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Alexandra Howson PhD

If TED Talks and a mastermind group had a podcast baby for CME professionals, it would be Write Medicine. 
Think of Write Medicine as the NPR of continuing medical education—smart, engaging, and always packed with insights you can use right away.
 Every week, your host, Alexandra Howson PhD, cracks open the secrets of powerful CME content, decoding adult learning, designing impactful outcomes, and navigating the fast-changing world of medical education. Sometimes, she goes solo. Other times, she invites industry pros to share their expertise. Either way, you’ll get practical strategies to elevate your CME writing game.
 Whether you’re just starting in CME or you're a seasoned pro looking for that extra edge, Write Medicine is your weekly power-up session for crafting education that truly makes a difference.
 Listen, learn, and level up your CME game—because better education means better patient care.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: 

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Write Medicine

What if the work that feels invisible is the very thing building your expertise?

For many CME writers, the hours spent researching, editing, and shaping educational content happen behind the scenes — valuable, but unseen. Over time, that invisibility can blur your sense of value and readiness.

In this Write Medicine hot-seat coaching session, Gina Castiblanco PhD shares what it’s really like to navigate that in-between space — leaving behind a visible academic identity and learning to trust her voice as a CME writer and business owner.

Together, we unpack how professional visibility starts with self-awareness, boundaries, and the courage to say, “I’m ready, even if I don’t feel ready yet.”

By the end of this conversation, you’ll learn how to:

 • Reframe invisibility as part of your growth process — not proof that you don’t belong.
 • Use your academic and clinical background to shape a distinct CME writing identity.
 • Turn your unseen skills into visible value that attracts aligned clients and projects.
 • Shift from doing the work to 
owning • the work — as a creative, strategic partner.

Stay to the end of the episode for three practical steps you can take today to start making your invisible work visible — and strengthen your visibility, voice, and value in the CME ecosystem.

Mentioned in this episode:

Alliance Almanac

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: 

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

From Unseen to Unstoppable: How Medical Writers Grow Beyond CME Task Work to Creative Partnership

Curious about continuing medical education (CME) writing but not sure how to begin? In this episode, you’ll learn how to turn your medical, academic, or scientific experience into a meaningful, flexible writing career. Discover the five milestones that help you break into CME writing, the key skills every CME writer needs, and real-world insights from the field.

🎧 Tune in now to gain clarity, confidence, and your next steps toward becoming a successful CME writer.

Links

WriteCME Pro • – Join the CPD-certified professional development program for medical writers specializing in CME.
Chart Your CME Writing Path • – Map your skills and identify opportunities in CME writing.
Episodes 112 & 115 of Write Medicine • – Learn how to streamline literature reviews and strengthen your research workflow.
American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) • – Explore professional development resources for medical communicators.
CME Writer Bootcamp • : How to Break into CME/CE Writing with no Network and No Expertise
Write Medicine Mentor • – Get behind-the-scenes insights and templates to deepen your CME writing practice.
How to Create Portfolio Samples for CME Writing

Mentioned in this episode:

Alliance Almanac

Write Medicine Mentor

Write Medicine Mentor is your private companion podcast designed exclusively for medical writers who want deeper support as they grow in continuing medical education (CME). Each month, you'll receive exclusive content from me to support your business and income growth as well as templates/checklists/swipe files you can use and apply to client projects.

In addition to immediate access to a CME writing starter pack, each month you’ll get:
* A bonus episode that takes you behind the mic for advanced insights into the craft and business of CME writing.
* A ready-to-use template, checklist, or swipe file to make your projects smoother and more effective.
* An Ask Me Anything episode, where Alexandra Howson, PhD, answers your questions about writing, clients, CME strategy, and sustainable freelance life.

Think of this podcast as your personal, earbud-friendly mentor—practical, honest, and always focused on helping you sharpen your skills, expand your opportunities, and thrive as a CME writer.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: 

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

From Curiosity to Confidence: A Freelance Medical Writer’s Guide to Breaking into CME Writing

Are you ready to move beyond writing needs assessments and step into the creative, story-driven side of CME—without losing the clients or confidence you’ve already built?

Many CME writers start with needs assessments. They’re structured, strategic, and an excellent way to learn the landscape. But what happens when you feel ready for more? When you want to create content that sparks learning, integrates clinical insight, and allows your creativity to shine? In this hot seat coaching episode, we meet Zsuzsa Csik, an anesthesiologist and critical care physician turned CME writer, who’s navigating that exact transition—and learning how to position herself for content work while building a sustainable freelance business.

By listening, you’ll discover:

 • How to strategically signal to clients that you’re ready for content creation projects.
 • Practical ways to use your clinical or scientific background as a bridge, not a barrier, to new opportunities.
 • Simple positioning tactics to align your current work with your long-term professional goals.

Press play now to learn how to move from analysis to creation, and start shaping the CME writing career you really want.

Mentioned in this episode:

Alliance Almanac

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: 

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

From Needs Assessments to Narrative Impact: Positioning Yourself for CME Content Work

How do you take one complex medical concept and make it clear, accurate, and actionable for both clinicians and patients, without losing credibility?

If you’re a CME writer, you know the challenge of translating science into education that actually sticks. But as more CME projects tether clinician education with patient-facing components, the real test is flexing your craft to serve two very different audiences at once. Get this right, and you not only improve learning, you expand your professional scope and impact.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

 • How to apply practical frameworks to dual-audience writing.
 • Structural techniques that make content engaging, empathetic, and accessible.
 • A simple 3-sentence exercise to sharpen clarity for patients and precision for clinicians—anytime, anywhere.

🎧 Tune in now and learn how to expand your CME writing craft into dual-audience education with one portable tool you can start using today.

Resources

Resources to support plain language, readability, and accessibility. 

https://readable.com/readability/Cognitive accessibility • The
 Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool • (PEMAT) 
Informed consent navigator toolPlain Language SummariesPlain Language Checklist for Health Professionals Plain language in biobank consent Plain Language AssociationCognitive accessibilityInformed consent navigator tool

Episodes Mentioned

EP31 • : Cultivating a Visual Mindset with Karen Roy and Bhaval Shah
EP 41 • : Nurture Connection-Tell them a Story with Ben Riggs
EP109 • : Crafting Inclusive and Accessible Medical Content with Virginia Chachati

Practice: Explain one complex idea in three sentences, twice—once for patients, once for clinicians.

Take one complex concept: SGLT2 inhibitors reduce heart failure hospitalizations.

For patients:

What it is: 1. “These medicines...

Expand Your CME Medical Writing Skills: Dual-Audience Strategies for Patient and Clinician Education

What if leaving academia—or another tightly defined professional path—felt less like failure and more like freedom?

For many academics, clinicians, and researchers, stepping into freelance medical writing isn’t just a career change—it’s a profound identity shift. Too often, this transition carries grief, shame, or the lingering sense of “not enough.” In this episode, we explore how those feelings show up, why they matter, and how to reframe them as fuel for your writing career.

By listening, you’ll discover:

 • Why the transition from academia or clinical practice can feel like trauma—and how to reframe it as strength.
 • Four entrepreneurial habits that can help you thrive as a freelance medical writer while avoiding their shadow sides.
 • Simple, practical practices—like free writing and mindful self-awareness—that help you claim permission, rebuild confidence, and cultivate a sustainable business mindset.

Press play now to learn how to navigate identity loss, tap into your natural strengths, and take small steps toward building a medical writing business that feels truly your own.

Mentioned in this episode:

Alliance Almanac

Write Medicine Mentor

Write Medicine Mentor is your private companion podcast designed exclusively for medical writers who want deeper support as they grow in continuing medical education (CME). Each month, you'll receive exclusive content from me to support your business and income growth as well as templates/checklists/swipe files you can use and apply to client projects.

