Everyone employed in marketing, medical affairs, learning, and training encounters the challenges of communicating complex, scientific material in a clear and accessible manner. This expert blog contains advice and best practices for presenting scientific information to your target audience, from pedagogy to design, technical specs to usability, timelines to costs and everything in between.
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Are learning objectives a waste of time?
/in Medical learning & training, eLearning & engaging activities /by Colin KorellIn medical affairs and medical communications, learning objectives often feel like a formality. Many medical writers, trainers, and scientific educators have experienced the same situation. A training module is already designed. The scientific story is clear. Then someone asks for three learning objectives for the slide deck or the eLearning module. Read more
Speeding up training in medical affairs: “Fail fast, learn fast” vs. “slow is smooth, smooth is fast”
/in Medical learning & training, eLearning & engaging activities /by Colin KorellEffective training for medical affairs teams is critical for ensuring they are equipped with the right knowledge and skills to adapt to emerging medical developments while communicating with transparency and accuracy. There are times in the learning journey when speed is key and times when careful planning is essential. Read more
From cluttered to clear: case studies in strategic slide design
/in Scientific slide decks, Medical congresses & conferences, Medical affairs & medical marketing, Medical learning & training, eLearning & engaging activities /by Stefan WolfYou’ve seen it before: a slide that contains all the right information but somehow fails to communicate effectively. Whether it’s part of a training deck, an eLearning module, congress materials, or live presentation, the content is accurate and complete—so why doesn’t it work? Read more
A practical guide to interactive infographics for medical affairs
/in Illustrations & infographics, Medical congresses & conferences, Medical affairs & medical marketing /by Stefan WolfMedical affairs teams face a critical challenge: presenting complex scientific data in a way that is engaging without sacrificing credibility. While static infographics have their place, today’s healthcare professionals expect more dynamic experiences. Interactive infographics are transforming scientific communication, from congress booths to Medical Science Liaison meetings. Read more
Building privacy-first AI tools: lessons from scientific communication
/in Illustrations & infographics, Medical congresses & conferences, Medical affairs & medical marketing, Medical learning & training, Medical animation and explainer videos, eLearning & engaging activities /by Stefan WolfYou’re developing a 200-slide training deck for global rollout. Your inputs include slides from the US team (who abbreviate everything), content from European colleagues (who spell everything out), and “core slides” from global (each with different reference formatting). Even more challenging: Read more
From static training to strategic learning: how interactive modules transform medical knowledge transfer
/in Medical learning & training, eLearning & engaging activities /by Stefan WolfMedical affairs teams face a persistent challenge: thousands of dollars invested in virtual training sessions yield disappointing engagement results, while critical skills like objection handling remain underdeveloped through static materials. This disconnect between training investment and practical application has created a knowledge gap that affects everything from product launches to ongoing medical information support. Read more
One Page, many meanings: choosing between infographics, training cards, one-pagers, and illustrations
/in Illustrations & infographics, Medical congresses & conferences, Medical affairs & medical marketing, Medical learning & training /by Alexander RoederThe terms “infographic,” “training card,” “one-pager,” and “illustration” are frequently used interchangeably in pharmaceutical communications, yet each represents a distinct format with specific characteristics and purposes. This lack of precision in terminology creates real challenges: medical affairs teams request “infographics” when they need detailed scientific summaries; MSLs receive dense text documents when they need quick-reference tools; and congress materials lack the visual impact needed to engage HCPs in a busy environment.
These mismatches between format and purpose not only waste resources but also diminish the effectiveness of scientific communication. Read more
Visualizing challenging data
/in Illustrations & infographics, Medical congresses & conferences, Medical affairs & medical marketing, Medical learning & training, Medical animation and explainer videos, eLearning & engaging activities /by Colin KorellInteractive infographics in scientific communication: transforming complex data into engaging visual narratives
/in eLearning & engaging activities, Illustrations & infographics, Medical congresses & conferences, Medical affairs & medical marketing, Medical learning & training /by Alexander RoederThe importance of Gagné’s events of instruction for medical training
/in Medical learning & training, eLearning & engaging activities /by Colin KorellMedical training generally consists of a mix of lectures, small group learning, and hands-on experience. Robert Gagné, an educational psychologist, developed a framework that describes the necessary steps for effective instruction called the nine events of instruction. Read more
The importance of load management for medical training
/in Medical learning & training, eLearning & engaging activities /by Colin KorellWe all know that medical training is demanding. But did you know that there is a science to optimizing how much information students can process during their studies? Read more
How to write assessment questions for medical affairs training that prepare your team for the field
/in Medical learning & training, eLearning & engaging activities, Scientific slide decks, Medical affairs & medical marketing /by Colin KorellHow do you prepare your medical affairs team for working in the field and at congresses? Without a doubt, much of their time will be spent learning about clinical trials and the evidence they have generated. Read more
Uploading materials to Veeva: factors that influence time and costs
/in Scientific slide decks, Illustrations & infographics, Medical affairs & medical marketing, Medical learning & training, Medical animation and explainer videos, eLearning & engaging activities /by Colin KorellWhether you work at a large or small pharma company, your organization almost certainly has a formalized review process for ensuring the non-promotional materials your medical affairs team uses are accurate, in line with local regulations, and free of content that poses unacceptable legal risks, such as lawsuits from competitors. Read more
Thoughtful slide design for journal club presentations
/in Medical affairs & medical marketing, Medical learning & training, eLearning & engaging activities, Scientific slide decks /by Colin KorellIn the rapidly evolving landscape of scientific research and development, it’s impossible for everyone to keep up with the ever-expanding body of literature. With new publications pouring in daily, it becomes crucial to filter out what’s most relevant to your therapeutic area and your company’s products. Journal clubs, a longstanding tradition in the scientific community, are an effective way to achieve this. Read more
How an agency’s grasp on approval processes can make or break your medical content
/in Scientific slide decks, Illustrations & infographics, Medical congresses & conferences, Medical affairs & medical marketing, Medical learning & training, Medical animation and explainer videos, eLearning & engaging activities /by Colin KorellIf you work in medical affairs, you know that legal, medical, and regulatory review is crucial for the materials your team uses, whether internally, in the field, or at medical congress booths. But what about the agencies you partner with? Do they understand your company’s review process? Read more