Writers Know About Nonclinical Data EXHIBITOR PRECIS FEATURE Cabells Scholarly Analytics Is a Force of Knowledge Against Predatory Publishing—An Interview With Simon Linacre � Mary Kemper Contents INTERIM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Shari Rager, MS, CAE 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 Govindi (Jaya) Samaranayake, PhD REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS Freelance Focus Ruwaida Vakil, MSc 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 EDITOR AT LARGE Haifa Kassis, MD EDITOR EMERITUS Lori L. Alexander, MTPW, ELS, MWC EDITOR IN MEMORIAM Ronald J. Sanchez 2020–2021 PRESIDENT Gail V. Flores, PhD 2020–2021 BOARD LIAISON R. Michelle Sauer Gehring, PhD, ELS, CRA 2020–2021 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. ©2021 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 V36 N1 / 2021 34 STATISTICALLY SPEAKING The Evaluation of Effectiveness, or How Do We Know Whether a Treatment Works in Real Life? Part 2 � Thomas M. Schindler and Helen Bridge 39 PRACTICAL MATTERS Leadership Behind the Scenes: A Backstage Approach to Effective Medical Writing � Katie Bates, Dwyn DeSilver, and Cathi Harmon 43 AROUND THE CAREER BLOCK Journey From Veterinary Medicine to Medical Writing � JoAnna Pendergrass 45 IN THE SERVICE OF GOOD WRITING Metaphorically Speaking � Laurie Endicott Thomas 47 CALENDAR OF MEETINGS 48 MEMBERS MATTERS Making History: An Interview With Katrina Burton, AMWA’s New President-Elect � JoAnna Pendergrass 51 AMWA NEWS 2020 Annual Business Meeting for AMWA Members � Katrina Burton AMWA Annual Financial Report, 2019-2020 � Julie Phelan 80th Anniversary Donors