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Exploring best practices in creating content that connects with and educates health professionals.

Thanks for reading today.

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Hey there Reader!

Is cultural awareness part of your CME/CE inclusion toolkit?

As human beings, our own culture is integral to who we are and what we do…

And culture also impacts how we learn.

People want to feel safe and included in their educational content.

As an educator, you need to use the principles of cultural awareness to celebrate and encourage cultural and personal diversity in your content creation by:

• Using inclusive terms — Choosing terms that move beyond the gender binary, respect cultural identities, and promote accessibility helps your audience feel safe and valued.
• Adding alternative wording to visuals — Writing detailed alt text for images provides people with visual or learning disabilities the opportunity to explore your content in a way that works best for them.
• Avoiding stigmatizing language — Using person-first language improves cultural awareness and addresses some of traditional education’s historical oppression and stigmatization.

CME/CE is a global enterprise that, when done correctly, should be infused with respect, inclusion, and equity across different identities and cultures.

We all want to feel heard and valued when we enter a learning-based environment — and as a CME/CE expert, it is your job to facilitate comfort through thoughtful and inclusive cultural practices in your writing.

So, reply to this email and let me know — how do you build cultural respect and awareness into your CME/CE content?

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🚗 Know your audience (and serve them what they need)

Understanding what our learners want vs. what they actually need is a delicate and incredibly important skill for any CME/CE professional.

Your audience doesn’t know what they don’t know — and by surveying your audience to learn about their needs and providing a culturally inclusive space for them to explore, you can help to foster effective adult learning.

My challenge for you today — how are you separating need from want for your learners?

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📚 Embrace future exploration

If you are anything like me, then you find yourself purchasing books faster than you can read them.

(Resulting in a guilt-fueling pile of unread stories looming in your office or bedside) 😜

But I recently came across a YouTube video by Anne-Laure Cunff, where she shares the power of our unread books, referring to them as the anti-library or “an ode to everything you want to explore.”

I really liked Anne-Laure's perspective on this — and I’d love to hear what you think! Watch her short video and reply or post on LI with the #writemedicine and #antilibrary hashtags.

And if you're not yet a member of Anne-Laure's community, Ness Labs, check it out.

The power of unread books​

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🗺️ Follow the roadmap to CME/CE success

Are you ready to kickstart a successful, inclusive, and culturally aware career in CME/CE?

Get access to my complementary micro-learning podcast and ebook, specifically designed to help you (or someone you know who could use a little support):

✅ Break into CME/CE

✅ Find high-quality clients

✅ Hone your craft as a writer and educator

When I started my CME/CE journey many years ago, this is the resource I wish I had. Learn from my deep expertise and experience in the field so you can start your CME/CE career off on the right foot!

Grab the WriteCME Roadmap!​

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🎙️On the podcast

AI is everywhere — but did you know that popular machine-learning tools could be used to improve your CME/CE writing process?

On episode 63 of the Write Medicine podcast, I chat with Andrew Crim MEd, CHCP, a seasoned expert in designing educational programs for healthcare professionals and an early adopter of the benefits of ChatGPT for CME.

Listen to the episode, then read my (slightly) counter-argument in the Alliance Almanac.

How are you using AI in your work?
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​Enhancing CME/CE with ChatGPT

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Episode 64 of the podcast is for the pharmacists!

In my conversation with Kirollos Hanna Pharm.D., we talk about the challenges and opportunities that pharmacists have to transition from clinical to non-clinical roles. As the Director of Pharmacy at Minnesota Oncology, Kirollos has a wealth of knowledge on this topic, making this a must-listen-to episode for pharmacists considering non-clinical careers.
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Pharmacy Unscripted​

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And episode 65 is out today! This is the season 5 finale, the episode that was supposed to air live on LinkedIn. You might recall that we encountered some tech hiccups. Fret not! We recorded the episode for you, and it's available on your favorite podcast platforms.

Launched 2 1/2 years ago, Write Medicine has grown into the go-to podcast for professionals in the CME/CE field. Each episode is packed with insightful interviews about the intricacies of designing and delivering education for health professionals. Thanks to listeners like you, Listen Score ranks Write Medicine as one of the top 10% most popular shows out of over 3 million podcasts worldwide.

⚡Got a question to like to ask or a topic you'd like the podcast to explore? Ask here.​

Got an idea for an episode? Pitch it here.⚡

Write Medicine is taking a break (both the podcast and the newsletter). We're looking forward to our first live episode, which we've rescheduled for the opening of Season 6 on August 30.

In the spirit of learning,

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Writer | Researcher | Educator | Podcaster

Alexandra Howson Ph.D. is a writer, researcher, and podcaster who shares her deep expertise in health care and education with new-to-the-field or CME-curious medical writers—teaching you how to create educational content with confidence and build a sustainable CME writing niche.

She teaches Fundamentals of Writing and Research Ethics in the Professional Education Program in Medical Writing and Editing at the University of Chicago.

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Connect with Alex on social | alex@alexhowson.com | 415.374.9757

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