The B E L S Letter

Published by the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences September 2015 No. 45

Enthusiastic, Extroverted, Energetic New BELS President Enjoys a Good Party

By Don Harting, ELS, CHCP

He’s been described as fun, Steve. could barely move. extroverted, and exceptionally “I’ve always liked Tom,” Steve says. bright. Those who have edited his “BELS is lucky to have him as writing say it is concise and easy president.” to read. What’s more, his closest friends say he’s a good cook and he Another Texas friend is Christine loves to throw parties. Wogan, MS, ELS, AMWA treasurer. Like Steve, Chris met Tom through He’s Thomas “Tom” Gegeny, MS, ELS, the AMWA Southwest Chapter. Chris the new president of BELS. recalls being impressed by Tom’s mastery of technical information Stephen Palmer, PhD, ELS, incoming related to library science. president of the American Medical Writers Association, got to know “No matter where he ends up, he always seems to rise to the top Tom through the AMWA Southwest Thomas Gegeny, MS, ELS really quickly,” Chris observed. Chapter beginning around 2003. BELS President 2015–17 Tom was president-elect of the chapter then, and working as Marianne Mallia, ELS, agrees. in biomedical science. He worked his senior editor at The Center for Marianne served as AMWA way through grad school waiting tables AIDS Information & Advocacy in president from 2002 to 2003 and at Baba Yega’s, a funky café known for Houston, TX. Steve describes Tom now chairs the AMWA certification its Sunday brunches and mimosas. Tom as an “energetic, enthusiastic guy commission. She describes Tom attained ELS certification in 1999. He who’s always very upbeat.” as “very outgoing, creative, and stayed in Houston through 2006 and interested in learning.” Marianne then moved back East to be closer to Steve still remembers the time continues: “If anyone asks Tom to do his parents. But he missed his friends so more than 10 years ago when he something, he will. He always says much that he found a small apartment was invited to Tom’s house for a yes. He has boundless energy. And in Houston to make it easy to visit. Christmas party. More than 100 he makes a great margarita.” He cooked dinner for Steve and his people had already arrived. Music wife there recently — Steve fondly played on the stereo, catering staff Tom grew up in Connecticut. remembers the spicy, Southwest-style served delicious appetizers, and He went to graduate school in tomato soup. every room seemed so packed Houston, earning a master’s degree continued next page © 2015, Board of Editors in the Life Sciences 2 BELS Letter continued from first page structure, and consider other ways materials from members of the people can continue to be involved Executive Council (EC). We’re putting Tom was president of AMWA or become involved in BELS. I’d like together a handbook to inform new from 2009 to 2010. He has to be more transparent with what’s people about what their positions been recognized 3 times for his being done behind the scenes at involve, and help ensure continuity. contributions to that organization. the committee level, and show how Nothing like this has been done He co-chaired AMWA’s certification people can align their professional before. We’re also working on a commission during the development goals with volunteer opportunities membership survey and a strategic of its new credentialing exam, within BELS. plan. set to debut in San Antonio later this month. His current job title is Q: And your third goal? Q: Where do you think BELS Stakeholder Engagement Leader at presents the greatest challenge? Clear Pharma in Westport, CT. A: It’s about the exam itself. We need to bring in consultants and our own A: Infrastructure and volunteerism. Tom assumed the position of BELS experts to help us work on the exam, BELS has been effectively and president in May. In an interview think about how it is administered, efficiently run by just a handful of with The BELS Letter, Tom outlined think about best practices, and volunteers, some of whom have goals for his 2-year term. consider how credentialing has been involved for many years. changed in the past 2 decades. I We need to bring in new faces, Q: Why did you want to be want to ensure that, from a best new ideas, and a new sense of president of BELS? practices point of view, and from a commitment for BELS’s next 25 credentialing perspective, BELS is years. I’ll admit, I can be overly A: It’s a chance for me to give back to meeting the needs of folks in the ambitious and optimistic at times, the organization. I’ve always felt the profession. This may mean linking even Pollyannaish, but getting half work BELS does is important. the exam and what it tests with data of something done (and done well) from surveyed professionals in the is better than not trying at all. Q: What do you hope to field, perhaps identifying areas where accomplish during your term? we don’t test enough, or areas where Q: I understand you enjoy a party. we test too much. These are ways we A: I have 3 main goals. First, I want can strengthen the examination and A: [Laughs] Yes, down in Texas, to strengthen the infrastructure keep it relevant and responsive to the there was a time for about 12–15 by working with an association needs of the profession. years, that my friends and I hosted a management company that can standing-room–only party, generally allocate resources and assign Q: BELS was founded in 1991. between 300 and 400 guests. I support staff to take care of Where do you see BELS now? would do a lot of the food prep and administrative and maintenance the menu, but I would have staff on aspects. A: BELS is a tremendous organization. board so I didn’t have to go crazy. Worldwide we have more than 1,200 Yes, I enjoy a good party. Q: What would the company do? ELS-certified individuals. That’s a tremendous accomplishment. What’s Q: We’re coming up on our 25th A: Reserve hotel and meeting space, most impressive is that our 25-year anniversary in January. Do you operate the website, maintain the history has been 100% volunteer have any feasts planned for the membership database, things like driven. That’s amazing. BELS is at BELS membership? that. I want to get the right support the stage now where it’s critical to to make us a stronger organization get support for those volunteers, to A: Let’s just say that next year, I’m and take some of the burden off of maintain stability and consistency. not opposed to persuading the EC our volunteers. to help me organize a BELS birthday Q: Do you have any other bash. Q: What’s your second goal? initiatives in mind?

