Transformational Times
Words of Hope, Character & Resilience from our Virtual Community
Friday, October 29, 2021
In This Issue Focused on Authorship:
Director's Corner

Perspective/ Opinion

Kinetic3 Corner

Guidelines

Poetry Corner
Your Turn

Announcements & Resource
  • Submit your ideas for a name for the new School of Medicine curriculum
  • Submit authorship questions to KICS
  • Kern Institute Collaboration for Scholarship Journal Club
  • Kern National Network News & Events
  • Kern Institute Connection Café: New Curriculum: Hopes & Dreams
  • Kern Grand Rounds: 414 LIFE: An Innovative Public Health Approach to Breaking the Cycle of Gun Violence in Milwaukee
Director's Corner

Writing is a Deep Conversation


By Adina Kalet, MD, MPH


In this special “Authorship” issue of the Transformational Times, Dr. Kalet shares her feelings about the value of writing together with others, and why authorship is among the most complex and critical aspects of what we do. She proposes that, if we can do it well, solid writing opens important conversations and can be deeply satisfying …


If writing seems hard, it is because it is hard. It is one of the hardest things people do.
 
 
As an early-career physician and clinical educator, I felt none of the traditional “publish or perish” academic pressures because, for most of my working life, I had no particular desire to be promoted. So, you may ask, why do I spend so much of my time writing now? The answer to this has evolved. I write to work things out and begin dialogues, much as Joan Didion hinted when she said, “I write entirely to find out what I am thinking.” Once a concept or project has been committed to the page, I am better equipped to engage in conversations about the things that matter to me.
Perspective/Opinion

Substantial and Intellectual Contributions: Who is an Author?



By Michael T. Braun, PhD and Lana M. Minshew, PhD


At the October 2021 Kern Institute meeting, Drs. Braun and Minshew introduced the newly drafted Kern Institute Guidelines for Authorship. These guidelines and their presentation will be posted on the Kern website and shared with the MCW community. In this essay, they review the authorship guidelines and begin an ongoing discussion about the complex yet vital process of determining authorship on scholarly products …


Why should the Kern Institute have its own authorship guidelines? After all, MCW already has its own author policy, based on the policy set by the ICJME. There are several reasons we believe authorship guidelines specific to the Kern Institute are needed.
Perspective/Opinion

How Librarians Contribute to Research and Authorship


By Elizabeth Suelzer, MLIS


Ms. Suelzer, who is the Scholarly Communications Librarian at MCW, writes about her training, her experiences, and the role she plays in scholarly authorship …


When I moved into this position, I was focused on learning how to teach information-seeking skills and studying PubMed inside and out. Beyond that, I did not foresee where my career would take me. Having worked at the MCW Libraries for a few years prior, I was aware of the immense research output done by the MCW community, and I wondered if I would play a part in it. My journey into scholarly authorship started slowly while I built up my skills and knowledge and developed relationships with researchers here at MCW and beyond. It is not always obvious the role that librarians play in the research and publication process, so I am grateful for the opportunity to share my experiences.
Perspective/Opinion


Tales of an Academic Physician: My Time Embedded with a Group of PhD Researchers


By Laura Jacques, MD, FACOG


Dr. Jacques, a former member of the MCW faculty who now works at the University of Wisconsin-Madison spent time working with a group of academic PhD researchers, time that helped her see that clinicians have much to learn from their foundational science colleagues about how to work writing into overscheduled lives …


I am an OBGYN at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, so I understand – I live – the challenges to academic productivity. I’m also quite certain I am not an authority or an expert on the subject, but I do have a story of a time when I was surrounded by people who are. I am going to tell you what I learned from my time working alongside a pack of PhDs.
Perspective/Opinion


Academic Writing as a Gateway to Authentic Mentoring Relationships


By Lindsey A. McAlarnen, MD


Dr. McAlarnen, an MCW gynecologic oncology fellow, writes about how having great mentorship sharpened her own skills as a mentor and has given her joy as she pays-it-forward ...


My first academic manuscript was about plants—Eurasian watermilfoil to be exact. It has more current Google Scholar citations than my papers about medicine or my field of gynecologic oncology. While this first publication listed on my CV may seem misplaced, the lessons learned as an undergraduate student developing my first work of scientific writing helped prepare me for my academic career, and I will forever carry with me the memories of those drafts and nuisances of writing style and preferences of those mentors.
Perspective/Opinion






Authorship Stories: Thumbnail Tales of Research and Writing

By Lana Minshew, PhD; Kurt Pfeifer, MD; Amy Farkas, MD, MS and Michael Braun, PhD

Four MCW and Kern Institute faculty share cautionary tales and advice about the process of assigning authorship for scientific papers …



I Was Almost Excluded from one of my Projects
Lana M. Minshew, PhD

My tale is regarding equity and the opportunity to be an author on a scholarly product. During graduate school, I worked on a large research project that included three faculty primary investigators (PIs) and numerous graduate students (10+). I played a significant role in the project, helping to outline the research methodology, as well as collecting and analyzing a large portion of the data.
Perspective/Opinion


Agony Authors: Authorship Advice and Scholarship Suggestions




The Agony Authors (scholars and authors who love nothing more than onerous author order debates and chronicles of capricious collaborators) answer some tough questions about scientific authorship and offer their best “Dear Abby” guidance on what to do …


Dear Agony Authors,
 
I’m a student interested in research and scholarship, but I don’t always feel I can speak up about how I can be an author on a research project. Do you have tips for when and how I should advocate for authorship for myself?
 
