29th Annual Medical Communications Conference a Success!

Presented by the American Medical Association and the National Association of Medical Communicators

By Barbara Ficarra

I recently returned from the 29th Annual Medical Communications Conference sponsored by the American Medical Association and the National Association of Medical Communicators where I presented two workshops.

Medical professionals passionate for improving media and communications skills gathered at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, April 1-3, 2009.

The conference was a huge success.  The experienced medical communicators were there to hone  their skills and to learn new ones while the novice professionals were there to get a flavor of what it takes to be a medical communicator and to actively participate.

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Pictured left to right: Stuart Gitlow, MD, Co-Chair of the American Medical Association's Action Team on Alcohol and Health, Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA, Executive Producer & Host Health in 30, Mike Lynch, VP External Communications American Medical Association

The interactive and “hands-on” workshops allowed individuals to participate in the classes.

Here’s a very brief sample of various workshops:

  • Writing for TV, Become a Script Consultant
  • Medical Journalism 101; Introduce Journalism Basics for Medical Professionals Who Want to Contribute Health Care Articles in Print
  • You the Smart Medical Expert: Finding Your Voice in the Blogging World [This is the class I presented]
  • Medical Podcasting / Vodcasting “How to Manual: Computer Degrees not Required” Focus on Practical Mechanics
  • Twitter MD: Unleashing the Power of Social Media to Build Your Brand Online and Beyond
  • The Art of Nailing Your Audition-How to Show Your Best Side in a Brief Time
  • How To Be the Perfect Radio Guest or Host: Working Both Sides of the Mic!  [This is the class I presented with Chris Springmann]

This conference is so great because everyone attending is there because they are passionate about communicating health information to the public. It’s great for learning new skills, improving existing skills and networking.  It’s a conference where the art of communication and the art of science are intertwined.  It’s a lot of fun!

Mark your calendar for next year!  The medical communications conference will be in Atlanta from April 14-16, 2010.

For continuous updated info, check out the medical communications conference website.

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2 Comments

  1. 1

    This was a great conference and I encourage anyone interested in health messaging to attend next year. And maybe I’ll meet you, Barbara!

  2. 2

    Thanks Dr. V. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree that it’s a great conference and anyone interested in health messaging should definitely attend. Maybe we’ll meet in Atlanta!

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