In addition to immediate access to a CME writing starter pack, each month you’ll get:
* A bonus episode that takes you behind the mic for advanced insights into the craft and business of CME writing.
* A ready-to-use template, checklist, or swipe file to make your projects smoother and more effective.
* An Ask Me Anything episode, where Alexandra Howson, PhD, answers your questions about writing, clients, CME strategy, and sustainable freelance life.

Think of this podcast as your personal, earbud-friendly mentor—practical, honest, and always focused on helping you sharpen your skills, expand your opportunities, and thrive as a CME writer.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: 

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

How to Overcome Academic Trauma and Build Confidence as a Freelance Medical Writer

What if the CME you design could do more than deliver knowledge—what if it could actually change clinician behavior and improve patient care?

As a CME writer or education professional, you’ve likely felt the frustration of producing content that looks strong on paper but doesn’t translate into meaningful practice change. This episode explores how learning science, human-centered design, and patient co-creation can help you bridge the gap between information and impact.

By listening, you will discover:

 • Learning science principles, like Mayer’s multimedia principles, that make education stick.
 • The difference between learning change and behavior change, and why both matter in CME.
 • How aligning clinician and patient education fosters shared decision-making and better healthcare outcomes.

Press play now to learn practical strategies you can use to design CME that transforms knowledge into real-world change.

Mentioned in this episode:

Alliance Almanac

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: 

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Designing CME for Behavior Change: Sarah Atwood on Learning Science in Action

What does it take to move from order-taker to trusted partner in CME writing?

That’s the single question driving this new season of Write Medicine.

In this 15-minute teaser episode, Alex introduces the season theme—Craft to Confidence: A CME Writer’s Season of Growth—and gives you a preview of what’s ahead. You’ll hear how guest interviews and solo tactical episodes will work together to help you build your skills, expand your visibility, and strengthen your confidence as a CME writer.

Whether you’re transitioning from academia, clinical practice, or another writing specialty, this season will give you both the craft tools and the career clarity to thrive in continuing medical education.

Episodes to Look Forward To

 • Designing for learning with Sarah Atwood

 • Hot Seat Coaching on attracting content projects and integrating academic skills into CME

 • Leveraging Milkshake Moments with Michelle Skidmore

 • Identity, trauma, and resilience with Hope Lafferty

 • Solo walk-throughs on interviewing SMEs, turning education gaps and needs into activity agendas, publishing manuscripts, and more

Mentioned in this episode:

Alliance Almanac

Write Medicine Mentor

Write Medicine Mentor is your private companion podcast designed exclusively for medical writers who want deeper support as they grow in continuing medical education (CME). Each month, you'll receive exclusive content from me to support your business and income growth as well as templates/checklists/swipe files you can use and apply to client projects.

In addition to immediate access to a CME writing starter pack, each month you’ll get:
* A bonus episode that takes you behind the mic for advanced insights into the craft and business of CME writing.
* A ready-to-use template, checklist, or swipe file to make your projects smoother and more effective.
* An Ask Me Anything episode, where Alexandra Howson, PhD, answers your questions about writing, clients, CME strategy, and sustainable freelance life.

Think of this podcast as your personal, earbud-friendly mentor—practical, honest, and always focused on helping you sharpen your skills, expand your opportunities, and thrive as a CME writer.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: 

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Craft to Confidence: What's Coming Up in Season 11

If you’re a medical writer today, you're no stranger to tight deadlines, dense source material, and the pressure to deliver educational content that is both engaging and evidence-based. These demands are particularly acute in the world of continuing medical education (CME), where accuracy, clarity, and relevance matter more than ever.

As the medical writing landscape evolves, so do the tools that support us. Among the most promising of these is MACg, a generative AI-powered assistant that helps medical writers streamline document analysis, content creation, and research. For writers working in CME or adjacent fields, MACg offers more than convenience—it offers a meaningful shift in how we work.

Tune in to learn how I’m using MACg as a collaborative partner in my workflow rather than a replacement for my creative process. 

