AMWA Southwest Chapter Virtual Networking Event ~ January 27, 2024.

Han purple (dark blue) stones with thank you label.

Han purple (dark blue) stones with thank you label.

Thank you to everyone who joined our AMWA Southwest Chapter virtual networking event on January 27th! We had a fantastic time sharing potential medical communication career paths, exploring strategies to overcome challenges, and providing career advice and support. Your participation was greatly appreciated, and we hope to see you at our next event.

Our chapter’s website at https://amwasw.org/ has more information for those interested in learning more.

Image Description: Han purple (dark blue) stones with thank you label.

#MedicalCommunicators #MedicalWriters #MedicalEditors #ProfessionalDevelopment #Networking

2023 AMWA Southwest Chapter Hybrid Conference

A screenshot of fifteen people smiling on Zoom after attending the 2023 AMWA Southwest Chapter Hybrid Conference. Four additional members were present but had their videos off when this photo was taken. The American Medical Writers Association Southwest Chapter logo was noted in the lower right-hand corner of image.

2023 AMWA Southwest Chapter Conference

On behalf of the American Medical Writers Association Southwest Chapter, we would like to thank you for attending our hybrid conference on Saturday, May 13. Some of us attended the event in Houston and other participants joined us on Zoom. As always, we learned something new and had a lively conversation during the networking portion of the event.

A special thanks goes to the following people who helped ensure our event was successful:

🔹 Chapter Conference Co-Chairs: Erica Ann Walker Goodoff, BJ/BA, ELS(D), Treasurer, Assistant Program Chair; J. Kelly Byram, MS, MBA, ELS, Director-at-Large (New Mexico), Chapter Survey Coordinator
🔹 President: Damiana Chiavolini, PhD
🔹 President-Elect/Program Chair, Director-at-Large (Virtual): Dean Colston, PhD
🔹 Immediate Past President: M. David Stewart, PhD
🔹 Director-at-Large (Houston): Katie Fung-Yip, MD
🔹 Social Media Coordinators: Julie Bradford, MA, and Doĝan Can Kirman, PhD
🔹 Chapter Advisory Council Delegate: Kimberly Mankiewicz, PhD, ELS
🔹 Website Manager: Vamsi Ahobila, MD

We’d also like to express our deepest appreciation to our program presenters:

🔹 Anne Murray, PhD, MWC®; Dallas, Texas
🔹 Katrina R. Burton, BS; Houston, Texas
🔹 Jennifer Bridgers, MS, MWC; Raleigh, North Carolina
🔹 Gail Flores, PhD; San Diego, California
🔹 Heather Zeiger, MS, MA; Dallas, Texas
🔹 Caroline Sietmann, MALIS; Chicago, Illinois
🔹 Kristi Boehm, MS, ELS; Houston, Texas
🔹 Larry Lynam, DSc, MA, RM, SM; Tucson, Arizona

And, of course, we are most grateful for our attendees for participating. To capture the moment, you will see a fun screenshot of some of us (below) who were present on Zoom at our hybrid conference. More pictures are to come of those individuals who attended in person.

Image Description: A screenshot of fifteen people smiling on Zoom after attending the 2023 AMWA Southwest Chapter Hybrid Conference. Four additional members were present but had their videos off when this photo was taken. The American Medical Writers Association Southwest Chapter logo was noted in the lower right-hand corner of image.

#MedicalCommunicators #MedicalWriters #MedicalEditors #ProfessionalDevelopment #Networking

Cheeky Scientist Association Meeting

Drs. Dean Colston, Annette Padilla, and Ray Hopkins standing against a colorful, festive background at Ajo Al's Mexican Cafe.

Drs. Dean Colston, Annette Padilla, and Ray Hopkins standing against a colorful, festive background at Ajo Al’s Mexican Cafe.

Although it turned out to be a rainy day in Phoenix, AZ, three of us from the Cheeky Scientist Association made it for a delicious Mexican lunch and some friendly networking.

Thank you, Dr. Annette Padilla, PhD, for organizing this event.

Our next event will be on March 4, 2023. University students are welcome as well as your colleagues who are PhDs, EdDs, DBAs, MDs, etc. Come join us! More details to come.

Image Description: Drs. Dean Colston, PhD, MA, Annette Padilla, PhD, and Raymond A. Hopkins D.B.A., standing against a colorful, festive background at Ajo Al’s Mexican Cafe.

#CheekyScientists #Networking #BuildingProfessionalRelationships

Architecture and Vision Loss Talk

Tactile paving on footpath for people who are blind.

Tactile paving on footpath for people who are blind.

On October 3, Jeffry Ricker, Ph.D., Ms. Rosa Calderon, and I had a terrific time speaking with Dr. Ari Grayson’s architecture students at https://lnkd.in/gx8-HB-u.

We discussed architecture, inclusive design, and accessibility through the lens of vision loss and blindness. We specifically addressed retinal conditions, such as retinal detachments and retinitis pigmentosa. We also covered blindness, Charles Bonnet syndrome, and more.

