Most Recent Episodes

In Part 2 of my conversation with retreat leader Marybeth Donahoe, we get specific. What did Marybeth learn from her most recent retreat in Peru — and what is she carrying into Mexico? Who is genuinely ready for an experience like this? We dig into what "midlife" actually means for the women we work with, why being held by other women is something many of us have been quietly taught to resist, and what we hope women will be able to say six months after they leave. We close with the practical fea...

What gets in the way of feeling connected to ourselves — and what does it actually take to come back? In this episode I'm joined by Marybeth Donahoe, yoga teacher and retreat leader, for a conversation about the societal and neurological forces that pull us out of alignment, the yoga tradition's model of unification across mind, body, and heart, and why intuition isn't woo — it's your body's accumulated intelligence asking to be heard. We also talk about how psychological safety and community cr...

Most people in CME and medical writing are using AI. Fewer have an actual workflow — something documented, repeatable, and defensible enough to explain to a client or compliance reviewer. This episode explores why that gap matters, what a staged workflow looks like in practice, and why this is becoming a professional differentiator right now. In this episode: Why "I try things and sometimes it works" is a ceiling, not a process The difference between using AI and having an AI workflow What th...

You already know how to write learning objectives. You reference Bloom’s taxonomy. You understand Moore’s outcomes framework. But here’s the real question: When you write a learning objective, can you clearly identify the two to three specific clinical tasks that must happen for that objective to be achieved? In this episode—based on a webinar I participated in with the Good CME Practice Group—we go deeper than frameworks. We unpack what actually sits underneath a learning objective and how t...

In this year-end episode, Alex takes you behind the scenes into a full year of growth inside the WriteCME Pro community. Whether you're just starting in CME or deepening your expertise, you’ll hear the most important trends that emerged among CME writers in 2025—what they struggled with, how they moved forward, and what this means for your own career in 2026. If you want clarity, confidence, and a sense of belonging in the CME world, this episode offers a peek at the path forward. In this epis...

What if you ended the year not with burnout or urgency, but with a daily ritual of inspiration, generosity, and creative momentum for your CME writing? As CME writers, so much of our work happens behind the scenes — the interviews, the needs assessments, the outlines, the manuscripts. It’s meaningful work, but it’s often quiet and relentless, yet it carries real impact for learners and patients. This episode takes you behind the curtain into the reflection, intention, and creative spark that in...

In this hot seat coaching conversation, Sarah Jabeen MD, a clinician turned medical writer, brings the honest questions so many emerging CME writers quietly carry: How do I navigate a career pivot without feeling like an imposter? How do I leverage my clinical background without overwhelming my writing? And how do I grow from “new” to “trusted” in the eyes of clients? Together, we unpack what’s underneath each of these questions and explore how identity, confidence, community, and small exper...

What do you do when your inbox goes quiet and the client work that once filled your calendar suddenly disappears? For many freelance medical writers—especially those transitioning into the CME space—quiet seasons can feel like failure. But what if those fallow periods are actually the most fertile ground for growth? In this conversation with seasoned writer Addie Nagy, we explore how to reframe slow seasons, rebuild confidence, and manage client relationships with steadiness and purpose. You’l...

Have you ever hesitated to push back on a client’s “non-negotiable” contract — even when something didn’t feel right? For freelance medical writers, contracts can be one of the most intimidating parts of running a business. Between indemnity clauses, “work made for hire” language, and shifting risk to the writer, it’s easy to feel powerless. In this episode, legal strategist Brionna Ned (The Lawless Lawyer) breaks down how to approach contract negotiations with confidence — so you can protect y...

How do you turn a detailed needs assessment full of data and practice gaps into a clear, learner-centered activity agenda that actually changes clinical practice? If you’ve ever stared at a dense needs assessment wondering how to transform pages of evidence into a coherent educational design, this episode is for you. Many CME writers struggle to bridge the gap between analysis and application—between identifying what clinicians need and structuring how they’ll learn it. In this episode, Alex ...

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 trus...

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 – Joi...

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, w...

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 professi...

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, y...

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 wi...

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...

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...

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 fi...

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. He...

How can continuing education break down professional silos and foster real collaboration among healthcare teams? If you create CME/CE content, you’ve likely encountered the challenge of writing for “teams” that still operate in silos. This episode with interprofessional education expert Dr. Tina Patel Gunaldo, Founder, Collaborate for Health, reveals why just using the term “team-based care” isn’t enough—and how content creators can more accurately reflect the evolving nature of healthcare coll...

Are you unsure which skills you need to thrive as a CME writer (or need for your writers)—or how to prove your value in an increasingly competitive field? Many medical writers stumble into CME with strong writing chops but little clarity about what the role truly demands. At the same time, education providers struggle to find writers who are not just capable—but competent. This episode bridges that gap. Don Harting and Haifa Kassis join us to unpack the results of their groundbreaking Delphi st...

How do we create continuing education that prepares clinicians to deliver life-changing diagnoses with both precision and compassion? In this episode, we explore what happens when the scientist’s role as a communicator intersects with the lived experience of parenting a child with a rare disease. I'm talking with Dr. Jennifer Brown, a geneticist who recently published a memoir, When the Baby is not OK: Hopes and Genes, based on her experience of parenting children diagnosed with PKU through newb...

CME professionals, medical writers, educators, and researchers - what would you do if PubMed suddenly became less accessible? You depend on this critical resource daily to find evidence-based information that powers your work. But recent funding uncertainties at the NIH have raised questions about its future. You need consistent, reliable access to quality biomedical research to meet deadlines and maintain credibility, but navigating alternatives can feel overwhelming. Where would you even begi...