Advertise on podcast: In Plain Cite

For medical publication professionals, “strategy” is more than a series of well-executed tactics. It means understanding where you want to go, why you want to get there, and how publication supports broader scientific objectives. In this episode, Rob sits down with Amanda Tollen, Global Business Director, Medical at Avalere Health, and Hicham Naimy, Director of Scientific Publications at Takeda. They discuss what it really means to be strategic in medical publication planning, how to align agency and client teams, and where AI can support strategic thinking. To join ISMPP, visit our website at https://www.ismpp.org/

For medical publication professionals, social media may not always seem like an obvious part of a publication plan. But many health care providers are already using social media to find medical news, learn about studies, and discover publications. In this episode, Rob sits down with Katie Veleta, Senior Scientific Director at Fingerpaint Medical, and Amelia Stymacks, their Senior Manager of Digital Strategy. They discuss why social media matters for publication professionals, how it can be integrated into publication planning, which channels and metrics to consider, and how teams can get started while building the right internal processes and guardrails. To join ISMPP, visit our website at https://www.ismpp.org/

Getting the CMPP credential is an important milestone for publication and medical communication professionals. But if you've ever thought about sitting for the exam, you may have unanswered questions about it. In this episode, Rob sits down with Claudia Piano and Danita Sutton, who are both involved in overseeing and supporting the CMPP certification exam. Together, they discuss the rigorous process behind exam development, explain how scoring works and share practical advice and resources to help candidates prepare with confidence. For more information on the CMPP exam please listen to From Credibility to Career Growth: The CMPP Advantage. To join ISMPP, visit our website at https://www.ismpp.org/

As organizations adopt artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, the pressure to move faster has never been greater. But lasting change isn't just about implementing new tools for the sake of it. It's about creating the space to think strategically and ensure innovation doesn't come at the expense of trust, quality, or sound decision-making. In this episode, Rob sits down with leadership coach and systemic consultant Michael Siller to discuss why slowing down is essential when adopting new technology, and how it could actually be the key to getting results faster. Together, they explore how leaders can navigate complexity, build trust during periods of change, and create the conditions for thoughtful, responsible innovation in medical publications and communications. To join ISMPP, visit our website at https://www.ismpp.org/

Creating resources for field medical teams isn’t just about sharing new data. It’s about understanding how that information is used in the real world. While we have more ways than ever to share scientific information, the real challenge is understanding what resources are most useful when field teams are engaging with healthcare professionals. In this episode, Rob sits down with Sarah Snyder, Co-CEO of MSL Mastery, to discuss what field medical teams really need from publication professionals. Together, they explore how the MSL role is evolving and how medical communications teams can better support field colleagues in having meaningful conversations with healthcare professionals. To join ISMPP, visit our website at https://www.ismpp.org/

For many publication and medical communication professionals, joining a smaller biotech or pharmaceutical company can be an exciting career move, but it also comes with a very different set of expectations. In this episode, Rob sits down with Robin LeWinter, Global Head of Medical Affairs at JCR Pharmaceuticals, to discuss what it's really like to build publications and medical communications with limited resources. Together, they explore the unique opportunities and challenges that come with a career in small pharma. To join ISMPP, visit our website at https://www.ismpp.org/

Artificial intelligence has already transformed how scientific information is created, reviewed, and consumed. As AI tools become more deeply integrated into medical publishing and clinical practice, many of us are asking the same question: How can we take advantage of these technologies while maintaining trust, transparency, and scientific rigor? In this episode, we explore both the opportunities and the challenges that come with AI’s growing role in medical communications. Joining us for this conversation is Raja-Elie Abdulnour, Editor-in-Chief of NEJM Clinician and Chief Clinical Innovation Officer at NEJM Group. Together, we discuss how AI is being used across editorial workflows, why disclosure and accountability matter, and what role editors play in safeguarding scientific honesty and rigor. To access the published paper, Can AI Say “I Don’t Know”?, referred to in this episode, please click here. To join ISMPP, visit our website at https://www.ismpp.org/ Disclosure: NEJM Group has licensing agreements with several AI companies, including OpenEvidence, Abridged, and Perplexity.

In today’s episode, we’re unpacking an important yet often misunderstood component of effective publication planning: the Publication Steering Committee (PSC). We’re joined by industry leaders Cindy Toste, Senior Director of Publications at GlaxoSmithKline, and Paul Ricigliano, Senior Director and Head of Oncology Global Publications at Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. Together,  we explore what makes a PSC truly successful,  from establishing clear governance and managing cross-functional dynamics to defining roles across medical affairs and clinical teams. Cindy and Paul also share real-world lessons on how to navigate disagreement, maintain momentum, and ensure decisions don’t stall progress. Whether you're forming your first PSC or optimizing an existing one, this episode offers practical guidance on turning conflict into collaboration, and collaboration into meaningful publication outcomes. To join ISMPP, visit our website at https://www.ismpp.org/ This episode is generously sponsored by Avalere Health.

