My Craigslist Chronicles

http://neurosciencecme.com/

CMEOutfitters provides continuing medical education (CME) to primary care and mental healthcare professionals, centered on the neurobiological aspects of psychiatric disorders including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, depression and sleep disorders, as well as on general medical disorders such as diabetes, HIV, HCV, and acute coronary syndrome. My work provided background knowledge of the underlying biology, chemistry and anatomy involved in a psychiatric disorder, integrated with details of the latest research with regard to pharmacological and psychological interventions. This was presented via seminars, workshops, newsletters, needs assessments, journal inserts, online learning activities, and a website. I was also involved in researching and assessing Requests for Proposals, and in discovering pharmacological innovations that are useful in forwarding the business side of the company.

In addition I instigated the compilation of a number of resources for the Medical Resource Group (MRG) including compiling databases to allow them easier access to the materials they need to put together an activity, and monthly journal scans to keep our members up-to-date on the latest research on various aspects of psychiatry. I was also in charge of educating MRG with regards to Adult Learning Theory and Principles of Continuing Medical Education to enable them to write innovative and constructive activities.

Work examples:

Try Sleeping On It http://www.neurosciencecme.com/email/2008/031108.htm

Medical Writer - Oct 2005 to Aug 2007

Neuroscience Education Institute,

As a medical writer for NEI I was involved in researching and compiling information on pharmaceutical, neurobiological and social components of psychiatric disorders. This was disseminated through the media of lectures, newsletters, online reports, monographs and pamphlets. Newsletter articles included: Psychiatry and HIV, Complementary Medicine and Cultural Competence in Medicine. I also helped script physician/patient scenarios for teaching DVDs, constructed workshops to educate on difficult aspects of patient care, and provided needs assessment studies to direct our future work.

Postdoctoral Researcher - Mar 2001 to Jul 2005

The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 Nth Torrey

As a postdoctoral researcher I investigated gene expression in rhesus macaques acutely and chronically affected with simian immunodeficiency virus. Confirmation of results was via the use of immunohistochemistry, in-situ hybridization, RT-PCR, Western Blot, ELISA and cell culture. This was part of the ongoing work in the laboratory of Dr. Howard Fox, Dept of Neuropharmacology. During my time with Dr Fox I published a number of journal papers, presented at scientific meetings and wrote a book chapter for The Neurology of AIDS. 2^nd Ed.

Journal Papers:

Journal Papers, etc

Science Writer - Jun 2000 to Feb 2001

Health-e-net/Yizura.co.uk, Riverbank House, Putney Bridge Road, Putney, SW6 3JD, UK

For this, now defunct, website, I was in charge of writing articles which provided details of scientific investigations on complementary medicine, along with constructing a searchable database on journal articles which I had vetted with regard to validity. I was head of a team of five staff who helped compile the database and research articles.

Work Examples:

Fighting The Common Cold

Teacher and ‘Explainer’ - Jan 1998 to May 2000

The Welcome Trust ‘Science for Life’ exhibition, Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, NW1 2BE, UK

I taught school groups PCR, DNA extraction and bacteria transformation, along with psychology testing techniques, I also showed visitors around the interactive science exhibition, and answered general science questions from exhibition goers.

Other Work and Experience

I have had a variety of jobs, including instructing school groups at the Welcome Trust for Science, being a nursing assistant, a receptionist and a waitress, which has given me a wide scope of experiences in many different work places. I was an Executive Committee member of the Society of Fellows at TSRI, for whom I wrote a report on conditions provided for postdoctoral workers (Report on Work Conditions For Postdocs at TSRI), and was also a member of the TSRI Network for Women in Science.

I sat on the Student Forum at the Institute of Psychiatry where I organized events such as a Presentation Skills Workshop. I am a current member of The National Association of Science Writers, the Society for Neuroscience and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.