Taking Time Off
 
Sabbatical (from Latin sabbaticus, from Greek sabbatikos, from Hebrew shabbat, i.e., Sabbath, literally a "ceasing") is a rest from work, or a hiatus, often lasting from two months to a year. [Wikipedia]
 
And I’m taking one this summer. Yes, despite the skepticism of my family, my best friend, and my colleagues, I am taking a complete break from work for most of the summer.
 
I’m not traveling to India for an ashram, volunteering with the Peace Corps, or having a baby (thank goodness!). Instead, I’m going to rest. Thirteen years as a freelancer working six and seven days a week with an average of three deadlines a week has finally taken its toll.
 
I’m close to burnout and, given that I’m not sure what else I know how to do beyond writing, need to fix this problem now.
 
“But what are you going to do?” my friends and colleagues ask.
 
Learn how to be. Feel what it’s like to have an entire week without a deadline. Walk the dog every day. Knit.
 
My clients have been wonderful and understanding (and jealous), particularly since I gave them plenty of notice and had a plan for covering my work while I was on leave.
 
I’ll be back in August, refreshed and ready for new assignments (hint, hint!).
 


Healthcare Reform 2.0: What It Means for CME and Medical Communication Professionals
 
Many of you attended my webinar on this topic in February or heard me speak at the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions annual meeting in January.
 
The company that hosted my webinar, BeaconLive, is sponsoring a complimentary encore presentation Wednesday, May 15, at 2 p.m. Eastern. So sign up now!
 
 
 
Speaking Engagements
 
Seems that speaking is becoming an important part of my work. In the past few months, I’ve spoken about healthcare reform to the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions, in a webinar for the Society of Pharmaceutical and Biotech Trainers, and to the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) Pittsburgh chapter. I was also interviewed about the topic on KZYX public radio in Mendocino County, California.
 
I’ll be talking about the same topic this summer to the mid-Atlantic chapter of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association in Washington, DC, and, in the fall, at AMWA’s national meeting in Columbus, Ohio.
 
In April, I gave a workshop on writing white papers at AMWA’s Delaware Valley chapter annual meeting. I’m thinking about turning that into a webinar later this year.
 
Looking ahead to 2014, I’ve been asked to speak about science/medical writing at the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in San Diego in April.
 
Need a speaker or trainer for your meeting or company? You know where to reach me.
 
 
Wishing you a wonderful summer!