A: I want to grow volunteerism. We A: I’m working with BELS Secretary, need to understand our membership Melissa Bogen, ELS, to gather    2 BELS Letter September 2015 • No. 45 3 Volunteer Spotlight Katharine O’Moore-Klopf, ELS What do you like best about it? since you took over the BELS page Administrator I can fit it in around my projects on Facebook and the BELS Twitter BELS Facebook and Twitter accounts as a self-employed editor. I enjoy account? keeping our members updated How did you become interested in about science-editing news There is always something new to BELS? and educational programs. I write about! In the beginning, I had love announcing the names of those fears that we’d be repeating the My only degree is a bachelor’s in who have just earned their BELS same few messages after a while journalism. But I’ve worked for years, certification! I’m so proud of each because we’d run out of topics. both in house and then as a self- new batch of certified editors! employed editor, in science and What has been the biggest medical publishing. A portion of challenge? my clientele consists of physician- researchers around the world who Increasing the number of viewers are not native English speakers. who respond to Facebook posts In the past, when some of these and tweets. We get a fairly good authors were referred to me, they number of “likes” and “favorites,” but assumed that to be able to edit I’d love to see more viewers making biomedical manuscripts, I must have comments. an advanced academic degree—a master’s in science, or even a PhD Do your plans for the BELS or an MD. I began thinking about page on Facebook and for the what I could do to get across to BELS Twitter account involve such potential clients my mastery of volunteers? science editing. I read somewhere about BELS certification and Definitely. I want to keep increasing wondered whether I could achieve the number of people who follow us, it. My colleague Julia Barrett, ELS, Katharine O’Moore-Klopf, ELS but I especially want to increase the cheered me on and gave me the frequency of dialogue between BELS courage to take the examination. If it How could your experience as a and its social media followers. weren’t for her encouragement, I still volunteer be improved? might not have certification today. What message would you send Maybe having a backup to compose to a recent exam passer who is How long have you been tweets and post updates when I’m on thinking about volunteering? volunteering for BELS? deadline or vacation. Do you want to increase the value of I’ve been serving as the main person There’s a lot of info in your e-mail your new certification? Then spread posting to the BELS Facebook page signature block — what are you the word about it by volunteering. and tweeting via its Twitter account the most proud of? Proctor an exam. Help with the BELS since 2009. newsletter. Help make BELS more I love having that ELS designation visible in social media. because it shows that I’m well qualified and because I hope that it sparks questions from e-mail correspondents who don’t know what it means.

