Write Medicine

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 the 2026 MedComms Freelancing Barometer tells us about where the field is right now
Why documentation and traceability are the parts most people skip — and why that's changing

Ready to build your workflow?
The AI Practice Lab starts March 9th. Four weeks, eight live sessions, hands-on work with Núria Negrão PhD. You'll leave with a documented, repeatable AI workflow for research, drafting, and quality control — one you can confidently explain to clients and teams.
→ Join the AI Practice Lab
Mentioned in this episode:
Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab
Ready to write needs assessments that go deeper than "clinicians need more education"?
Join our Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab on February 19th.
You'll learn systems thinking, defensible frameworks, and grant-ready language in 3 hands-on hours.
$297 | Applies to WriteCME Pro membership
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Save My Spot → https://community.writecmepro.com/root-cause-analysis
Root Case Analysis Practice Lab

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

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 that layer determines whether your CME changes practice… or simply delivers information.
What We Explore in This Episode
Why learning objectives are signposts—not the design itself
How to break each objective into 2–3 concrete clinical tasks
The role of workflow, format, and audience context in determining granularity
How learning science (cognitive load, retrieval practice, feedback) strengthens action-focused design
Where CME programs most commonly lose alignment between need, content, assessment, and outcomes

Key Takeaway
If you can’t name the specific clinical actions required to meet an objective, the content won’t drive behavior change.
Design lives underneath the objective.
Next Step
If this episode resonated, try this:
Take one learning objective from a current project and ask:
What are the two or three specific clinical actions underneath it?
Where do those actions appear in the content?
Where are they assessed?

That exercise alone will elevate your design work.
And if you want structured practice applying this level of thinking—with feedback, live coaching, and a community of CME professionals—explore WriteCME Pro.
This is where writers become design partners.
Resources
Good CME Practice Group
Mentioned in this episode:
Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab
Ready to write needs assessments that go deeper than "clinicians need more education"?
Join our Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab on February 19th.
You'll learn systems thinking, defensible frameworks, and grant-ready language in 3 hands-on hours.
$297 | Applies to WriteCME Pro membership
[CTA Button]
Save My Spot → https://community.writecmepro.com/root-cause-analysis
Root Case Analysis Practice Lab

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

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 episode, you’ll learn:
The biggest mindset and skill gaps CME writers faced this year
Why understanding the ecosystem matters more than mastering templates
The professional identity shift that helped writers step into higher-level roles
Why wellbeing has become a non-negotiable business strategy
What happens when writers grow inside a community instead of alone
What support, structure, and opportunities are coming in 2026

You’ll especially benefit if you’re:
A medical writer curious about entering CME
A working CME writer who feels stuck or isolated
A freelancer craving clarity, community, or better workflow systems
Someone who wants to build a resilient, respected CME writing business

Learn more or join the community:
12 Days of Giving Secret List
WriteCME Pro
Mentioned in this episode:
Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab
Ready to write needs assessments that go deeper than "clinicians need more education"?
Join our Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab on February 19th.
You'll learn systems thinking, defensible frameworks, and grant-ready language in 3 hands-on hours.
$297 | Applies to WriteCME Pro membership
[CTA Button]
Save My Spot → https://community.writecmepro.com/root-cause-analysis
Root Case Analysis Practice Lab

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

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 inspired the 12 Days of Giving. If you’ve ever wanted to reconnect with the why behind your own writing, this story will resonate.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
My why behind the 12 Days of Giving
How reflection helps us stay grounded in a profession that rarely slows down.
Why generosity isn’t just a nice idea, but a practical force that strengthens your craft and the CME community.

Press play to step behind the scenes and discover the heart, intention, and creative spark powering this year’s 12 Days of Giving.
Ready to join the secret list? Do that here: https://www.alexhowson.com/12-days-interest
Mentioned in this episode:
Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab
Ready to write needs assessments that go deeper than "clinicians need more education"?
Join our Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab on February 19th.
You'll learn systems thinking, defensible frameworks, and grant-ready language in 3 hands-on hours.
$297 | Applies to WriteCME Pro membership
[CTA Button]
Save My Spot → https://community.writecmepro.com/root-cause-analysis
Root Case Analysis Practice Lab

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

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 experiments shape your growth as a CME writer.
You’ll hear:
Why self-doubt is a normal part of professional transformation—and how to shift from “What if this fails?” to “What if this works?”
How your clinical experience becomes a true superpower in CME writing, giving you insight, relevance, and empathy that elevate your work.
What separates a beginner from a trusted partner, and how reliability, curiosity, and consistent communication matter more than perfection.
The role of community and belonging in building confidence and combating isolation during a career pivot.
Practical guidance for showing up online, finding your voice, and creating a presence that feels aligned and safe.

Whether you’re transitioning from clinical practice, entering CME writing from another discipline, or simply looking for more confidence in your craft, this episode offers permission, perspective, and a path forward.
Mentioned in this episode:
Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab
Ready to write needs assessments that go deeper than "clinicians need more education"?
Join our Root Cause Analysis Practice Lab on February 19th.
You'll learn systems thinking, defensible frameworks, and grant-ready language in 3 hands-on hours.
$297 | Applies to WriteCME Pro membership
[CTA Button]
Save My Spot → https://community.writecmepro.com/root-cause-analysis
Root Case Analysis Practice Lab

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp