Transforming your presentation into a publication

Sarina Schrager, MD, MSAssociate ProfessorUniversity of WisconsinDepartment of Family Medicine

Agenda

Scholarship goals Review of literature on faculty scholarship Preparation of a talk, lecture, or presentation vs.

writing an article– small group exercise Using the preparation time for the talk as an outline

of the article Practical application

– Example– Individual activity

Academic Scholarship

Requirements for promotion

Dissemination of your expertise

Establishment of reputation

Publication more widely distributed than presentations

Following your passion

Publication rates of presentation

1994 study found a 48% publication rate of all presentations at STFM and NAPCRG annual meetings

Elder, Family Medicine, 1994

Faculty publications

Decreased during the 1990s Sample of STFM members 16% published in 1989 16.3% in 1994 8.5% in 1999

Weiss, Family Medicine, 2002

Predictors of scholarship

Research training Advanced degrees Fellowship training

Publications of fellowship graduates

Surveyed graduates of MSU’s faculty development fellowship (n=63)

Only 7 had published fellowship project 44% had published at least one paper Time, lack of mentorship, lack of help were

barriers to writing

Smith et al, Family Medicine, 2009

Strategies to increase scholarship

Time and infrastructure provided by department was successful

Financial commitment necessary by department

Coleridge, Teaching and Learning in Medicine, 2004

Lecture vs. article—small groups

Challenges of each One harder than the other? Time differences? Barriers/facilitators

Talk vs. Writing

Talk– Outline form– Less formal

documentation– ?less time– Can do in smaller

increments of time

Writing– Pressure to be polished– Intimidation– More work– Need large blocks of

time– No room to “wing it”

Barriers to Writing

Time Knowledge Mentoring Overwhelming—where to start? The writing process Lack of support Competing demands Initial failure

Preparation of a lecture

Identification of topic– Goals and objectives

Literature review Outline of important

points Summary slides

Writing an article

Identify topic Write outline Do research Summarize research Identify journal Write rough draft Edit and finalize manuscript Submit for publication

Different approaches to writing

Detailed outlines Stream of consciousness Outline in your head Write and rewrite Big chunks of time vs. small increments

Assess your own writing style

Success stories Barriers—personal and

professional How you like to write

Finding time to write

Know yourself and your writing style Compartmentalize Prioritize

– Set deadlines and keep them

Carve out time– i.e. do your lit search while on call– Make an outline while you are waiting for

something

Types of writing

Personal essays Review articles Systematic reviews Research articles EBM reviews Case reports or series

Types of presentations

Topic reviews Research presentations Innovative approach to a difficult topic Educational updates (ie. Giving a good

lecture, teaching medical students, etc.)

Using PowerPoint to help you write

Notes page Ability to write what you say Copy and paste Lecture serves as built in outline Practice giving your talk and either tape

yourself and transcribe it, or type while you talk.

Lecture to publication

Put the time in at the beginning Be organized—keep track of all sources Know yourself and your work style Go through presentation multiple times and

update notes pages

Checklist:

1. Topic appropriate for an article?– Gap in the literature– Important topic for colleagues– New approach– Combination of literature– New research available– Different population– Innovative idea

Checklist (cont.)

2. Make a list of journals– Where would this topic be appropriate?– Who is your target audience?– First, second, and third choices of journals– Review similar articles– Review instructions for authors

Checklist

3. Set aside some time to develop your ideas– When do you prepare lectures?– Literature review (document any references,

websites, etc. on notes pages)– Goals and objectives of your lecture/article– Uninterrupted time vs. small increments of time

Checklist

4. What method are you going to use– Audiotape – Powerpoint/notes pages– Detailed outline from your talk– Continue updating notes page every time you

review your presentation

Checklist

5. Continual reassessment– Do you have enough material for an article?– Should you change the format?– Re-evaluate after giving the talk? How did it go?– Use questions, comments by audience to revise

your article.

Checklist

6. Submit your paper– Don’t get discouraged– Revise and resubmit– Go to the next journal on your list– Ask a colleague to read your paper—are you

missing something? Are you getting your message across?

Trial run

Put together the talk Copied the notes pages and pasted in a

Word document Had a 2000 word rough draft Edited to make more readable and flow

better. Voila

Small group

Pick a topic Go through checklist Discussion/feedback about how it all works

Individual activity

Think about a recent presentation you did that you thought was good

Would it make an appropriate publication? How could you have made the process

easier for yourself? Is this something you see yourself doing in

the future?

Conclusion

More time invested at the beginning, but increase in productivity