We believe that designing buildings for people who are visually impaired and blind results in architecture that’s even better than current standard designs. Inclusive design focuses on the process of designing for diversity where spaces are accessible to all. And it stresses the importance of consulting with a wide range of people.

Image Description: Tactile paving on footpath for people who are blind.

#ArchitecturalDesign #UniversalDesign #InclusiveDesign #VisionLoss #SaddlebackCollege

Meet The New AMWA Officers for the Southwest Chapter

Image Description: Please meet the new officers for 2022-2023: Damiana Chiavolini, MS, PhD; Dean Colston, PhD, MA; Erica Ann Walker Goodoff, ELS(D); Kim Mankiewicz, PhD; and Anne Murray, PhD, MWC®

Image Description: Please meet the new officers for 2022-2023: Damiana Chiavolini, MS, PhD; Dean Colston, PhD, MA; Erica Ann Walker Goodoff, ELS(D); Kim Mankiewicz, PhD; and Anne Murray, PhD, MWC®

Please meet the new officers for the American Medical Writers Association Southwest Chapter for 2022-23.

President: Damiana Chiavolini, MS, PhD
President-Elect/Program Chair: Dean Colston, PhD, MA
Treasurer: Erica Ann Walker Goodoff, ELS(D)
Secretary: Anne Murray, PhD, MWC®

And congratulations to the new Board of Directors!

And a big thank you to Dr. David Stewart for his past leadership. We greatly appreciate you!

#MedicalWriters #MedicalEditors #HealthCommunicators #RegulatoryWriters #MedComm

Inclusive Leadership

 Photo of Dean Colston with the American Medical Writers Association Southwest Chapter Logo. The other texts used in this image are noted in this post as shown above for accessibility purposes.

Photo of Dean Colston with the American Medical Writers Association Southwest Chapter Logo. The other texts used in this image are noted in this post as shown below for accessibility purposes.

We at the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) Southwest Chapter would like to invite you to our June event. We’ll host a special webinar and chapter business meeting to announce our 2022-2023 slate of officers and board of directors. https://lnkd.in/eWb4qFGK

Special Webinar: Inclusive Leadership: Developing a Diverse Talent Pipeline of Medical Communicators

Date/Time: Tuesday, June 28th, 2022 (6:00 – 7:30 pm CDT)

Presenter: Dean Colston, PhD, MA
Director of Social Media & Health Communications
A Flock of Scientists, LLC

Summary:
Would you like to become a more inclusive leader? Are you a first-time medical communication manager? Organizations are rapidly changing, and the idea of diversity and inclusion is continuously evolving in the workplace. Today, you’ll need a modern set of skills to achieve leadership success.

In this webinar, you’ll discover how to use inclusive leadership to develop a diverse talent pipeline of medical communicators. I’ll also share some tips on how to create an environment of psychological safety and an empathetic organizational culture. Finally, you’ll gain insight from 3 AMWA Southwest Chapter Presidents on how their volunteer roles helped develop their leadership skills.

Chapter business meeting will follow

We hope to see you!

Please register today on our events page: https://lnkd.in/eWb4qFGK

#MedicalWriters #MedicalEditors #HealthCommunicators #RegulatoryWriters #MedComm

How To Work With Authors Whose First Language Isn’t English

We at the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) Southwest Chapter invite you to join us for another enlightening webinar.

Sergio Lozano, MD, MWC®, will present “How to work with authors whose first language isn’t English.”

Date: Thursday, March 3rd, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm CST
Where: Zoom

Abstract
English has become the lingua franca of science. This fact has forced scientists worldwide to describe their research and discuss their results in a language that is not theirs. This clearly affects the communication of science because publication depends largely on English language proficiency.

Editing, proofreading, and translation services have rapidly grown in recent years. Medical writers play an important role in this niche. It is important to work with second language research authors to solve their language and publication problems. This webinar will present the current situation, Dr. Lozano’s work with these authors, and what to do to help.

To learn more about Dr. Lozano and this virtual presentation, please visit amwasw.org. Then, register today on our events page.

*Video Description: A banner of DNA molecules and flags of the world. The video concludes with the AMWA Southwest Chapter logo. All text used in this video are noted in this space for accessibility purposes. Inspiring and emotional music was added to enhance the video’s quality and appeal to set the mood.

#MedicalWriters #MedicalEditors #HealthCommunicators #TechnicalWriters #MedComm

AMWA Southwest Chapter: 2022 John P. McGovern Award

A screenshot of five people. Top row: Dr. Jonathan Patz; Kimberly Mankiewicz, PhD, ELS, McGovern Award Co-Chair and Chapter Advisory Council Delegate; and Dr. David Stewart, President. Bottom row: Kelly Byram, MS, MBA, ELS, McGovern Award Co-Chair and Past President; and Dr. Damiana Chiavolini, President-Elect.

