CME Content Development by a Physician Medical Writer

From needs assessments to enduring materials — CME content written by someone who has been on both sides of the exam room.

What I Do

I write continuing medical education (CME) content for ACCME-accredited providers, pharmaceutical-supported education programs, and independent medical education companies. My background as a physician is not a credential I list and move on from — it is the basis for how I approach every project.

I understand what clinicians already know, where their knowledge gaps tend to cluster, and how to write learning objectives that reflect real practice patterns rather than textbook ideals. I have written CME activities in mental health, adult autism, cardiovascular disease prevention, and related therapeutic areas.

Services

Needs Assessments

A needs assessment that does not identify a genuine, practice-based gap is just a justification document. I write assessments grounded in published literature, practice data, SME feedback, and clinical observation, structured to satisfy ACCME independence standards and support grant applications.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes Frameworks

Learning objectives should describe measurable changes in competence or performance, not topic lists. I write objectives using Bloom's taxonomy at the application and analysis levels, calibrated to the target clinician audience.

Activity Content

I develop content for all CME formats: live symposia, enduring materials, online modules, podcast scripts, and case-based activities. Therapeutic areas I write in most frequently include:

•       Psychiatry and mental health (depression, anxiety, schizophrenia)

•       Adult autism spectrum disorder

•       Neurology (Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy)

•       Cardiovascular disease prevention, with a focus on women's health

Clinical Review and Fact-Checking

I review completed CME content for clinical accuracy, and guideline alignment. This is useful for medical education companies that develop content through non-physician writers and need a physician sign-off before submission.

Spanish-Language CME Adaptation

I adapt English-language CME content into Spanish for US-based programs targeting Spanish-speaking healthcare providers. This is not a translation service, rather a cultural and clinical adaptation that accounts for how terminology, clinical norms, and practice contexts differ across Spanish-speaking populations. I am ATA-certified and hold an MD, which makes this a physician-to-physician adaptation rather than a language conversion.

Why Physician Authorship Matters for CME

ACCME standards require that educational content be grounded in evidence and free from commercial bias. Physician authorship is not a regulatory requirement, but it is a meaningful signal of independence to accreditors, to faculty reviewers, and to the clinicians who complete the activity.

Practically speaking, a physician writer catches errors that a non-physician writer cannot. I know when a drug dosage is outside standard range, when a clinical recommendation contradicts current guidelines, and when a case vignette describes a patient presentation that would not make clinical sense. That layer of review is built into every project I write.

My Qualifications

• MD — medical degree with clinical training in multicultural settings across three countries

• ATA-certified English-Spanish medical translator

• MSc, Global Mental Health — University of Glasgow

• CME content experience across live symposia, enduring materials, online modules, and case-based activities

• Member: American Medical Writers Association (AMWA), American Translators Association (ATA)

How I Work

I work directly with CME directors, medical education managers, and grant writers. Projects typically begin with a brief call to discuss the therapeutic area, target audience, format, and timeline. From there I provide a written scope of work before starting.

I am accustomed to working within ACCME, ANCC, and ACPE frameworks and to producing content that meets the evidentiary standards required for accreditation review. I deliver clean, referenced drafts with a revision cycle built in.

For larger projects involving multiple modules or a full curriculum, I can coordinate with subject matter experts and faculty reviewers as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a medical writer and a CME writer?

A medical writer produces scientific and clinical documents: manuscripts, regulatory submissions, white papers. A CME writer specializes in educational content designed to change clinician behavior. The two skill sets overlap but are not the same. CME writing requires familiarity with adult learning principles, ACCME independence standards, and the specific gap-to-outcome logic that accreditors evaluate. I work in both areas, but CME content development is a core service line.

Do you write for commercially supported CME?

Yes, provided the activity is structured in compliance with ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence. I write content for activities where commercial support is disclosed and where the educational content is developed and controlled independently of the supporting entity. I do not write content designed to promote a specific product.

Can you write a needs assessment for a grant application?

Yes. Needs assessments for grant-funded CME activities are a significant part of my work. I structure them to demonstrate a genuine, evidence-based practice gap and to align the proposed activity with measurable outcomes, i.e., the two things most accreditors and grant reviewers evaluate first.

What therapeutic areas do you cover?

My deepest experience is in mental health (including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, PTSD, et.c), adult autism spectrum disorder, and cardiovascular disease prevention. I also write regularly in neurology, internal medicine, and women's health. If your therapeutic area is outside this list, contact me, since I am able to work in adjacent areas with appropriate literature review.

Do you offer Spanish-language CME content?

Yes. I develop CME content in both English and Spanish, and adapt English-language activities for Spanish-speaking clinician audiences. This includes adapting clinical examples, terminology, and practice context, not just translating the text. The adaptation is done by the same physician who wrote the original content, which preserves clinical accuracy throughout.

What is your typical turnaround time?

Turnaround depends on project scope. A standard needs assessment takes 7–10 business days. A full enduring material or online module takes 2–4 weeks depending on length and the number of review cycles. I provide a timeline estimate at the start of each project and flag any factors that might affect it.

Work With Me

If you are developing a CME activity and need a physician writer with therapeutic depth in mental health, neurology, or cardiovascular disease, or if you are looking to adapt existing content for Spanish-speaking clinicians — I would be glad to discuss the project.

Contact: nestor@zumaya.com

Or schedule a call.