How to Develop a High-Quality Proposal
How to Develop a High-Quality Poster Abstract
Description of Program Formats
You will be asked on the Call for Program Proposals form to select a format for your proposed presentation. The following are the planned program formats for the 2013 AMWA Annual Conference. We encourage you to consider one of AMWA's new session formats. Please note that the AMWA Annual Conference Program Committee will make every effort to maintain your proposed session format but may suggest an alternative format that better meets the needs of attendees. We urge you to create an innovative presentation that will capture your audience and provide them with interactive participation. If you have an idea for a session format not listed here, describe it on your proposal.
Hands-On Demonstrations NEW (one or two leaders; 30 minutes)
Hands-On Demonstrations allow presenters with skills in computer-based technology applications to help attendees learn by doing. Presenters demonstrate the use of a specific program or application, emphasizing its benefit to the work of medical writers and editors. Attendees will bring their own devices (laptop, tablet, or smartphone) as appropriate).
How-To Seminars (one or two leaders; 60 minutes)
How-To Seminars provide step-by-step instructions for a particular medical writing or editing task. Presenters are encouraged to develop an interactive learning opportunity for participants.
Panel Presentations (up to three speakers plus a moderator; 90 minutes)
Panel Presentations provide a variety of perspectives on an issue—or set of closely related issues—of immediate relevance and importance to medical communicators. The speakers should address details of one or more solutions, techniques, or models that are innovative or based on current best practices and should allow time for a question-and-answer period.
Poster Presentations (one or multiple authors; on display throughout the conference)
Poster Presentations demonstrate innovative responses to challenges and opportunities faced by medical communicators in their diverse work roles and settings or report on results of empirical research in medical communication. Proposals for posters must include an abstract describing the content.
Pro/Con Debates NEW (two speakers and a moderator; 60 minutes)
Pro/Con Debates offer a stimulating discussion of both sides of a single issue. Each speaker gives a 20-minute presentation, followed by a 20-minute question-and-answer period.
Roundtable Discussions (one leader; 45 minutes)
Roundtable Discussions provide a guided small-group discussion on a single specific and timely topic, question, or issue facing medical communicators. Discussion leaders share their experience and ideas and then promote the sharing of ideas, solutions, and questions among nine attendees.
Topic Seminars (one or two speakers; 60 minutes)
Topic Seminars address one critical issue, technique, or process, either through a broad overview or in more targeted detail.
A high-quality presentation begins with a high-quality proposal. Before writing your proposal, carefully consider your topic and its most important aspects. Two aspects AMWA is particularly interested in are ethics and the effect of the economy; address these two aspects in your proposal as much as possible. Create an attention-grabbing, yet focused, title; write a summary that clearly and concisely conveys the essence of your presentation; and develop two or three clear learning objectives.
Write a compelling title that captures attention.
Your title is the first thing a potential registrant will see—capture their attention! A powerful title excites readers and convinces them to attend your presentation. Be sure your title is succinct but encapsulates the key concept of your presentation
Write a clear and concise summary that describes the importance of the topic.
Summarize the key ideas and state the need for your presentation: Why is the topic important? What benefit will attendees gain? Why do medical communicators need to know about your topic? If there is relevant evidence related to your topic, be sure to note it. Specify what types of attendees will benefit most by your presentation (eg, journal copy editors, researchers-turned-writers, writers of sales training materials). Adults learn most effectively through engagement and interactivity, so be sure to describe how your session will engage the audience and encourage participation.
Write focused learning objectives.
Learning objectives answer the question, "What will I know more about or be able to do after attending this presentation? Begin each objective with an action verb, and focus on what the participant will learn rather than what the speaker or content will cover. Start each objective with "You will be able to…" and use concrete action verbs (eg, apply, analyze, define, design, edit, organize, solve).
A high-quality poster presentation begins with a high-quality poster abstract. In developing the proposal for your poster presentation, follow the guidelines for developing a high-quality proposal. The format of your abstract depends on your poster content. If you are reporting on original research, use conventional scientific research headings: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Conclusions. If you are describing how to meet a challenge or achieve a goal, use a format that includes an introduction and conclusion, with other headings appropriate for the topic.
Call for Program Proposals FAQs
Who should submit?
Anyone—AMWA member or not—who has in-depth knowledge of or experience with a topic of interest to medical writers and editors can and should submit a proposal for consideration. AMWA does not require a specific number of years of experience in the field or previous speaking experience, although such criteria may be considered in the selection process.
How many proposals may I submit?
You may submit up to three proposals for the 2013 AMWA Annual Conference.
For how many sessions may I serve as a speaker, panelist, or moderator?
An individual may participate as a speaker, panelist, or moderator a total of three times throughout the duration of the 2013 AMWA Annual Conference (this does not include workshop leaders).
How many co-presenters may I have for a session?
The AMWA Annual Conference Program Committee appreciates the value that varied perspectives add to a presentation. However, to ensure that the participants benefit from all speakers, the number of co-presenters is limited to two or three based on the session format.
What if I want my presentation to include a specific subtopic but I am not familiar with an expert on that topic?
You should make an effort to identify the speakers for your session (through networking or social media, for example), but if you cannot find a suitable speaker, describe the subtopic in your proposal, and the Annual Conference Program Committee can help to identify an expert for your proposed session.
What audiovisual equipment is available?
One LCD projector and stand, one laptop computer, one large screen, a lectern with a microphone, and a head table are provided in the meeting rooms for Topic or How-To Seminars, Pro/Con Debates and Panel Presentations. Table space with electrical outlets and Internet connectivity is provided for AMWA Hands-On Demonstrations. No audiovisual equipment is provided for Roundtable Discussions or Poster Sessions.
Who sets up the audiovisual equipment?
Audiovisual equipment will be set up for you by the AMWA-contracted audiovisual company before presentations. Presenters must arrive at the meeting room at least 20 minutes before the start to check the audiovisual set-up.
I want to provide handouts to those attending my session. Does AMWA handle production?
AMWA does not produce printed handouts for distribution at the AMWA Annual Conference. Presenters who provide handouts are responsible for their production, costs, and distribution. (The number of attendees in a session ranges from 20 to 150. If you submit them to AMWA, we will make them accessible after the conference on the AMWA website. If your presentation or handouts contain art or text from other sources, be sure to credit the sources and obtain permission as appropriate.
Do presenters need to register and pay to attend the AMWA Annual Conference?
Costs associated with attending the 2013 AMWA Annual Conference are the responsibility of the individual presenter. All presenters are required to register and pay fees to attend the AMWA Annual Conference. Registration fees and travel and hotel information will be posted on www.AMWA.org in April 2013.
Are all proposals accepted?
No. All proposals are peer reviewed and selected on the basis of specific criteria: content and relevance of the topic, quality and clarity of writing, value of learning objectives, format and degree of learner interactivity, past successes of similar presentations, number of other submissions on the same topic, historical speaker evaluation ratings, overall contribution to the 2013 AMWA Annual Conference program, and other pertinent information. Please note that if your proposal is not accepted it does not necessarily mean that the proposal was not good or that the topic was not relevant; it may be that we received many proposals on the same topic and had to make difficult decisions.
When will I know if my proposal is accepted?
Notification letters will be e-mailed no later than May 10, 2013. If you have not received an e-mail notification by May 10, 2013, please check your spam filters and then contact us at annual_conference@amwa.org to verify the status of your proposal.
When you receive notification of acceptance we will ask that you verify that the contact information for all the speakers is correct and that the final description is accurate and error-free.
What happens if my contact information has changed since the submission process?
Please notify us immediately at annual_conference@amwa.org if your contact information changes.
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