Resources

Grab your fee trial of MACg

Summer Script Camp

 
Mentioned in this episode:

Alliance Almanac

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: 

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

From Anxiety to Action: What Every Medical Writer Needs to Know About AI Integration

How do you design CME that reaches the communities most affected by HIV—and not just the clinicians who already have access?

If you're a CME professional grappling with how to address layered issues like stigma, housing insecurity, or racial disparities, you’re not alone. This episode dives into what it takes to create truly inclusive education—especially when traditional strategies fall short. Whether you’re designing education for clinicians or collaborating with community partners, you’ll find actionable ideas to bring your programming closer to the ground.

Specifically, you'll learn:

 • 

How to build authentic partnerships with community leaders who can serve as trusted bridges between healthcare providers and hard-to-reach populations.
 • 

 • 

The essential infrastructure you need to establish before launching community-based programs, from setting up referral networks that ensure patients don't fall through cracks after screening to tracking both clinical outcomes and demographic data that funders require.
 • 

 • 

A proven framework for developing educational content with cultural humility and how to work with expert faculty who understand nuanced communication challenges.
 • 

Connect with Dean

🌐 https://DKBMED.COM

Resources

Signup for Summer Script Camp

Get TextExpander

 
Mentioned in this episode:

Alliance Almanac

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: 

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

From Barbershops to Boardrooms: Pioneering CME in Unexpected Spaces

Are you a freelance CME writer juggling too many project types and wondering if it’s time to finally “niche down”?

In the world of continuing medical education (CME), clarity and focus aren’t just nice to have—they’re essential for sustainable business growth. If you’re feeling stretched thin, jumping between clients and therapeutic areas, this episode explores how finding a niche can reduce overwhelm, streamline your process, and even attract the kinds of clients who value what you do most. Here’s what you’ll gain from this episode:

 • 

A practical definition of what a niche is—and what it isn’t—so you can stop second-guessing yourself.
 • 

 • 

Examples of how different niches can emerge from your background, preferences, or even your favorite types of client relationships.
 • 

 • 

A step-by-step approach to experimenting your way into a niche, without the pressure to get it “perfect” from the start.
 • 

Tune in now to learn how niching can simplify your business, supercharge your marketing, and help you find work that truly energizes you.

LINKS

Grab the Niche Discovery Checklist

Signup for Summer Script Camp

If you are looking for ongoing CME content strategy tips, tools, and tactics, subscribe to the Write Medicine Insider newsletter. 

Get TextExpander

 
Mentioned in this episode:

Alliance Almanac

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: 

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

From Scattered to Specific: How a Niche Can Save Your Sanity (and Your Business)

In this episode of Write Medicine, I speak with Ginny Jacobs, Principal of Quality Catalyst Group, about the necessary disruption happening in continuing medical education (CME). Drawing from her recent co-authored Almanac article, Ginny discusses four major shifts in the field and what they mean for CME professionals.
Four Major Shifts in CME:
 • Increased use of technology, including artificial intelligence

 • Evolution in the science of learning and cognitive load

 • Technology utilization for clinical practice relevance

 • Development of adaptive and collaborative models across disciplines

Key Takeaways:
 • Data collection and analysis remain significant challenges for many CME organizations

 • The importance of "unlearning" outdated approaches while maintaining what works

 • Strategic alignment with organizational priorities is crucial for success

 • The field must evolve from episodic learning to sustainable, data-driven approaches

Looking Ahead:
 • Need for more systematic professional development in CME

 • Importance of collaboration to avoid common challenges

 • Focus on creating nimble educational systems with robust assessment

 • Emphasis on critical thinking and practical application

Resources
Jacobs G, McGowan B, Paynter N, et al. Necessary Disruption 2.0: A Continuing Education Call to Action. Alliance Almanac. Nov 18, 2024. 

Alliance Annual Conference, January 8-11, Gaylord Palms Resort, Orlando, FL. 

 
Mentioned in this episode:

Alliance Almanac

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: 

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Don't Be Kodak: Future-Proofing Your CME Strategy

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