JPHMP Editors Deliver Webinar on Scientific Writing for the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE)
January 1, 2017 — Editors Justin B. Moore, PhD, MS, and Lloyd F. Novick, MD, MPH, of the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice have written a comprehensive toolkit to assist applied epidemiologists in writing scientific articles about their research. In partnership with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), Moore and Novick, along with Theresa M. Oniffrey, MPH, EMT-P, of Cerus Consulting, LLC, offer methods that help authors identify steps in the scientific writing process; locate resources for planning, writing, and disseminating scientific articles; and outline mechanisms to support a culture of writing and publishing in state or local health departments. The editors recently delivered their advice via a webinar, along with Jessica Arrazola, MPH, CHES, Acting Director of Workforce Development at CSTE, which is available on the CSTE website or downloadable here: CSTE Scientific Writing Toolkit
Communication is vital to an epidemiologist’s work. Dissemination of applied public health practice occurs through many channels. CSTE conducted an assessment of indicators to guide recommendations for how this skill may be improved (Applied Epidemiology Scientific Writing Trends, Needs, and Recommendations 2014). This assessment led to the development of the Scientific Writing Toolkit for Applied Epidemiologists.
Read the Scientific Writing Toolkit here
Topics covered by the toolkit:
- Planning for Scientific Writing
- The Process of Scientific Writing
- Submitting a Manuscript to a Scientific Journal
- The Culture of Writing and Publishing
- Gaps in Existing Writing Resources
- Online Resources for Scientific Writing
“Public health practitioners whose schedules are already taxed may find the notion of publishing their research challenging,” says Dr. Moore. “This is a commitment beyond the long hours they’re already putting in. Also, they may not have experience writing articles for publication, and since it isn’t necessarily a requirement for their jobs, it might not be a priority for them.”
The Scientific Writing Toolkit breaks down the process by explaining what is publishable and in what format, and then explains step-by-step everything from acquiring human subjects protection and data procurement to understanding appropriate scientific conduct, composing the writing team, determining authorship, selecting a target journal, and much more.
“We’ve tried to answer every question we think practitioner-authors might have and hope that we’ve compiled a wealth of information here that will guide them on their path to publication,” says Dr. Moore.
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About the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice
The Journal of Public Health Management and Practice publishes articles which focus on evidence-based public health practice and research. The Journal is a bi-monthly peer-reviewed publication, guided by a multidisciplinary editorial board of administrators, practitioners, and scientists. JPHMP publishes in a wide range of public health topics including research-to-practice; emergency preparedness; bioterrorism; infectious disease surveillance; environmental health; community health assessment, chronic disease prevention, and health promotion; and academic-practice linkages.