A screenshot of five people. Top row: Dr. Jonathan Patz; Kimberly Mankiewicz, PhD, ELS, McGovern Award Co-Chair and Chapter Advisory Council Delegate; and Dr. David Stewart, President.
Bottom row: Kelly Byram, MS, MBA, ELS, McGovern Award Co-Chair and Past President; and Dr. Damiana Chiavolini, President-Elect.

Thank you for joining us at the AMWA Southwest Chapter on February 17, 2022, for Dr. Jonathan Patz’s virtual lecture titled “Confronting the global climate crisis brings major health benefits.”

As the winner of the 2022 John P. McGovern Award Lectureship, his presentation was thought-provoking and gripping.

To capture the moment, Dean Colston, PhD, MA, took a screenshot at the end of the presentation of Dr. Patz and our AMWA Southwest Chapter leaders who were involved in making this event a success.

Want to learn more about our AMWA Southwest Chapter? Visit us at amwasw.org

#MedicalWriters #MedicalEditors #HealthCommunicators #TechnicalWriters #MedComm

AMWA Southwest Chapter Speed Networking Event

To thank all our wonderful members, we are hosting a speed networking event during which you can meet and greet other fellow medical communicators from the AMWA Southwest Chapter!

Friday, November 19, 2021, 5:30–6:30 PM CST (Virtual).
Register today at amwasw.org on our events page.

We’ll be networking through Glimpse.

We look forward to seeing many of you!

*Content in this video is consistent with the material as noted above for accessibility purposes. Inspiring music was added to the video to enhance its quality and appeal.

#MedicalWriters #MedicalEditors #HealthCommunication

#TechnicalWriting #ScienceWriting #Freelance #SmallBusiness

#MedComm #RegulatoryWriters #ProfessionalDevelopment

#Networking #LifeSciences #ScienceJournalism

Thank You

We at A Flock of Scientists, LLC, (flockofscientists.com) would like to express our gratitude to our heroes for their service to their communities. They are the nurses, physicians, epidemiologists, microbiologists, neuroscientists, psychologists, medical communicators, public health contact tracers, data analysts, lab technicians, educators, and more. We salute you. We appreciate you. And we thank you.

#ThankYou #Gratitude #Nurses #Physicians #Epidemiologists #Microbiologists

#Neuroscientists #Psychologists #MedicalCommunicators #PublicHealthContactTracers

#DataAnalysts #LabTechnicians #Educators #AFlockofScientists

AMWA Southwest Networking Event for Out-of-Area Members

Do you live outside the 5-state Southwest Chapter area (AR, LA, NM, TX, OK)? Do you want to meet your fellow AMWA Southwest members who also live outside the area (and may live or work in your city)?

You are not alone—there are quite a few!

Please join us for a virtual networking event on 04 February at 6 PM MST (5 PM PST). Connect with fellow AMWA members for an hour of networking with fellow medical writers and editors.

This event is free, but you will need to register: amwasw.org/events-1/events

And of course, all members are encouraged to partake in all chapter events regardless of location! Our webinars are still going strong, and our other virtual offerings are robust (no in-person events have been scheduled for 2021 at this time).

#medicalwriters #medicalwriting #medicaleditors #medicalediting #healthcommunication

#technicalwriting #sciencewriting #freelance #smallbusiness #medcomm #regulatorywriters

#professionaldevelopment #networking #lifesciences #sciencejournalism

AMWA SW Chapter Event: Business and Writing Goals for 2021

Now that everyone’s back into the swing of things after the holidays, the Southwest Chapter will host a Zoom Networking Meeting on Thursday, January 28 at 5 pm CST.

This month’s discussion topic will be Business and Writing Goals for 2021. If you are not sure about your business goals, come to the meeting anyway to get some ideas.

Four regions are coming together for this event—Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Oklahoma, and New Mexico—but all AMWA Southwest members are welcome to attend. The event is free, but registration is required.

To register for this event, please visit our AMWA Southwest Chapter Events page @ amwasw.org/events-1/events

#medicalwriters #medicalwriting #medicaleditors #medicalediting #healthcommunication

#technicalwriting #sciencewriting #freelance #smallbusiness #medcomm #regulatorywriters

#professionaldevelopment #networking #lifesciences #sciencejournalism

 

A Flock of Scientists, LLC, Is Born

Out of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new business venture was born. We are excited to introduce to you A Flock of Scientists, LLC. We are a diverse group of doctoral-level experts with a passion for bringing science to everyone while embracing the best and most trustworthy research.

Our mission is to empower people with science to be science communicators and to provide premier scientific writing, editing, and content creation services. As writers and editors, we are language and document design experts. Equally important, we are collaborators and the reader’s advocate.

Much like science, our organizational culture is multi-faceted. We value empathy, curiosity, strong ethics, inclusivity, accessibility, compelling customer service, and a nonjudgmental attitude. We approach our work and others with this mindset.

What are some other benefits of working with us? We will save you time and give you peace of mind knowing that you are in competent and trustworthy hands. That way, you can focus on other personal and business priorities.

Learn more about our four founders and our services at flockofscientists.com.