RA 605 Replaces BA 662 as Required Course for RA & BQS Degree Programs

RA 605 has replaced BA 662 as a required course for the RA & BQS degree programs. Called "Medical & Scientific Writing for Heathcare Professionals", this 3-unit foundational course introduces students to the kinds of writing done during the development of a new drug or biologic. Particular emphasis will be placed on the effective writing of project reviews, research reports, protocols, and CTDs. The timing of these documents as well as their relationship to one another will be addressed as students explore audience expectations and regulatory functions.

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to demonstrate the ability to:

1. Understand principles of effective argumentation both in texts and 
   in visual design,
   
2. Write persuasive and well-structured reviews,
   
3. Design charts and tables that accurately illustrate medical points,
   
4. Apply elements of medical writing, reviewing, and editing effectively,
   
5. Network with other professionals in the field.

This course will be co-taught be Dr. Linn Bekins and Rita Tomlin. Dr. Bekins is the director of the Technical and Scientific Writing Advanced Certificate Program at San Diego State University (SDSU) and an Associate Professor in the Department of Rhetoric and Writing Studies. She is also a consultant who specializes in scientific writing training, project management, and process management. She has worked for the FDA and various organizations including Gen-Probe, Metabasis Therapeutics, and U.S. Geological Survey.

Rita Tomlin (MA, MT (ASCP)) is a consultant who provides medical writing services to pharmaceutical companies. In addition to co-teaching RA 605, Ms. Tomlin teaches RWS 508, Scientific Writing, as well as an accredited workshop for the American Medical Writers Association in their core curriculum program. She specializes in establishing team-based writing processes to optimize the development of cohesive documents throughout a project to carry well reasoned, consistent messages through to submission.