—Anxious To Author
Kinetic3 Corner


Writing – An Art or Science?



By Kristina Kaljo, PhD


 
Dr. Kaljo offers some practical tips on how to improve scientific writing that might improve the odds of manuscript acceptance and make the process more fun along the way …


When soliciting authors for this Transformational Times issue, I was met often with the question and possible confusion, “Well, are you looking for a creative piece or scientific piece?”
To which I responded, “I will take anything that you want to share!”
Guidelines

Kern Institute Authorship Guidelines

Guided by the values of caring, competence, and character, the following guidance regarding authorship should be applied to all scholarly products stemming from work at the Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Institute for the Transformation of Medical Education ...
 
 
By Thomas Harper


A writer writes.  
A writer writes when he wants to
and when he doesn't.  
A writer writes when he is inspired
and when he isn't.  
A writer writes when the words are flowing from his mind like moisture off of a waterfall
and when the words are as scarce as republicans in Boston.  
A writer writes because he is a writer,
not because there are people who will cheer him on when he is finished.  
Sure, most writers dream of the cheers,
but a writer who will be a writer tomorrow
is one who writes even when the fans don’t show up.  
A writer writes when everything looks hopeless
and when everything is falling into place.  
A writer writes as a baby coohs.  
A writer writes as a child plays.  
A writer writes as a teenager dreams.  
And a writer writes as a grownup worries.  
A writer isn't a writer because he was chosen.  
A writer writes because it is what he has chosen.  
What does a writer write when the words are scarce?  
Many scarce words.  
What does a writer write when the words are abundant?  
Words in abundance.  
A writer doesn't wait for inspiration to hit,
he writes until inspiration catches up with him.  
A writer doesn't write only when the muse is on duty,
he writes until the muse feels shamed and shows up.  
A writer does not seek fame,
though fame often seeks writers.  
A writer does not seek fortune,
though fortune too often seeks writers.  
A writer doesn't seek anything but the satisfaction of writing,
for fame and fortune are fickle and writing only for them leads to many a blank page.  
If I write something meaningful and it is not accepted,
is it no longer meaningful?  
If I write words never before combined,
will people rave over my originality,
or complain about my lack of skill?  
I am a writer and so it doesn't really matter.
I would like to learn how to do Calligraphy. It is so beautiful and elegant, lovely to look at. It makes me feel important when I receive an invitation with my name signed in Calligraphy on the envelope. I would like to share that feeling with others.


—Anonymous staff member

I would love to take acting classes and learn how to act!

—Mathew Letizia, PharmD, Faculty
Learn a second language!


—Tammy Hosch, Staff

Play the piano. I've had a piano in my house a good portion of my life, but I never learned how.

—Donna, Staff
For this week's reflection prompt, please answer the following:


What is the best concert you've ever been to?
laptop_typing.jpg



Share Your Thoughts
Naming Contest for the new MCW School of Medicine curriculum



The Curriculum Innovation Team invites you to submit your vote for the official naming of the new MCW School of Medicine curriculum. 
Kern Institute Collaboration for Scholarship Journal Club


The KICS Journal Club for Medical Education meets monthly on the second Wednesday of the month via Zoom, 12:15–1:00 PM Central. The next meeting will feature Lyn Van Swol, PhD, discussing teaching communication skills.

Interested individuals can join the meeting via Zoom using the link below, or email Michael Braun to be added to the meeting invite.

  
Meeting ID: 921 1154 0031 
Passcode: KICSJoClub 
November 10, 2021
Zoom Presentation
12:15 - 1:00 pm CT


Please Join Us
Kern Institute Connection Café:
New Curriculum: Hopes and Dreams
 


Curriculum redesign is hard work. Many faculty, staff, and students have contributed to this process, which is summarized here. A curriculum, however, is more than just the sum of its parts. For the efforts of so many to be worthwhile, a new curriculum should have a positive impact on students, faculty, staff, patients, and our community. The presenters will share their vision of the potential for key elements of the curriculum design plan to transform medical education for its stakeholders, followed by an opportunity for further discussion.  
November 11, 2021
Live via Zoom
4:00 - 5:00 pm CT


Please Join Us
Kern Institute Grand Rounds
414 LIFE: An Innovative Public Health Approach to Breaking the Cycle of Gun Violence in Milwaukee
 


Gun violence is a significant public health crisis in our country. The physical, psychological, and financial impact of violence on individuals, families, and communities is profound. It is a pervasive issue that has only gotten worse since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Milwaukee experienced a historic level of gun violence in 2020 and is on pace to surpass that record this year. 

414 LIFE is a public health intervention to prevent and interrupt the transmission of gun violence in Milwaukee. We invite you to join us for an engaging discussion about the progress made and challenges faced by the program, and how the entire MCW community can elevate its voice and engagement in promoting violence prevention efforts on campus and throughout the region. During this session participants will learn: 
  • The importance of taking a public health approach to violence prevention. 
  • The journey of implementing a community-healthcare partnership to address gun violence. 
  • Progress of the program and challenges involved with this approach. 
  • The importance of delivering healthcare services with compassion to the patients and their families. 
November 18, 2021
Live via Zoom
2:00 - 3:00 pm CT
The Transformational Times publishes weekly, delivering stories of hope, character and resilience to our virtual community.
Not getting our newsletters? Sign-up today!