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🙌 Many thanks for reading Write Medicine, a biweekly round-up of tips and insights to help you create exceptional CME/CPD content. If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe and receive Write Medicine Insider straight to your inbox every Wednesday.👇

Hi Reader!

Happy Valentine's Day to you dear Write Medicine friend!

Did you know that the origins of Valentine's Day may lie in a liturgical feast that celebrated the decapitation of a third-century Christian martyr or two?

I had no idea.

There's also the possibility of a connection with a 5th-century pagan fertility bacchanal, followed by a re-orientation toward love objects in the 15th century, and a commercial take-over with industrialization and the availability of factory-made cards in the 19th century.

Since we're talking about liturgy and martyrs, here's a confession: The sweetheart-focused cards, flowers, and chocolate celebration are a little over-the-top for me. According to the New York Times, folks in the USA will spend $26 billion on Valentine-themed gifts today. This seems like a convenient commodification of the human need for love and connection.

But I'll take the chocolate. And this opportunity to connect with you!

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🖇️Talking of Connection...

Last week I attended the Alliance Annual Conference in New Orleans, my first in-person Alliance conference since 2020.

And what a connective whirlwind it was! It was energizing to meet old friends, make new acquaintances, and share my perspective and experiences on entrepreneurship (with Audrie Tornow, Allison Kickel, and Karen Roy).

I also conducted a fireside chat with keynote speaker Carol Cohen on striding the world as a learning Titan and moderated a panel discussion on global CME with Ron Murray and Pam Beaton.

Keynotes from Carol Cohen, Colin West MD, and Sonia Narang were stellar, while sessions on Charting a Path to Success: Women's Panel on Navigating CME/CPD Careers and Medical Writing for Continuing Education in the Health Professions: A Competency Model were standout.

I have a lot to process from the conference, but expect some observations over the coming weeks about how we can cultivate our unique magic to embrace being a Titan of learning and how CME/CPD professionals can be, as Colin West suggested, "restorative forces" for ourselves and each other.

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🎙️On the Podcast

Last week's Monday Mentor shed light on the diverse skill sets that medical writers offer to CME/CPD providers, far beyond their exemplary writing capabilities. But there's a challenge in finding the right fit between education providers and specialist medical writers. In episode 96 I shared practical resources and tips for setting clear project expectations to smooth out the collaboration process and enhance the quality of CME/CPD content. Tune in for actionable advice on fostering successful relationships with medical writers to elevate your educational offerings—there's a process checklist for you too.

And talking of process, in episode 97, Learning Architect Dr. Alaina Szlachta shares how data collection and analysis can dramatically enhance the impact of CME/CE activities and programs. She demystifies the complexities of evaluating educational activities and programs, emphasizes the importance of providing tangible outcomes to demonstrate value and inform data-driven decisions, and offers a straightforward framework for aligning learning outcomes with performance indicators. Get ready to learn how AI can help craft customized assessments as well as how to build your "indicator muscle" to make your education programs more impactful than ever.

🗨️ Do you avoid marketing?

Marketing works when you do it.

I’ve been absorbing this message from Ilise Benun for at least 15 years, probably a bit more.

Yesterday WriteCME Pro members had the opportunity to hear marketing wisdom and insights directly from Ilise.

We asked questions.

We shared observations and experiences.

We reviewed Ilise’s Simplest Marketing Plan.

Now, we’ll implement a marketing plan together in our next coaching session on February 20.

If you're a WriteCME Pro member, you have access to all these goodies and more.

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Until next time, stay curious, and keep learning.

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Alexandra Howson PhD, CHCP, FACEhp is a writer, researcher, and podcaster who shares her deep expertise in health care and education with new-to-the-field or CME-curious professionals to help them create educational content with confidence. She hosts Write Medicine, the premier podcast for CME/CPD professionals like you, wherever you are in the content creation process. Alex teaches Fundamentals of Writing and Research Ethics in the Professional Education Program in Medical Writing and Editing at the University of Chicago.

Connect with Alex | alex@alexhowson.com | 415.374.9757

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