Scholarly Practice

Writer's CHAT Series

Looking for some strategies and tools to advance your scholarly writing? Craving some dedicated time to work on a manuscript or another writing initiative? Join us for our summer Writer’s CHAT series where you will have the opportunity to discuss issues ranging from how to join the scholarly conversation to developing your story to working as a collaborative writing team. Each session will also have dedicated time for individual and/or small group writing so participate on your own or with your colleagues.

📅Every Wednesday in July & August from 10am-12pm ET 

💻 All Sessions Delivered Virtually (Zoom)

CHAT stands for Conversations in Healthcare, Academia, and Teaching.  This is a group-based discussion program that will feature key topics set for by a unified group of organizers on a given theme.  After a successful pilot in Fall 2020, we have decided to expand the CHAT series. The summer Writer’s CHAT series entails eight sessions, but they are meant to be drop-in sessions, and do not require prior attendance.

We welcome faculty, trainees and students of all levels to attend these sessions, participate in our discussions and move their writing projects forward. 

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this virtual event, participants will be able to:

Each Session will have a Standard Format:

The following are the dates and times for this 2021 CHAT series:

1) Take on Me: How to Join the Scholarly Conversation
📅 Wed., July 7th, 2021, 10:00 am
Discussant: Mat Mercuri

Read: Joining a conversation: the problem/gap/hook heuristic

2) Step by Step...Oh baby! Outlines, Storyboards, and Flow...
📅Wed., July 14th, 2021, 10:00 am
Discussant: Teresa Chan

Read:  From semi-conscious to strategic paragraphing.

The three ‘S’s of editing: story, structure, and style.

3) Express Yourself: Finding the Right Fit for Your Article
📅Wed., July 21st, 2021, 10:00 am
Discussant: Sandra Monteiro 

Read: How to Choose a Target Journal

Explore: Journal/Author Name Estimator (JANE)

4) I Wanna Dance with Somebody: Collaboration & Bringing Your Team Together
📅Wed., July 28th, 2021, 10:00 am
Discussant: Brent Thoma

Read: Collaborative writing: Strategies and activities for writing productively together.

5) With or Without You: Leading the Writing
📅 Wed., August 4th, 2021, 10:00 am
Discussant: Ilana Bayer

Read: Beyond feedback: 11 tips for coaching writing

6) Cruel to be Kind: Cutting & Editing Your Work
📅Wed., August 11th, 2021, 10:00 am
Discussant: Jonathan Sherbino

Read: Giving feedback on others’ writing

7) Sweet Child of Mine: How to Handle Revisions
📅Wed., August 18th, 2021, 10:00 am
Discussant: Kevin Eva 

Read: How to respond to comments by peer reviewers. 

The reviewer is always right: peer review of research in Medical Education. 

8) Don’t Stop Believin’: Rejections & Resilience
📅Wed., August 25th, 2021, 10:00 am
Discussant: Mat Mercuri

Read: Rejection blues: why do research papers get rejected?

Watch Past Events

Organizing Committee & Hosts

Dr. Teresa Chan (@TChanMD) is an associate professor in the Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Medicine at McMaster University.  She is the assistant dean for McMaster Faculty of Health Sciences Program for Faculty Development (@MacPFD).  She is an avid scholar in health professions education and works with the MERIT group (@MERIT_McMaster), and conducts research and scholarship within this area.

Ilana Bayer, PhD (@IlanaBayer) is the Director of the Learning Technologies Lab (@MacLtl)  as well as Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine. She has a combined background in health sciences, e-learning, teaching, and training. In her role, Dr. Bayer supports faculty development and research around the use of electronic modalities in higher education.

Interested in organizing a CHAT series?

CHAT stands for Conversations in Healthcare, Academia, and Teaching. This is a group-based discussion program that will feature key topics set for by a unified group of organizers on a given them. We are welcoming of faculty members who wish to organize a similar series for their area of interest or need. 

Please contact us at macpfd@mcmaster.ca to propose a new CHAT series.