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(1/5/2009) UBC-Envision Group Launches Datavision™ 5.0
The UBC-Envision Group, developers of the industry-leading software application designed to assist in the transparent and compliant process of medical publications planning, is pleased to announce the launch of Datavision™ 5.0. This newly released version, developed with contributions from some of the industry’s leading publication planners, has further improved the range of capabilities with performance gains, a new look and feel for the Reviewer’s Website, and significant ease-of-use adjustments to the power user’s desktop.
Envision Technology Solutions’ Managing Director Joe Brown commented: "The launch of DV 5.0 represents another great milestone for the UBC-Envision Group. I cannot remember a release that has generated such incredible energy from our client base."
Datavision 5.0 has already been launched at four key clients and a further 40 customers will implement the updated software throughout 2010. "We have never wavered in our pursuit of developing the best product combined with the best support in the industry, and this new release of Datavision™ demonstrates, once again, our commitment to continue to lead the way in purpose-built software and our desire to ensure a continuously improved customer experience," said Dan Donovan, SVP, United BioSource Corporation.
Datavision™ is a web-based software application designed specifically for the life sciences industry to improve efficiency in data planning, management, and dissemination. It provides users with a strategic management tool that optimizes the communication of valuable data and assists critical decision-making through enhanced awareness. Datavision™ supports company’s efforts to maintain internal publishing standards and ensure that scientific publications comply with federal data disclosure regulations and the documentation of each step in the publication process. Consistent with the desire of our life science clients, it also tracks author interactions and contributions, resulting in a more transparent medical publishing process.
If you would like to learn more about Datavision™, Envision Technology Solutions, or UBC-Envision Group, please contact Mike Kramer at michael.kramer@envisionpharma.com or (215) 239 6612 or Dan Donovan at dan.donovan@UBC-EnvisonGroup.com or (203) 480 0090.
UBC-Envision Group Team Leader Thomas Gegeny addresses AMWA New England Chapter Meeting
UBC-Envision Group Team Leader Thomas Gegeny presented at the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) New England Chapter meeting on Wednesday, May 12, 2010. Tom is a professional medical communicator who has been working in the field for more than a decade. He is the 2009-2010 President of AMWA, and spoke to members on the subject of Building your medical career through AMWA, outlining the numerous resources that AMWA provides for building careers and enhancing professional development. During a highly informative presentation, Tom guided attendees through AMWA’s expanded education program offerings, self-study text-based workshops, listserves, networking, organizational structure, as well as describing how to become involved in committees and other AMWA activities that develop leadership skills.
For more information, visit the AMWA New England Chapter website at www.amwa-ne.org. If you would like to learn more about UBC-Envision Group’s approach to medical communication, please contact Tom Gegeny at thomas.gegeny@envisionpharma.com or (203) 480 0118 or Dan Donovan at dan.donovan@UBC-EnvisonGroup.com or (203) 480 0090.
UBC Envision Group President Dan Donovan to Chair 8th TIPPA Annual Meeting
UBC-Envision Group once again has a strong presence at The International Publication Planning Association (TIPPA) Annual Meeting – Rising to the Challenge: Bridging the Gap Between Industry, Academia and the General Public. The 8th TIPPA Annual Meeting takes place June 24-25, 2010, at The Marines’ Memorial Club, San Francisco, CA. UBC-Envision Group President Dan Donovan will chair and address the meeting.
TIPPA aims to promote excellence in medical publications by assisting biopharmaceutical communication executives and their agencies in the production of ethical and targeted publications and clinical data. TIPPA’s 8th Annual Meeting is a two-day session for the publication planning community, with an agenda strongly focused on producing innovative and practical solutions to key industry challenges.
Topics to be addressed include a highly anticipated panel discussion featuring editors from a range of prestigious journals discussing the ‘Journals’ Views About Industry Publications’. Further presentations include ‘The Practical Realities of GPP2’ and will feature participants from all sectors of the medical publications industry; Dan Donovan will speak on the ‛Social Media & Proper Publications Planning – Is There an Acceptable Interaction?’