Today on In Plain Cite, we explore the integration of social media into medical communication strategies, addressing how social media serves as an "additional channel" in publication planning, enabling the rapid dissemination of critical scientific data to healthcare professionals.  Our guests, Leslie Rotz of Fingerpaint Medical and Amanda Solis of Pfizer,  also discuss some of the challenges of social media, including managing the increasing volume of medical information and stringent compliance concerns.  Listen to gain practical insights into the organizational "who" of social media, from dedicated omnichannel teams to leveraging corporate channels or empowering authors. For those looking to start social media efforts, our guests outline a stepwise approach emphasizing audience insights, strong compliance partnerships, and conducting baseline assessments.   To join ISMPP, visit our website at https://www.ismpp.org/

Today, we dive into one of the most pressing and polarizing questions in medical publishing today: Should patients who contribute as co-authors be compensated? Joining us are Veronica Porkess of UCB Pharma and Simon Stones of Amica Scientific, two voices at the forefront of patient engagement. Together, we'll explore the shifting landscape of patient authorship, unpacking the ethical dilemmas and practical challenges that shape how and when patient authors are compensated. From issues of equity and selection bias to questions of transparency and tokenism, this conversation challenges traditional thinking and asks: In a future that truly includes patients, what does fair recognition really look like? To join ISMPP, visit our website at https://www.ismpp.org/  This episode is generously sponsored by Avalere Health.

Publication professionals face many challenges during the development and execution of a publication plan. These challenges differ based on the size of the pharma company, product lifecycle, SOPs and infrastructure. Today, we bring together three seasoned publication pros from small, mid-size, and large pharma companies. They’ll share tips and real-world takes on dealing with things like team structure, tight budgets, and figuring out where AI fits in. To join ISMPP, visit our website at https://www.ismpp.org/  This episode is generously sponsored by Avalere Health.

You don’t need to master complicated prompts to get great results from generative AI. Today, Conor Grennan, Chief AI Architect at NYU Stern and CEO of AI Mindset, shares a refreshing perspective: the key to working effectively with tools like ChatGPT is to treat them less like machines and more like teammates. We dig into why empathy, clear communication, and real world context matter more than technical know-how. Conor explains how the best “prompts” often resemble good leadership, asking thoughtful questions, offering clear direction, and setting the right tone. Plus, we explore how AI can support (not replace) your critical thinking and creativity. To join ISMPP, visit our website at https://www.ismpp.org/  This episode is generously sponsored by Avalere Health.

As AI becomes a more integrated part of our daily lives, it is vital that we consider all stakeholder perspectives to enable us to better foster collaboration for effective AI integration in scientific publishing. In this episode we will explore AI's transformative impact on the creation and dissemination of scientific content, addressing the real-world challenges and diverse perspectives needed to harness its full potential. By considering the opportunities and barriers  (real and perceived) to AI adoption, we can distinguish how these challenges vary among stakeholders from a pharma, publisher, and patient advocate perspective. . Joining us for this conversation is Stephen Griffiths, Publications Head at GSK; Stephanie Preuss, Director of Content Innovation at Springer Nature; and Stephen Rowley, Patient Advocate and Director at Artension. To join ISMPP, visit our website at https://www.ismpp.org/  This episode is generously sponsored by Avalere Health.

Overly complex medical information creates a barrier to effective patient care. In this episode, guest host Steve Palmisano, Executive Vice President of Publication Services at The Lockwood Group, leads a discussion with Danielle Grospitch, Scientific Director at The Lockwood Group, and Professor Cynthia Baur, Director of the Horowitz Center for Health Literacy. Together, they examine the challenges patients face when trying to understand medical content and highlight the power of plain language summaries in making that information more accessible. To join ISMPP, visit our website at https://www.ismpp.org/

You may be wondering—why pursue a CMPP credential? In this episode, we break down what earning the Certified Medical Publication Professional (CMPP) credential can do for your career. From demonstrating expertise and credibility to opening doors for new opportunities, certification helps professionals stand out in a competitive field. Our guests share firsthand how earning the CMPP credential has elevated their careers, expanded their expertise, and solidified their reputation as leaders in ethical medical publishing. To earn your CMPP, visit our website at https://www.ismpp.org/overview