Alexandra Howson PhD

Write Medicine

Write Medicine is the podcast for medical writers and CME professionals who want to create education that actually changes clinical practice. Hosted by Alexandra Howson, PhD—a 20-year CME strategist, Fellow of ACEHP, and author of WriteCME Roadmap—the show delivers expert interviews, actionable frameworks, and honest conversations about the craft and business of CME writing. With 155+ episodes and a curated library organized by career stage, Write Medicine meets you where you are—whether you’re exploring CME for the first time, building your portfolio, or refining your positioning as a strateg...

Author

Alexandra Howson PhD

Category

Education

Podcast website

www.writemedicine.com

Latest episode

Feb 25, 2026

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Episodes

Pawsitive Penmanship: How Veterinarians Can Thrive in the World of Medical Writing 01.12.2023

Show Notes What existing skills and competencies do you know you have for sure? How can you put those skills to use to find new professional opportunities? Understanding and acknowledging your skills is crucial for building confidence and pursuing new professional opportunities. My guest today is JoAnna Pendergrass DVM, a veterinarian turned medical writer who has built a successful solo business...

The AI Revolution: How Generative Models are Transforming CME/CPD Content Creation 29.11.2023

Show Notes Are you angsting over the potential impact of generative AI on your work? Are you hyper-dialed into ethical considerations around the potential for copyright infringement, data ownership, and authorship when using generative AI tools like ChatGPT? Whatever your questions or concerns are about generative AI, this technology is poised to transform how we create continuing education conten...

The Power of Reinforcement in CME/CE: Understanding Knowledge Competence and Self-efficacy in Learning 22.11.2023

Show Notes Are you running correlation analysis in your education activity and program evaluation? Are you having conversations with your colleagues, as listener Natalie Goldberg is, about how access to practice data is potentially redefining how we think about Moores outcomes at levels 5, 6, and 7? In part 1 of this 2-part series of conversations with Katie Lucero Ph. D., Vice President, Audience...

Self-Efficacy and Confidence in Behavior-Driven CME/CE Outcomes 15.11.2023

Show Notes If you’re a continuing medical education provider, do you ever feel as though your approach to outcomes measures could use some spice? Do you wonder what are we missing when we don't include process measures in outcomes evaluation? Or when you are working on outcomes measurement, analysis, and crucially, writing that outcomes report, do you find yourself wondering how to use confidence...

From Inspiration to Innovation: Mary Lasker and the Birth of the American Cancer Society 08.11.2023

If you work in CME, especially in oncology, then sooner or later you’re going to consult American Cancer Society resources. But how much do you know about the history of this organization? And how much do you know about Mary Lasker and her contributions to cancer research? Hello, hello, and welcome back to Write Medicine, the podcast that explores best practices in creating continuing education co...

The Art of Serendipity: Luck, Preparation, and Career Transitions for PhDs 03.11.2023

If you are a Write Medicine listener and are tuning into our First Friday Feature, you are likely a medical writer who is curious about medical writing in the specialized world of CME and I think you'll enjoy this conversation with Dr. David Mendes, who shares insights from his journey transitioning out of academia and into a career in medical writing.  David completed his PhD in neuroscience at M...

The Checklist Revolution: Streamlining Healthcare Content for Better Understanding 01.11.2023

Plain language is a communication style that aims to simplify complex information and make it more accessible to a wider audience. It involves using clear, concise, and jargon-free language to convey information in a way that is easily understood by the intended audience. The goal of plain language is to eliminate confusion, improve comprehension, and enhance communication between the sender and r...

Audience-Centric Content: How to Boost Engagement and Impact 25.10.2023

As we know, the COVID-19 pandemic forced many in-person events to go virtual. While platforms like Zoom made the transition possible, “Zoom fatigue” quickly set in. Audiences have tuned out of long presentations and passive learning formats that are also typical of in-person conferences.  To combat Zoom fatigue, virtual event organizers need to completely rethink their approach. So to get some ide...

Escape the Ordinary: Unlocking Engagement with Escape Rooms 18.10.2023

In today’s episode, I speak with nurse educator Martha Johnson MSN, RN, CEN, otherwise known as Breakout RN , about using active learning strategies to engage nursing students for whom it is also often challenging to connect theory to bedside practice, especially in the context of unique patient scenarios. As a new educator, Martha's first theory course was PowerPoint-heavy with a scripted lecture...

Creating Value in CME/CE Content with Generative-AI 11.10.2023

In this episode, I spoke with Sean Sodha, founder of medical content platform Grafi AI, about the promise and pitfalls of generative AI for healthcare content creators. Sean shared his unique perspective on navigating this emerging technology.  We take a comprehensive look at the role of generative AI in medical content creation and explore its promise for augmenting human skills and improving pro...

Mastering the Self-Edit: Tips and Tricks from Michelle Rizzo 06.10.2023

In today's episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Michelle Rizzo , a trained journalist who turned her curiosity and life-long interest in medicine into a thriving career as a CME writer. Michelle currently works as an associate medical director and senior writer at a boutique CME content company, where she often finds herself writing and researching about rare diseases. She was kind enough...

Accelerating Change: A Call to Action on Gender Equity in Medicine 04.10.2023

If you are at all interested in the status of women in medicine and the role of education in addressing gender inequities in the health professions, then you’re going to love today’s episode. I’m speaking with Rebecca Ortega about improving gender equity in cardiology. Rebecca is the Founding and executive director of Women as One, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting talent in medicine...

Breaking Up the Lecture: The Power of Active Learning 27.09.2023

I’m really excited to have today’s conversation with  Dr. Barbie Honeycutt, a faculty development consultant and host of the podcast Lecture Breakers .  Barbi is an expert in the field of active learning and is known for her work on creating engaging and effective learning experiences for students. She is the founder of FLIP It® and Interactive Lectures, two popular strategies for incorporating ac...

Human-Centered Instructional Design: A Catalyst for Effective Learning in CME/CE 20.09.2023

Instructional design for online courses is a crucial aspect of modern CME/CE. And as online learning has grown over the last 15 years or so, especially so since 2020, instructional designers play a vital role in creating effective and engaging CME/CE content for learners. In today’s podcast episode, I’m speaking with Mark Hagerty, an expert in effective instructional design in the context of CME/C...

An Anesthesiologist's Wisdom on Life, Death, and Empathy 13.09.2023

Even those of us who’ve had surgery probably haven’t given much thought to the person who put us under and carefully monitored us while the surgeon did their work. I’m here today with anesthesiologist, author, and test pilot Dr. David Alfery to discuss his book, Saving Grace: What Patients Teach Their Doctors About Life, Death, and the Balance in Between , which was published by Wipf and Stock ear...

Breakthrough CME/CE: Transform Online Learning with the Art of Facilitation 06.09.2023

If you are an education provider tasked with designing virtual education, or you work with providers involved in online group learning and experiences, today's episode is a must-listen. Gwyn Wansbrough is a facilitator who designs and leads interactive online sessions. Gwyn shares how to run effective and engaging live online sessions and guide a group to achieve a specific outcome. The more we ta...

Grab Your Green Pen: Medical Writing Insights From Sarah Nelson 01.09.2023

Sarah Nelson PhD is a medical writer and founder of Green Pen Solutions Ltd. She is a leading mentor and trainer for medical writers all over the world. Her mission is to encourage more medical writers into Medcomms and help them create a sustainable career path that builds on their personal strengths. Sarah's wide-ranging knowledge comes from over 17 years as a medical writer, her experience lead...

Learning in/from Libraries: The Power of Experience in CME/CE 30.08.2023

Welcome back to the Write Medicine podcast! Before we get into today’s topic on the power of experience in learning, I wanted to share with you a message from Mallory Kane. Mallory is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Connecticut who is creating an anthology of essays based on testimonies from people whose lives have been impacted by cancer. Whether you are a patient or survivor,...

Season 5 Finale: 3 Steps to Boost Your Foundational CME Knowledge 25.07.2023

Welcome to the season finale of the Write Medicine podcast! Today's episode was supposed to be live on LinkedIn, but we encountered some tech hiccups linking Riverside.fm to LinkedIn Live. Fret not! We recorded the episode for you, and it's available right here and on your favorite podcast platforms. We're looking forward to our first live episode, which we've rescheduled for the opening of Season...

Enhancing CME with ChatGPT 12.07.2023

As an accidental educator, Andrew Crim MEd, CHCP is a seasoned expert in designing educational programs for healthcare professionals. He’s the Director of Education and Professional Development at the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists and is deeply passionate about the effect that high-quality education can have on patient outcomes. As an early adopter of Chat GPT, An...

Exploring Intersectionality and Equity in CME 05.07.2023

"There's great potential and power in acknowledging this. It's self to self, self to others single, self to others plural, and self to others at the macro level. You begin to appreciate how beautiful it can be all around you, how much we all need help, and how very related we are in our own ways." In episode 62, Dr. Leigh Boehmer emphasizes the crucial role of self-awareness in understanding and p...

Awareness to Action: Integrating DEI into CME 28.06.2023

In today's episode, I have a conversation with Sapana Panday, a medical education specialist with over two decades of experience. Sapana shares how her background in public health and evaluation research led her to work in medical education, particularly in areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). About Sapana Sapana earned a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from Mount Holyoke College and...

Empowering Learners Through Productivity Metrics 21.06.2023

Simulated case-based educational formats allow radiologists to develop their skills in a safe environment, learning from experts without the risks involved in clinical care.  This is exactly what Medality specializes in offering its learners.  On today’s episode, Dr. Deanna Heier, Ph. D., Head of Educational Strategy and Operations at Medality, shares how the company replicates side-by-side traini...

Building Blocks for a Successful Learning Culture 14.06.2023

✨ Focus Your Writing with Ben Riggs ✨ Join Ben Riggs for a WriteCME Pro Expert Perspective session on how to focus your writing and create focused content for busy health professionals.  When: June 21, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PDT Where: Live online How: Buy a ticket for the event + 1 month of WriteCME Pro __________________________ If content is King, learning culture must be Queen, as the latter go...

Why Connection Is Key In CME 07.06.2023

Whether you are an education provider working with a distributed team or a freelance writer working with multiple clients, connecting with your colleagues, peers, and clients is key. Today I’m taking a deeper dive into connection to explore why it’s important in CME and to offer some different ways to foster connection with clients, colleagues, and content.  To apply empathy to content creation, y...

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