The TIPPA 8th Annual Meeting also features roundtable discussions that will allow members and delegates to engage meaningfully with one another, as well as further discussion and networking opportunities.
For more information on the TIPPA 8th Annual Meeting, please visit www.publicationplanningassociation.org. If you would like to learn more about UBC-Envision Group’s approach to medical publications planning, please contact Dan Donovan at dan.donovan@UBC-EnvisonGroup.com or (203) 480 0090.
UBC-Envision team scoops award at 6th Annual Meeting of ISMPP
The UBC-Envision group has once again demonstrated that it not only leads the field in the production of standout scientific posters but is also at the vanguard of excellence in the medical publications arena. A poster produced by five members of the UBC-Envision team and presented at the 6th Annual Meeting of the ISMPP, which took place April 19-21, 2010, in Arlington, Virginia, has received the inaugural Members’ Choice Award, voted for by ISMPP delegates and attendees.
The poster, titled A novel "strength-of-voice" metric to evaluate quality of publications, was authored by Mukund Nori, Joanna Bloom, Beth Young, Cara Coffey, and Dan Donovan, of UBC-Envision Group, Southport, CT and Philadelphia, PA.
The team first addressed current evaluation methods for publications programs, which typically recognize share-of-voice (SoV) based on the quantity of publications generated in a given year for a particular drug. They propose that while SoV may be easy to measure, it fails to assess quality, as all types of publications, whether they are case reports or a landmark clinical trial, are given equal weight in a simple numbers tally.
The objective of the UBC-Envision team was to develop a new, more refined metric that emphasizes quality and content in measuring the effectiveness of medical publications. They argue that a more meaningful assessment can be obtained by measuring the scientific significance of individual publications or whole publications programs, using what they term the ‘strength-of-voice’ factor (SVF)©.
The authors propose that the SVF measurement evaluate four key factors: A - impact factor of journal; B - author strength-of-voice (number of citations of the author during the period/number of articles author has published during the same period); C - number of times the article is cited; and D - level of evidence of the article. The final SVF measurement for an individual article is the product of A x B x C x D/100; for an entire publications program, an average and median SVF is calculated based on all articles in the program.
In the poster, which was seen by over 300 ISMPP delegates, the authors produced a set of results to demonstrate proof of concept, and concluded that while further refinements were required, SVF represented a novel, unique metric to assess the quality of publications programs, a view confirmed by the ISMPP Members’ Choice Award.
The UBC-Envision Group has already received requests for permission to apply the SVF metric to publications programs from a number of companies, who recognize that it represents a positive step forward in the pursuit of generating publications of high quality and impact.
If you would like to learn more about the future direction of the SVF metric concept, please contact Mukund Nori at mukund.nori@ubc-envisiongroup.com or (203) 480-0091; for UBC-Envision Group’s approach to medical publications planning, please contact Dan Donovan at dan.donovan@UBC-EnvisonGroup.com or (203) 480 0090.
UBC-Envision Group president Dan Donovan featured in 2009 Lehigh University Fall Alumni Bulletin
In an interview for the 2009 Lehigh University Fall Alumni Bulletin, UBC-Envision Group founder and president, and a 1986 graduate of Lehigh, Dan Donovan reflected on changes in medical publications during the 20 years that he has spent working in the industry. He described the background to the formation of Envision and the development of its ground-breaking software DatavisionTM, launched by the company in 2002. Dan also took the opportunity to speak about the contentious issue of ghostwriting, a subject that he believes to be one of the key challenges in the field of medical publications, and offered his own solutions to ensure best practices in the industry.
