Medical Communications: Medical Editing and Proofreading

Shannon Wilkins, PhD

Medical copy editor and proofreader
PhD in professional writing: medical communications

MEDICAL TOPICS

Addiction
Asthma
Heart Disease
Pediatric Pharmacology
Dermatology
Echocardiography
Endocrinology
Transplantation
Hand Surgery
Various Cancers

EDITING CAPABILITIES

Abstracts
AMA Format
Content Editing
Tables
Figures
Manuscripts
Literature Reviews and Summaries
Medical Case Studies
Monographs and Medical Journal Articles
Patient Education Materials
Medical Reports

Shannon Wilkins, PhD in Professional writing

UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS, Memphis, TN
Doctor of Philosophy in English, Professional Writing Concentration, (all requirements met 2009)

A study of the rhetorical representation of the embryo in Congressional hearings on stem cell research funding.

CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY, Atlanta, GA
Master of Arts in English, 2000

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY, Nashville, TN
Bachelor of Arts in English, Minor in Biology, 1996

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Wrote “A Few Tips on Writing Well,” Journal of the American Medical Women’s Association, 2004.
Received the following awards: Scharff Dissertation Award (2009), Tennessee Board of Regents Minority Fellowship (2004-09), Arkansas State University Minority Dissertation Teaching Fellowship (2006), Professional Writing Concentration Award (2004), and Society for Technical Communication Mid-South Chapter Scholarship (2003-04).
Presented “Graphic Barriers: Enhanced Comprehension of Patient Education Material” at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Technical Communication (Baltimore, MD; May 2004)

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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

MAYO CLINIC, Section of Scientific Publications, Scottsdale, AZ 2007 – 2009
The largest in-house editorial service at a medical institution.

Editor, Senior Associate Consultant

• Edited and fact checked manuscripts submitted to professional medical journals; manuscripts prepared by clinicians at all 3 Mayo Clinic sites.
• Tactfully queried authors about gaps in logic; suggested alternative phrasings and organization.
• Maintained style consistency according to American Medical Association Manual of Style.
• Used Microsoft tracking tools in the editing process, completing most editing tasks electronically through multiple rounds.
• Applied proofreading symbols to hard copies for certain stages of the editing process per department policy.
• Prepared cover letters to journal editors to accompany revisions.
• Checked galley proof pages for errors.
• Collaborated with administrative staff and proofreaders.

ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY, Jonesboro, AR 2006 – 2007
Minority Teaching Fellow
• Taught two sections of Freshman Composition.

JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC PHARMACOLOGY AND THERAPEUTICS, Memphis, TN 2002 – 2007
A journal published by the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group.

Copy Editor

• Verified grammar and spelling accuracy for manuscripts on topics such as asthma, diabetes, endocarditis, neonatology, and general professional practice.
• Confirmed citation information using PubMed.
• Maintained style consistency according to American Medical Association Manual of Style.
• Used Microsoft tracking tools in the editing process, completing all editing tasks electronically.

INSTITUTE FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT EVALUATION, Memphis, TN 2003 – 2005
A joint venture between the Tennessee Department of Health and the University of Memphis.

Editor

• Prepared documents, writing and editing government reports, newsletters, and brief white papers.
• Copyedited book chapters.
• Performed literature searches using a variety of databases/library resources; summarized primary sources.

UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS, Memphis, TN 2002 – 2004

Teaching Assistant, Department of English

• Taught Freshman Composition courses in addition to African American literature.

EMORY UNIVERSITY, Atlanta, GA 2001 – 2002

Prospect Research Analyst

• Synthesized large bodies of information into concise deliverables for advancement staff.
• Identified foundations; located information on individuals, including civic activities and board memberships.

MOREHOUSE COLLEGE, Atlanta, GA 1998 – 2001
Research Associate, Howard Thurman Papers Project

• Researched archival material and conducted interviews to locate information related to the compilation of the Howard Thurman Papers.
• Wrote and edited entries, assisting the senior editor.

Lecturer

• Managed classroom and facilitated writing instruction through in-class and online lecture.
• Designed courses and initiated technology integration of writing lab and sections of expository writing.
• Co-chaired writing assessment committee; implemented assessment structures for Composition curriculum.

Media Technical Specialist

• Coordinated Mellon-funded project placing computers in African American churches to broaden public access.

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ARTICLES EDITED

Abdelmoneim SS, Bernier M, Scott CG, Dhoble A, et al. Safety of contrast agent use during stress echocardiography: a 4-year experience from a single-center cohort study of 26,774. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2009;2(9):1048-1056.

Aduen JF, Sujay B, Dickson RC, et al. Outcomes after liver transplant in patients aged 70 years or older compared with those younger than 60 years. Mayo Clin Proc. 2009;84(11):973-978.

Bailon RM, Partlow BJ, Miller-Cage V, et al. Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (insulin pump) therapy can be safely used in the hospital in select patients. Endocr Pract. 2009;15(1):24-29.

Cheekati, V, Osburne RC, Jameson KA, Cook CB. Perceptions of resident physicians about management of inpatient hyperglycemia in an urban hospital. J Hosp Med. 2009;4(1):E1-8.

Duncan SF, Merritt MV, Kakinoki R. The volar approach to proximal interphalangeal joint arthroplasty. Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg. 2009;13(1):47-53.

Herro E, Dicaudo DJ, David MD, Weaver AL, Swanson DL. Review of contemporaneous mycosis fungoides and B-cell malignancy at Mayo Clinic. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009;61(2):271-275.

