New to medical publications/communications or transitioning to the field
The Meeting agenda categorizes sessions as foundational, core, and strategic. Filtering the agenda by these categories can help create your customized career-level itinerary.
Early-career professionals (e.g., medical writers, account managers, HEOR specialists, and anyone new to medical communications)
Whether you are newly transitioned from academia or embarking on a new chapter in your career, the Annual Meeting includes content designed to optimize the experience and learnings for the new professional (Table). On the agenda, look for sessions tagged as Foundational—these are the sessions designed to provide a foundational framework and basic-practice know-how. Sessions labeled as Core will also be fundamental as you build your competencies and experiences. The Figure shows how you might divide your time among foundational sessions, trending innovations, and networking.
Focus on building a strong foundation in publication ethics, writing and data storytelling, journal processes, and digital skills. Foundational and core sessions can help you understand best practices, expand your professional toolkit, and gain confidence through peer and mentor connections.
Good fit if your goals include:
- Strengthening publication fundamentals
- Learning how standards are applied in practice
- Building your network and professional identity
Table. What to target if you are an early-career professional
Figure. How to spend your time if you are an early-career professional
Acknowledgments
Parts of this post were developed by members of ISMPP Insider Blog Editorial Committee, with support from members of the ISMPP Staff. We acknowledge the use of ChatGPT 5.0 (OpenAI) in the development of the first draft of this article and the use of MS Copilot in subsequent editing.
Disclaimer
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their employers.
Declaration of funding
There is no funding to declare for this article.
Declaration of financial/other relationships
Author affiliations are given above.