In hopes of starting his own business, Dan studied finance at Lehigh. After reaching the role of European Director and Team Leader of the cardiovascular portfolio for Pfizer, Dan was able to realize this long-held ambition. “In 1998 I was at a crossroads and I had to make a choice. I could become a career Pfizer guy or I could do what I always wanted, which was to start my own business,” he explained.
During his time at Pfizer, Dan had come to realize that in the life sciences industry, marketing and sales are meaningless without scientific evidence published in medical journals. The challenge in the late 1990s, Dan explained, was that study results were often managed through “sticky notes and hand-scrawled memos – an uncertain way of tracking important and complex information,” he observed.
“The science sold the drug, and I developed a real passion for it. But when I saw all the sticky notes and spreadsheets, I thought ‘there has to be a better way to do this,’ ” explained Dan. He was able to turn this challenge into a business opportunity by offering the solution of DatavisonTM, the first software application developed to aid the process of medical publication. The software helps companies implement and track their publication programmes to ensure compliance and transparency, manage finances, and easily share knowledge inside and outside of the company. Feedback to DatavisonTM in the industry was overwhelmingly positive – “People’s jaws dropped,” Dan recalls.
New regulations have made DatavisonTM even more valuable to its users. The software helps ensure that scientific publications comply with a company’s internal standards and with federal data disclosure regulations. It also tracks author interactions and contributions, making the publishing process more transparent.
Coinciding with the release of DatavisonTM, Envision branched into other technologies and services, including publications planning and science writing, developing a team of medical writers to help researchers write accurate and readable articles. Dan states: “My company is not an invisible hand writing a study on behalf of someone else – on the contrary, Envision medical writers always clearly state their involvement and work in concert with academic and industry-based authors.”
A subject on which Dan frequently speaks at trade conferences is ethics in medical publishing. He contends that all involved – from researchers to industry professionals – should be frank about their biases. As Dan points out: “Academic researchers, for example, are often presumed to publish to gain credibility in their fields or for promotion – so they have their own set of biases to achieve these goals”.
Dan Donovan passionately believes in the value his company brings to the field of life sciences. “UBC-Envision Group assists pharmaceutical companies and their academic partners with publishing medical research in order to demonstrate a treatment’s value, for example whether it improves efficacy, imparts quality of life, or reduces side effects,” he explains. He calls for cooperation among journal editors, service providers, academic researchers, government agencies, and industry professionals in order to ensure best practices. “The various stakeholders should work together to find mutually beneficial solutions,” is Dan’s positive message to the medical publications industry.
UBC-Envision Group will be attending the upcoming Fourth Medical Device Regulatory, Reimbursement and Compliance Congress – November 9–11, 2009, JW Marriott Hotel, Washington, DC.
The goal of the Device Congress is to promote legal and regulatory compliance efforts within the medical device industry, identify best compliance practices, and foster continued dialogue between the industry and government regulatory and enforcement personnel. Congress attendees will comprise executives, lawyers, compliance officers, and regulatory personnel from medical device manufacturers, as well as outside counsel and consultants to these industries.
Life science industry involvement in the communication of clinical trial results in the medical literature has come under increasing scrutiny. DatavisionTM, the industry-leading publications planning software, ensures medical device, as well as other life science companies, are able to demonstrate that their publication activities are compliant with internal guidelines governing publication development as well as help companies adhere to federally mandated requirements for data disclosure.
In today’s litigation-happy environment, more than 40 companies have implemented DatavisionTM to manage, track, and provide an auditable source of evidence that supports their publication programs. Representatives from the UBC-Envision Group will be available to answer your questions and to provide a demonstration of DatavisionTM at exhibit booth #209 in the Medical Device Cyber Café. In addition, UBC-Envision Group is pleased to be able to offer complementary registrations to attend the conference to our colleagues in the device manufacturer community. If you wish to receive free registration to the Device Congress, please contact Mike Kramer at michael.kramer@envisionpharma.com or (215) 239 6612.
