Below are some examples of medical writing and editing projects. For a list of published articles only, please see Portfolio.

Writing

2009 Scientific Report for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: 15 feature stories highlighting the scientific achievements of the Institute in key areas of cancer research: genomics, computational biology, translational research, and immunology as well as the basic science (metabolic regulation, DNA repair) that contributes to an understanding of cancer biology.

People-of-NIBR Profiles for Novartis. Biographical stories that highlight the work of the top scientists at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, the global R&D arm of Novartis. Targeted to a general audience of 100,000 employees, these profiles (26 to date) explain the innovative research taking place in autoimmunity, transplantation, oncology, diabetes, ophthalmology, and neuroscience, as well as inflammatory, gastrointestinal, infectious, and respiratory diseases.

Feature Stories for Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center:

• "Trials Target Abnormal Fusion Gene in Lung Cancer"

• "Understanding Environmental and Genetic Factors in GI Malignancies"

• "Leveraging Genetics and Technology in EGFR-mutated Lung Cancer"

• "Signaling Network Connects Cancer Types and Collaborators"

• "First Melanoma Trial to Target KIT Aberrations With Imatinib"

• "CanCORS: Understanding the Reasons for Cancer Care Disparities"

• "Improving Cancer Outcomes: What's Your Policy?"

• "First Trial of Multitargeted Inhibitor in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer"

• "Thinking Therapeutically: Scientists in Search of Smarter Tests and Treatments for Prostate Cancer"

• "Beyond Survival: Bettering Men's Quality of Life Following Prostate Cancer Treatment"

• "Unique Randomized Trial Tests VEGF Inhibitor in Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma"

• "Divide-and-Conquer Strategy Drives Breast Cancer Breakthroughs"

• "siRNA Knockdowns Turn Up Intriguing HER2 Targets"

• "Seeking Higher Survival Rates and Lower Side Effects in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia"

• "Fusion Vaccine Plus Surgery May Prove Potent Combination in Renal Cell Cancer"

• "New Cell Death Program Solves Mystery of Bird's-Eye Cells"

• "On the HMS Quadrangle: Tackling Basic Science Questions About Cancer"

• "Cancer Disparities: Overcoming Barriers to Cancer Prevention and Care"

• "Circumventing Angiogenic Escape Mechanisms in Kidney Cancer"

• "X Marks the Spot for New Wilms' Tumor Gene"

• “Brigham and Women's Hospital: Signature Strengths Advance Cancer Research”

• "Q&A with Jeff Clark: Recent Steps Streamline Clinical Trials Process"

• "Cancer Immunotherapy: Combining Approaches to Achieve Checkmate"

• "Children's Hospital Boston: Pioneers in Cancer Research"

• "Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals New Genetic Risk Factor for Prostate Cancer"

• "Harvard School of Public Health: The Wide-Angle Lens of Population Research"

• "DFCI's Balanced Portfolio of Scientific Investments"

• "Charting a Better Roadmap for Clinical Research Protocols"

• "New Funding Accelerates Research on B-cell Lymphomas"

• "BIDMC Cancer Center: Exploiting Biology to Outwit Cancer"

Patient Education Booklet for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.  20-page booklet explaining what tissue banking is, why it is important for medical research, and who benefits from it. Won the 2008 Will Solimene Award for Excellence in Medical Communication.

Articles for Massachusetts General Hospital:

• "Innovations in Technologies, Techniques and Treatments for Brain Tumors"

• "Improving the Odds: Expanding Options for Advanced Disease"

• "Sailing From Rough Seas to Safe Harbor"

• "New Technique Creates True Embryonic Stem Cells Without Using Embryos"

• "Counseling and Caring for Patients With Hereditary Cancers"

Development Materials for Children's Hospital Boston:

• 16-page brochure introducing Children's International Pediatric Center

• Progress report on the Vascular Anomalies Center

• Proposals to fund: (1) a residency program in Pediatric Global Health, (2) expansion of the Infante Sano program in the Dominican Republic, and (3) new initiatives for the Pediatric Advanced Care Team

Science Articles for the Broad Institute. A series of stories, written for the multimedia museum project, about how genomics is transforming medicine. Topics include: BRAF mutations in melanoma, breast cancer and Herceptin, differentiation therapy, diabetes genes, CCR5 and HIV/AIDS, age-related macular degeneration, the phage genome, entosis cell death, the search for new antibacterials, and novel TB drugs.

Team Award Stories for Novartis. Articles about the struggles, discoveries, and achievements of research teams whose work won the Novartis Innovation Team Awards. See Portfolio for titles of these eight stories.

Feature Stories for Novartis:

• "Research Shows Wnt Pathway in Osteocytes Is Crucial in Bone Homeostasis"

• "On the Road to Basel: Building Scientific Synergies and a Unified Disease Area"

• "Collaboration Deciphers Genes Linked to Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders"

• "Doing Good Science in a Great Environment"

• "Antibodies: Smart Weapons in the Battle Against Disease"

Newsletter Articles for MIT. Stories about basic researchers and the discoveries emerging from their laboratories at the MIT Center for Cancer Research (now the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research). See Portfolio for titles of these seven articles.

