AMWA Indiana-Michigan Chapter Annual Conference: June 20, 2026

AMWA Indiana-Michigan Chapter Annual Conference 2026 - Where Medical Writers Connect, Learn & Grow

Join the AMWA Indiana-Michigan Chapter for a full day of learning, collaboration, and professional development. Our second annual gathering brings together medical writers, editors, and communicators from across the region for expert-led presentations and a hands-on workshop — all in the heart of Ann Arbor.

Whether you are just entering the field or a seasoned professional, this conference offers practical tools, career insights, and real-world strategies you can apply immediately. Connect with peers and invest in your professional growth.

FEATURED SESSIONS

8:30 - 9:00 am: Breakfast (Provided) and Networking

9:00 - 11:00 am: Workshop — Karla D. Passalacqua, PhD, ELS, MWC
Making Friends with Observational "Real-World Data" Studies: Essential Features & Key Challenges

11:00 - 11:15 am: Break

11:15 - 12:15 pm: Presentation - Kelly Schrank, MA, ELS
Using Comprehensive Checklists to Be More Efficient and Consistent in Your Med Comms Work

12:15 - 1:30 pm: Lunch (Provided) and Networking

1:30 - 2:30 pm: Presentation - Omonseigho Talton, PhD
Writing About People: Improving Demographic Reporting and Interpretation

2:30 - 3:30 pm: Presentation - Trisha Abhay.
From Data to Decisions: The Impact of Regulatory Writing

3:30 - 3:45 pm: Break

3:45 - 4:45 pm: Presentation - Sharon Rogers, PhD, ELS
Transition into a Medical Writing Career

4:45 - 5:00 pm: Closing remarks

REGISTRATION

• AMWA Members: $75
• Non-Members: $100
• Students: $50

Info: Workshop Title: Making Friends with Observational “Real-World Data” Studies: Essential Features & Key Challenges. With advances in electronic medical recordkeeping and the expanding availability of “real-world” data, clinicians are increasingly producing observational research. These studies complement controlled trials by evaluating effectiveness, safety, and implementation across diverse settings and patient groups. However, observational studies present unique communication challenges, including clearly defining exposures and outcomes; accurately specifying study designs; avoiding over- and under-interpretation; appropriately framing limitations; and presenting data clearly. In this workshop, we will collectively “dissect” a high-quality observational study by connecting key article features to the STROBE reporting guideline checklist and discuss the main challenges medical writers may encounter with this type of manuscript.

Info: Title: Using Comprehensive Checklists to be More Efficient and Consistent in Your Med Comms Work

Anyone writing, editing, or managing any type of communications for a living is feeling the crunch. There is less time to create and edit; more types and formats of content; more apps, software, and systems to learn. And we expect quality, accuracy, and consistency from ourselves because we take pride in our work. Come to this session to learn how comprehensive checklists can help you manage details, be more efficient and consistent, exercise control over tasks, and get a sense of completion and peace of mind.

Info: Title: Writing About People: Improving Demographic Reporting and Interpretation

Racial categories are routinely used in demographic reporting but are often misinterpreted as biological variables. This session will examine how racial essentialism enters medical writing through imprecise demographic reporting and causal language that attributes group differences to race without identifying underlying mechanisms. Drawing on guidance from the American Medical Association and examples from genetics and evolution, we will discuss best practices for reporting race and ethnicity and demonstrate how to interpret group differences with mechanistically accurate language. Attendees will leave with strategies to revise manuscripts for precision and alignment with the AMA Manual of Style’s updated race and ethnicity reporting guidelines.

Info: Regulatory writing is integral to the development and approval of medical products, translating complex clinical and safety data into clear, structured narratives for regulatory review. This presentation examines how effective regulatory writing supports accurate benefit–risk assessment, facilitates regulatory decision-making, and impacts approval timelines.
Key topics include the role of clarity, consistency, and traceability in submission documents; the importance of well-developed safety narratives in pharmacovigilance; and the consequences of ambiguous or inconsistent writing, such as increased review cycles and delayed approvals. The session also highlights how cross-functional alignment across clinical, safety, and biostatistics teams contributes to cohesive and high-quality regulatory submissions.

Info: Title: Transition into a Medical Writing Career

All writers need experience to enter the medical writing field, even more so in regulatory
writing. But how do you get that experience? I will share my journey from obtaining our
first position in medical writing, to developing and growing my expertise as an
experienced writer. I will describe types of medical writing, explain how to get started,
and how to transition into a medical writing career. Come with your questions.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher AMWA Indiana-Michigan Chapter