Follow @BELS_Editors on Twitter! What’s been the biggest surprise Like BELS on Facebook! 4 BELS Letter ☛ Nota Bene Deborah Bowman, MFA, ELS, is Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ. Karen Klein, MA, ELS, will speak at co-author of an article in Editorial More time now for editing nursing the 1st national scientific meeting Office News, the publication of the books! of the Patient-Centered Outcomes International Society of Managing Research Institute (PCORI) on and Technical Editors, entitled “The October 7, 2015 in Arlington, VA. Impact Factor: For Better or For Michelle Dalton, ELS, is president- She will be one of three panelists for Worse.” elect of the Delaware Valley chapter a session entitled “An Evaluation of of the American Medical Writers PCORI’s Merit Review.” Association. Michelle will serve in this Rachel Box, MS, ELS, has joined the position until 2016, when she will Johns Hopkins School of Medicine as then become chapter president. Eleanor Mayfield, ELS, earned director of editorial services for the a certificate in medical writing Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. and editing from the University of Rachel previously worked for the As part of her work with the Breast Chicago Graham School. Her article Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health Global Initiative (BHGI), “Treating Advanced Skin Cancer” won Public Health. Sandra Ripley Distelhorst, ELS, was an award for excellence in the health first author on a Lancet Oncology and medical writing category of article published in March 2015: the APEX ‘15 publication excellence Dave L. Chance, MA, ELS, has 3 new “Optimisation of the Continuum awards. Her article on advances books (print and digital) on which he of Supportive and Palliative Care in colorectal cancer management was lead editor: Milner D. Diagnostic for Patients with Breast Cancer in appears in the Summer 2015 issue of Pathology: Infectious Diseases; Low-income and Middle-income A Woman’s Health. Auerbach A, Vasef M. Diagnostic Countries.” Pathology: Molecular Oncology; and Lindberg M. Diagnostic Pathology: Needs assessments and grant In March, 2015, Lisa Ragsdale, MA, Soft Tissue Tumors, 2nd edition. All proposals written or edited by Don ELS, was promoted to the position were published in 2015 in Salt Lake Harting MA, ELS, CHCP, have won of scientific journal editor at the City, UT by Elsevier/Amirsys. more than $834,000 in commercial American Society of Radiologic support for accredited continuing Technologists in Albuquerque, NM. medical education since July 1, In that role, Lisa manages Radiologic Mary L. Chang, ELS, publications 2014. Awards came in the following Technology, an academic journal for manager at the American Society therapeutic areas: acute and chronic members of the radiologic sciences for Biochemistry and Molecular leukemias, B-cell lymphomas, breast profession. Biology in Rockville, MD, received cancer, and non-small cell lung the inaugural Award for Excellence cancer. from the International Society of Bushra Rashid, PhD, ELS, worked Managing and Technical Editors in as editorial head for several August 2015. Ann Houska, MA, ELS, founded publishing companies and managed Eagle Eye Edit, a full-service editing more than 10 medical books in service, in 2014. She offers AMA-style various disciplines at Wiley, her last Claudia M. Cuddy, MA, ELS, served copyediting and fact checking of organization. At present, she is a as managing editor and layout pharmaceutical/medical/therapeutic/ full-time freelance medical editor designer for the 6-volume Core advertising deliverables, including working primarily for clients from Curriculum for Nephrology Nursing, slide decks, interactive learning/ countries such as China, Egypt, and published in April by the American training modules, journal articles, Saudi Arabia. Nephrology Nurses’ Association. In abstracts, posters, and websites. addition, she retired after 21 years Today, with 6 steady clients, Ann in the Department of Journalism at couldn’t be busier—or happier.   