Build Your Medical Writing Portfolio: A Guide for CME Writers

You've got the writing skills. You're passionate about medical education. But every prospective CME client asks for that elusive portfolio. Sound familiar?

If you're an aspiring CME writer feeling stuck in this catch-22, you're in the right place. Today, we're breaking down how to build a compelling CME portfolio from scratch - even if you've never had a single client. 

Listen in to:

1. Discover three practical strategies to build an impressive CME writing portfolio from scratch
2. Learn how to showcase your existing skills and experience in a way that appeals to CME clients
3. Get insider tips on creating portfolio-worthy samples like needs assessments and blog posts

Ready to turn your blank page into a showcase of your talents? Let's dive in.

Intro

Welcome to Write Medicine, the podcast dedicated to helping you create impactful continuing medical education content. I'm your host, Alex Howson, and today we're diving into a question I get asked all the time: How do I create a CME medical writing portfolio, especially if I'm new to the field? In this episode, we'll explore three options for building your portfolio and showcase your skills to potential clients.

Let me preface all that by saying that while it's helpful to build a portfolio that reflects your interests, the type of clients and projects you want to attract, and the needs and pain points of your prospective clients or employers, an extensive portfolio isn’t necessary. So focus on developing samples that align with topics that interest you. It bears repeating that when you understand your skill set, you can use this understanding to build a portfolio that showcases your capabilities. 

If you're listening to Write Medicine, my guess is that you have some interest in CME, so that's the niche and client market I'm going to focus on. And if you need help figuring out how your current skills will translate into CME writing, check out Ready, Steady, CME at alexhowson.com. Use this resource to identify your current skills, plot a path to the right clients, and create a plan to connect with prospects.

Option 1: Build a Portfolio Sample for Your Ideal CME Client 

One effective way to build your portfolio is by creating samples of common CME deliverables, such as needs assessments, with your ideal client in mind. Let's walk through creating a needs assessment sample step by step:

1. Choose a familiar healthcare topic that aligns with your expertise. This could be disease-focused or focused on a wider policy issue such as health equity or social determinants of health. Explore CME/CE topics on educational providers’ websites like Medscape or Clinical Care Options to get a sense of how education providers approach education and what current education trends are.
2. Perform a comprehensive literature review. I recorded a couple of episodes on literature reviews, EP 112 and 115, and I'll make sure to link to those in the show notes. In CME, literature reviews need to go beyond the clinical data and explore sources of information that will tell you something about attitudes, behaviors, and root causes for practice and care gaps, as well as current recommendations for optimal clinical practice. I wrote a recent blog on how to optimize needs assessments in CME and go way beyond the clinical data dump that is all too common, that is so old school, and that supporters do not want to read.
3. Understand your target audience and their educational needs. Will you create a sample that proposes education for nurses, specialists, and primary care providers? These clinicians differ in their education needs and often need interprofessional education, which is growing in significance in the CE field, so consider an interprofessional needs assessment as an option for your portfolio.
4. Identify the differences between current and optimal practice, which often stem from deficits in knowledge, skills, or attitudes.
5. Design precise and measurable learning objectives using Bloom's taxonomy.
6. Write your needs assessment, ensuring the content is evidence-based, fair, balanced, and free of commercial bias.

While needs assessments are a great starting point, don't limit yourself. Showcase any relevant experience in your portfolio, such as being a study author, grant writer, or writing patient education materials. These will demonstrate your ability to translate complex information into clear deliverables. And they show your ability to write for publication and for patients—both of which are areas of interest in the CME field. If you already possess writing samples, adapt and rework them to address the specific needs and pain points of potential CME/CE clients or employers. Or share the samples and explain the skills or competencies that the samples demonstrate. 

If you have written a needs assessment or two, and you want to move into writing education activity content, then terrific! The problem is that your work will likely be proprietary, so you can’t share it with prospective clients. But you could seek permission from clients to share relevant excerpts from your work without disclosing sensitive information. Use the excerpts to highlight your contributions.

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Option 2: Create a Portfolio Website or Blog 

Another way to build a portfolio is by writing a blog. If you're interested in freelance medical writing, consider crafting blog articles in your areas of interest and displaying them on your website. This not only builds your portfolio but also helps attract potential clients. Your website serves as a digital storefront, providing potential clients with an understanding of your capabilities and areas of expertise. So use it to display your writing. Create a blog or a portfolio section, and make sure your website navigation is clean, and accessible, and points visitors to your writing, right away. 

If your website is still a work in progress, post your articles on platforms like LinkedIn or Medium in the meantime. And another option is to provide pro bono work for nonprofit organizations for instance in patient advocacy or public health. You'll gain experience in writing and collaborating with others, as you build your portfolio. Bonus? You'll expand your network at the same time by connecting with experts in organizations that CME providers like to partner with to design and deliver relevant education.

Option 3: Seek Professional Support as You Diversify Your Portfolio

You can also consider taking courses or workshops on CME writing to build your skills and knowledge. I offer several portfolio-building playbooks that walk you through, help you implement, and provide feedback on creating portfolio-worthy samples including needs assessments, patient cases, and white papers. These are all available at alexhowson.com.

Remember, feedback is crucial for learning and growth and you can get feedback from your current networks. But consider building new networks too, with CME professionals, via LinkedIn, joining the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professionals, or attending industry events. Joining professional development communities can also fast-track your learning experience. For instance, in WriteCME Pro, a professional development membership for medical writers ready to specialize in CME, you'll find new and experienced CME writers who provide support, community, and guidance as you navigate this new field.

Closing

Building a strong CME writing portfolio may seem daunting, but by focusing on creating targeted samples, seeking professional support, and showcasing your work online, you'll be well on your way to success. Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all approach, so find the method that works best for you. However you develop your portfolio, highlight your ability to write clearly, meet deadlines, and be easy to work with. While your portfolio doesn’t need to be extensive, it should demonstrate your reliability and professionalism. 

If you're ready to make the transition to CME writing and need some guidance, subscribe to Write Medicine Insider for tips and resources to kickstart your journey. The link is in the show notes. Thanks for tuning in to Write Medicine. Until next time, keep creating impactful CME content!