Nau KM, Divertie GD, Valentino AK, Freeman WD. Safety and efficacy of levetiracetam for critically ill patients with seizures. Neurocrit Care. 2009;11(1):34-37.

Park JH, Choi SO, Kamath R, Yoon YK, Allen MC, Prausnitz MR. Polymer particle-based micromolding to fabricate novel microstructures. Biomed Microdevices. 2007;9(2):223-234.

Park JH, Yoon YK, Choi SO, Prausnitz MR, Allen MG. Tapered conical polymer microneedles fabricated using an integrated lens technique for transdermal drug delivery. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2007;54(5):903-913.

Serrao R, Davis MD. Goeckerman treatment for remission of psoriasis refractory to biologic therapy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009;60(2):348-349.

Warsame TA, Keen OE, Mookadam F, Chaliki HP. Liquefaction necrosis of calcified mitral annulus. Echocardiography. 2009;26(9):1082-1083.

Wetter DA, Davis MD. Recurrent erythema multiforme: Clinical characteristics, etiologic associations, and treatment in a series of 48 patients at Mayo Clinic, 2000 to 2007. J Am Acad Dermatol. - 10 August 2009 (10.1016/j.jaad.2009.06.046)

Feedback

"Shannon was a pleasure to work with. Very easy to communicate with and conscientious." (On file with network coordinator)

"She was great to work with. Very professional, responsive, and flexible." (On file with network coordinator)

"Great communication and very efficient work." (On file with network coordinator.)

"Appreciation for effort that was given can't be explained! Thank you so much!" Noor, Kings College, London

Submission

Cut and paste the questions and answers into an e-mail:

EditMyBook@Gmail.com

Alternates
2012@Book-Editing.com
Help2012@Airmail.net
Contact@Editing-Writing.com

You may send your initial submission to all addresses to make sure it's received.

Required:
Submit the first 50 pages of your manuscript (Word/DOC or RTF attachment preferred). Large files should be zipped. Attachment not required if writing has not started (e.g., because you're looking for a ghostwriter).

A sample is required to receive an estimate
for editing services

Along with a sample, the following information is required. Ignore questions that do not apply to your project (e.g., footnotes).

(01) Word count of complete project (under "Tools" in MS Word):

(02) Put your 100-word (approx) synopsis/description here (or attach):

(03) Describe your genre and topic (e.g., nonfiction/self-help, science fiction, horror, romance, mystery, Western, young adult, children, poetry, Christian, creative nonfiction, literary):

(04) Deadline date, if any, for return of complete project. (Please be realistic. Remember that professional editors usually have a project in process.):

(05) If you have no immediate deadline, when do you want to start the editing process?: (For instance: within 30 days, within 60 days, within 90 days, 4-12 months)

(06) Level of editing desired/expected --

Copyediting / Proofreading / Line Editing (e.g., English corrections, typos, paragraph and sentence structure, word use)
Developmental (e.g., help with the big picture, such as flow/pacing, telling the story, characterization, structure, style)
Rewriting / Ghostwriting
Critique / Evaluation

(07) Number of charts/tables/pictures (if any):

(08) Writing style/format manual (e.g., Chicago Manual, APA, MLA), if applicable:

(09) Number of footnotes/references:

(10) Do you have a contract with an agent or publisher?:

(11) Do you plan to self-publish?:

(12) What is your budget for the entire project?
$ ________________
(Note: The editors will quote their regular rates, but having an idea of your budget allows the editors to tell you what services they can provide to stay within that budget.)

(13) Your name:

(14) E-mail addresses:

(15) Day/evening phone numbers (required -- in case the response to your e-mail bounces or the editors need clarification regarding the scope of service needed, deadline, etc.):

(16) City, State, Country (or time zone):

(17) The name(s) of the editor(s)/writer(s) you'd like to contact.
(If no names are selected, your e-mail will be sent to several consultants chosen by the coordinator):

(18) Do you want the coordinator to reroute your submission if you requested editors/writers who (a) are not available by your deadline date, (b) do not handle the type of material you submitted, and/or (c) do not perform the service(s) you want?

(19) How did you learn about our service?:

(20) Attach the first 50 pages of your manuscript (include prologue/preface, proposal, query)

Notes:

No hidden charges
We won't quote you one price and charge you another. When possible, we'll provide you with a per-word or per-page rate so you'll know up front exactly how much your project will cost. (Of course, we ask that you fairly represent the scope of your project.)

To learn more about the rates charged by professional editors, please see: Editorial Freelancers Association

It is a mistaken notion that freelance editors work "on spec" (speculation) with no payment to the editor. It is basically asking the editor to work for free. There's no guarantee that a book will see a profit (or even be published). The editors posted here do not work on spec.

LIVE AGENT

Note: Questions about price and turnaround times cannot be given over the phone or via chat.
To obtain a price quote please follow the procedures listed on our quotes page.

Contact live support if you do not receive a response within three hours (M-F, 9a-7p central). Expect longer response times if you submitted after U.S. business hours or on weekends.

You may also send your submission to our alternate e-mail addresses if you do not receive a response within three hours M-F:

Help2012 at Airmail.net
editingnetwork at gmail.com
contact at editing-writing.com

You may also leave voice mail for the network coordinator: 469-789-3030. This number is for verification of e-mail submissions only.

Please be as complete as possible in representing your project's scope and size so you will receive the most accurate estimate.

Disclaimer: Your agreement, whether oral or written, is with your editor or publishing consultant, not with the editing network as a whole or its coordinator.