The Future is Now: Embracing AI to Elevate Your Medical Writing (Intro to AI for Medical Writers)
This article is a summary of a presentation by Núria Waddington Negrão, PhD, at the 2024 Pacific Coast Conference.
Nuria Negrão electrified the audience at her PCC “Introduction to AI in Medical Communications” presentation, delivering an engaging and insightful session packed with practical AI tips. The dynamic CME writer from Baltimore, who began her journey by educating peers about HIV in high school, captivated everyone with her passion and expertise.
Nuria’s first tip was a call to action: jump in and experiment. “The sooner you start trying, the better you will be working in the future,” she urged, encouraging immediate hands-on experience. Among her innovative suggestions was leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) to enhance your skills. "Don't be afraid to let the LLM know your stance on controversial topics," she advised, "and guide it to support your position."
However, Nuria also cautioned about potential pitfalls. One critical point was the ownership of AI-generated content. Copyright laws protect material born of human creativity, not machine output. For those concerned about data privacy, she recommended processing interactivity on local machines instead of the cloud.
To harness the full potential of AI tools, Nuria stressed the importance of specificity in instructions. Examples included directives like, “Do not use training data. Only use the research papers I shared with you,” or, “I am a medical writer. Help me understand how best to prompt you to get good results.”
Highlighting the widespread use of AI, Nuria cited a Microsoft survey revealing that 75% of knowledge workers employ AI, with another study showing 55% using unapproved tools and 40% resorting to banned ones.
Nuria envisions AI as a powerful ally in her work, saying, “It should do the heavy lifting, the boring work!” Her live demonstrations showcased the astonishing speed and efficiency of these tools, leaving the audience in awe. With such time-saving capabilities, Nuria hopes the freed-up hours will be channeled into more meaningful and impactful endeavors.
About the author: Barbara Arnoldussen, DBA, is an adjunct professor at Post University and International Technology University. She earned her DBA from the International Technology University, MBA from San Jose State University, and BSN from Marquette University.