Electronic Newsletters for Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center. DF/HCC eNews, a quarterly newsletter including feature articles, news stories, and announcements related to the research consortium and the work of its investigators (see fall 2006, winter 2007, spring 2007).

Electronic Newsletters for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. E-News@Medical Oncology, a bimonthly newsletter targeted to faculty and staff. Organized the launch, assisted with design and layout, and wrote/edited articles for the following issues: September 2006, November 2006, January 2007.

Patient Handout for Joslin Diabetes Center. 12-page booklet explaining how to get started using real-time continuous glucose monitoring safely and effectively, with tips on reaching glucose goals and staying in target range.

Cover Stories for Joslin Diabetes Center:

• "The Eyes Have It: How the Joslin Vision Network Saves Sight and Lives"

• “Capturing the Potential: What Stem Cell Science Offers Diabetes”
  Won the 2005 Eric W. Martin Award for Excellence in Medical Writing.

White Paper for Joslin. "PKC Research at Joslin Diabetes Center: 1981-2005." Won the 2006 Will Solimene Award for Excellence in Medical Communication.

Press Releases for Joslin. News announcements explaining the results of three Joslin research studies: (1) showing a link between PKC-beta 2 and abnormal kidney changes, (2) evaluating the effect of a PKC inhibitor on eye disease, and (3) demonstrating the ability of new imaging technology to visualize inflammation.

Profile for Joslin. Biographical sketch of investigator Steve Shoelson, head of  Cellular and Molecular Physiology at Joslin.

Brochures for Joslin. One brochure explaining a cooperative eye care program between Joslin and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; the other describing diabetic eye disease, promising new therapies for diabetic retinopathy, and unique services offered at the Beetham Eye Institute.

Consumer News Articles. “Facing Alzheimer’s: Simple Remedies May Reduce the Risk,” an article about homocysteine as a modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease; plus other articles about dementia and Pick's disease that were published in newspapers and nonprofit newsletters.

Pharmacist’s Handbook. A pamphlet on common medical conditions—such as  allergic rhinitis—and the nonprescription medications available to treat them.

Review. History of treatments for adenosine deaminase deficiency and results of clinical trials using T lymphocytes, hematopoietic stem cells, and cord blood.

Clinical Study Report. Summary of a phase I clinical trial testing the safety and feasibility of an autologous vaccine for pancreatic cancer. Interpreted tables and listings, documented safety data, and summarized efficacy.

Editing

Abstracts. Summaries of the contributions of Catalyst Award winners, recognized for their scientific innovation, collaboration, or creativity. Revised/edited 58 abstracts.

Scientific Articles. "Regulation and Traffic of Ceramide-1-Phosphate Produced by Ceramide Kinase," Journal of Biological Chemistry, March 28, 2008. "Targeting Ceramide Metabolism With a Potent and Specific Ceramide Kinase Inhibitor," Molecular Pharmacology, July 8, 2008. For each manuscript, rewrote abstract, introduction, results, and discussion for clarity and readability.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Scientific Report. 344-page report summarizing the work of the Institute’s clinical, translational, and basic scientists over a three-year period. As the managing editor, oversaw design and production and edited all content including front matter, research section overviews, and 212 investigator profiles. Was originally hired to manage the 2002 report—considered the best ever produced by Dana-Farber—and then rehired as managing editor of the 2005 report. For the redesigned 2009 report, wrote18 feature stories.

The Nature of Disease. 25-chapter textbook for physician assistants, published in 2006 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. As the development editor, evaluated the physician-author’s manuscript for organization, scientific accuracy, writing level, and effective use of artwork. Evaluated coverage of anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment. Compared manuscript with competing textbooks, recommending revisions to increase adoptability of this text.

Learning to Code With ICD-9-CM.  First-edition allied health textbook, published in 2005 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. As the development editor, analyzed the author’s manuscript, peer reviews, and competing books; wrote chapter reports recommending improvements to content, organization, and writing style to meet the publisher’s marketing plan for differentiating this text from the competition.

Joslin Diabetes Center Research Report 2004–2005. 78-page report on the newest avenues of diabetes research. Edited messages from leadership, profiles of principal investigators, and overviews of 11 research sections. Ensured consistency of style and appropriate reading level for all audiences—including scientists, clinicians, patients, and donors.

Online Article, "The Intersection of Psychology and Medicine: Lessons in Humility and Uncertainty," for publication in new online journal. As the substantive editor, revised this article, written by a clinical psychologist, and formatted it in APA style.

Training Manual. Curriculum for retraining all direct care staff in monitored medication self-administration for the juvenile justice agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As the substantive editor and contributing writer, organized and rewrote material for the student manual, trainer manual, and review manual.

Patient Education Handbook. 12-page booklet on pain management for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. As the copyeditor, revised text to meet health literacy standards for clarity, comprehension, and patient-friendliness.

Training Manual. 8-module instructional manual designed for healthcare workers.  As the substantive editor, organized material into logical sections, tailored vocabulary to the target audience, and rewrote content for clarity and cohesion.

Annual Reports. Copyedited Dana-Farber’s annual reports for 2003 and 2004.