Plenary Sessions

Brief descriptions of the 10 Plenary Sessions tackling current events and embracing opportunities. View full descriptions in the meeting agenda.

Monday, April 12

Unused Vaccines Can’t Save Lives – Embracing an Opportunity to Overcome Vaccination Hesitancy in the Midst of a Global Pandemic
10:00 – 10:45 am EDT
Public participation and acceptance of vaccine programs require trust to succeed. Explore the causes of vaccine hesitancy and how barriers can be addressed through evidence-based educational content, plus best options for their delivery. Faculty will discuss the who, what, when, and where of education, including roles and responsibilities of industry companies and medical communications companies.

The Public Face of Science – Building Trust
11:00 – 11:30 am EDT
The emergence of COVID-19 as a major public health issue has highlighted skepticism in science, fueled by misinformation across media channels. Medical affairs, medical communications, and scientific publications communicate evidence and work to build trust in science, but more can be done to address the skepticism. Hear recommendations that can be readily implemented in an organization.

A Preprint Pandemic: The Evolving Role of Preprint Servers in the COVID-19 Era
12:00 – 12:30 pm EDT
The COVID-19 pandemic has driven a surge in publication activity, including submissions to preprint servers. Review how the use of preprint servers has evolved during the COVID-19 era. Learn whether this has implications for the future prospects of these servers in medical publishing, and how their improved screening processes have helped to maintain quality.

Debate - To Preprint or Not?
12:30 - 1:00 pm EDT
Preprints and preprint servers offer many benefits, but their use remains a controversial topic within the medical publishing community. In a debate format, participants will consider the benefits and risks of preprints, including funder-specific considerations, and the types of research that could and should be offered in preprints.

Tuesday, April 13

Equity and Excellence
10:00 - 10:45 am EDT
As in other fields, our industry has structural inequalities, barriers to success for people for reasons including gender, race, educational background, physical health, mental health, etc. What can we learn from more mature sectors, like advertising and communications, where diversity is championed? What can we do to be more inclusive?

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Defining a Roadmap for Our Profession
11:00am – 11:30 am EDT
In follow-up to the recently published article in The MAP - Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Defining a Roadmap for Our Profession, take a deeper dive into the EDI roadmap. Listen to the call to action for medical communications and publications professionals, and the drive for advocacy to incorporate EDI in medical communications/publications.

The Future of Scientific Writing and Journal Articles – with UX Design
12:00 – 12:45 pm EDT
Is the traditional format of journal articles optimal? Most journals are now online, but the format of articles is still largely based on what we're used to seeing in hard-copy printed materials. Publishers have an opportunity to apply UX design principles to the structure and format of journal articles. Also, just as with scientific posters, learn how UX writing principles can be applied to scientific writing.

Wednesday, April 14

When Social Distancing Meets Social Networking: How Societies are Embracing the New Digital World
10:00 – 11:00 am EDT
In 2020, many academic conferences were cancelled for the first time. Attempting to increase their online outreach, societies experimented with social media, e-newsletters, podcasts, webinars, etc. In record time, physical conferences were moved into virtual events. Now, the industry is questioning whether academic conferences will ever be the same or evolve into hybrid models with virtual elements.

Authorship Algorithm
11:30 am – 12:00 pm EDT
Much has progressed since ISMPP’s Authorship Algorithm Taskforce first presented their work in July 2020. Find out about additional guidance and take advantage of an opportunity to ask questions. For those registered for the Authorship Algorithm roundtable later in the day, this is your chance to speak one-on-one with Taskforce members. Led by members of ISMPP’s Authorship Algorithm Taskforce.

What Is Next for the FDA and What Will It Mean?
12:15 – 12:45 pm EDT
With COVID-19, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has undergone political attacks for alleged delays, red tape, “deep state” behavior, and embarrassment from high-profile errors. Vaccine approvals are facing suspicions from a segment of the American public. Learn about the outlook for the FDA, its new leadership, its credibility with the public, and how its role has changed, as well as the implications for clinical research and promotion.