Mastering the Self-Edit: Tips and Tricks from Michelle Rizzo

In today's episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Michelle Rizzo, a trained journalist who turned her curiosity and life-long interest in medicine into a thriving career as a CME writer. Michelle currently works as an associate medical director and senior writer at a boutique CME content company, where she often finds herself writing and researching about rare diseases. She was kind enough to give us a glimpse into her writing process and share some actionable tips for getting into the field without a clinical background. 

Here are three key takeaways from the episode.

• Lead with the patient perspective: The ultimate goal of all CME content is to improve patient outcomes. So put your energy and effort into understanding how conditions impact the daily lives and trajectories of patients, beyond what the data alone may tell you.
• Write with empathy: Behind every study are stories of clinicians and patients, and once you tell them, those stories will be read by others. So put intention into making content that’s clear and takes into consideration your subjects’ points of view and the audience’s needs. 
• Don’t be afraid to over-research: Time constraints are always a concern, but if you’re writing about a rare condition or a subject you’re not familiar with, strive to learn as much as you can before putting pen to paper. 

This episode has nuggets of wisdom for everyone, whether you’re only thinking about getting into CME or have been in the industry for decades. Share your thoughts and CME career stories in the comments below!

Connect with Michelle
Associate Medical Director, Integrity Continuing Education
michellerenerizzo@gmail.com
LinkedIn

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