PHILADELPHIA, September 29, 2009 -- Strong communication skills are essential for preparing scientific articles, grant proposals, posters, and slide presentations. However, these skills are not commonly taught in schools of public health, medicine, or allied health sciences.
To fill that void Thomas A. Lang, MA, has authored "How to Write, Publish, & Present in the Health Sciences: A Guide for Clinicians & Laboratory Researchers" (American College of Physicians, 2009).
"The purpose of this book is to introduce clinicians and laboratory researchers to the major types of written and visual communications they need to advance their careers," said Lang, an internationally experienced medical writer and educator. "It also teaches the skills and strategies needed for preparing these communications to meet current professional standards."
Other topics include how to write effectively, how to write efficiently, and how to prepare drawings, photographs, and diagnostic images for publication in scientific journals. A chapter on tables and graphs includes a series of questions to guide authors in choosing the best way to communicate their data. The book also provides detailed insights on the ethics and procedures of publishing research in basic science and clinical research journals.
Authors, editors, and reviewers of scientific communications, including academic physicians, practicing physicians, and residents in all medical and surgical disciplines; medical writers and editors; scientific journalists; and medical students will benefit from the book.
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"How to Write, Publish, & Present in the Health Sciences: A Guide for Clinicians & Laboratory Researchers" can be ordered online at www.acponline.org/acppress. The book is also available at all major booksellers, both in stores and online, and electronically at www.acppress-ebooks.com. To order by phone, call 800-523-1546, ext 2600 (M-F, 9:00 a.m.-5 p.m. ET).
Testimonials "This book is a great resource for teaching researchers how to present their work." -- Cynthia Mulrow, MD, MSc, Deputy Editor, Annals of Internal Medicine
"A lucid, knowledgeable, and engaging guide on to how to publish your research, and how to do it well. It's like having a journal editor whisper in your ear as you write. This book has information that nobody tells you but is critical to know when you submit to a journal. A few hours with this book will provide wisdom that otherwise might take years of frustrating journal submissions to acquire (and not to mention minimize your rejections)." -- Steven Goodman, MD, PhD, Professor of Oncology, Pediatrics, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Editor, Clinical Trials, Associate Editor, Annals of Internal Medicine
"This highly readable guide is a veritable treasure trove of practical information and helpful tips for health researchers at all levels of experience. It will be especially useful for beginning investigators and their mentors. I predict this text will be quickly adopted by instructors responsible for courses in clinical research being developed as part of the federal Clinical and Translational Science Awards program. I have never seen anyone get into this level of practical detail." -- Richard L. Kravitz, MD, MSPH, Professor and Co-vice Chair for Research, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis
"Lang's earlier book on how to report medical statistics proved so useful to me that I bought a second copy to keep in my home office. His new book features the same type of pragmatic advice on the nuts and bolts of scientific writing. A more descriptive subtitle for this book might be 'things I wish I knew when I was starting out.' This book could have saved me considerable effort over the years." -- David A. Grimes, M.D., Clinical Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
"We are forming a new MS curriculum in clinical investigation, and everything in this book maps to something in our list of core competencies. I wish everyone involved in medical research would absorb the new chapter on tables and graphs." -- Ralph O'Brien, PhD, Director, Statistical Sciences Core, Center for Clinical Investigation, Case Western Reserve University
About the Author
Thomas A. Lang, MA, is a senior medical writer, editor, and educator specializing in reporting and critical appraisal of biomedical research in scientific journals. An authority on reporting statistics in medicine, he is the co-author of "How to Report Statistics in Medicine: Annotated Guidelines for Authors, Editors, and Reviewers" (American College of Physicians, 2006, now in its second edition). Lang's honors include the first Excellence in Teaching Award, Professional Programs, Graham School of General Studies, University of Chicago (2005); the Excellence in Continuing Education Award, American Statistical Association (2002); and the Swanberg Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Medical Writing (2002). He is also a Past President of the Council of Science Editors (CSE) and the current treasurer of the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).
About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians (www.acponline.org) is the largest medical specialty organization and the second-largest physician group in the United States. ACP members include 129,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internists specialize in the prevention, detection, and treatment of illness in adults. Follow ACP on Twitter (www.twitter.com/acpinternists) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/acpinternists).