If you would like to learn more about DatavisionTM or UBC-Envision Group’s other technology solutions, please contact Mike Kramer at michael.kramer@envisionpharma.com or (215) 239 6612 or Dan Donovan at dan.donovan@UBC-EnvisonGroup.com or (203) 480 0090.
The Fourth Medical Device Regulatory, Reimbursement and Compliance Congress will be offered both onsite and online (live and archived for 6 months via the Internet). Further details on the congress are available from the conference website at www.DeviceCongress.com.
Datavison™ 5.0 Introduced at the 3rd Datavision™ Industry Forum
Envision Technology Solutions successfully held their Third Datavision™ Industry Forum in Miami, Florida, on September 24–25, 2009. The Forum brought together our global community of clients with a focus on enhancing the user application experience and sharing ideas and best practices for the industry-leading publications planning software, Datavision™. Attendees were also provided with an in-depth preview of the new features of Datavision™ 5.0, which raised considerable excitement for future possibilities with Datavision™.
In total, 61 delegates attended the Third Datavision™ Industry Forum, representing 30 life science companies—the highest number of participants at a Datavision™ Industry Forum to date. Envision Technology Solutions provided delegates with 2 main offerings: (1) an Early Adopter Track, which was designed to increase users’ proficiency in several areas of Datavision™, including creating and implementing a Practical Working Guide, managing a publications plan within Datavision™, and using the Workbench effectively; and (2) an Advanced Value Track, which engaged more experienced users in lively discussions on timely topics such as compliance, auditability, and authorship, and how Datavision™ can assist in efforts to remain both compliant and transparent. New to this year’s program, an agency panel, composed of stakeholders from publications planning agencies, was convened to discuss “real-world” experience with Datavision™.
Several new features of Datavision™ 5.0, including enhanced notifications, document management enhancements, Writers’ Workbench, New Review and Approval Website, Archive, and the Executive Window were demonstrated to an eager audience. In addition, these new features as well as current information on main usage themes and industry-relevant topics were highlighted in a dynamic poster display.
The latest features of Datavision™ 5.0 were enthusiastically received by clients. “LOVE the improvements, especially the website!” commented one delegate. “The Third Datavision™ Industry Forum was very helpful in showing how to maximize use and encouraging discourse between users,” said another attendee. Further positive audience feedback included responses from Datavision™ users who are already looking forward to the next event: “Next Forum, I plan to bring more of my team!”
Datavision™ is a web-based software application designed specifically for the life sciences industry to improve efficiency in data planning, management, and dissemination. It provides users with a strategic management tool that optimizes the value of data and assists critical decision-making through enhanced awareness, and supports company’s efforts to remain compliant with their own internal publications polices and external requirements.
Datavision™ can be applied to a single product group or across an entire client enterprise.
If you would like to learn more about Datavision™, Envision Technology Solutions, or UBC-Envision Group, please contact Mike Kramer at michael.kramer@envisionpharma.com or (215) 239 6612 or Dan Donovan at dan.donovan@UBC-EnvisonGroup.com or (203) 480 0090.
UBC Envision Group Team Members Join Faculty at the Annual AMWA Conference
There is a strong UBC-Envision Group presence at the 2009 American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) annual conference, which takes place October 22–24 at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, Dallas, Texas, USA. The 69th annual AMWA event is entitled ‘Blazing the Trail’ and Envision trail-blazers will share their knowledge, expertise, and experience on a range of topics in the field of medical communications.
UBC-Envision Group’s Gene Snyder, Immediate Past President, International Society for Medical Publication Professionals, will moderate a breakfast roundtable session entitled ‘Identifying Thought Leaders to Facilitate Your Communication Plan’. In addition, a number of workshops will be led by Envision team members including:
· Thomas Gegeny, a member of UBC-Envision Group’s Scientific Solutions Division, and the President elect of AMWA will conduct the workshop entitled ‘Effectively Searching Online Databases’ on October 22;
· Rebecca Jarvis, of the Scientific Solutions Group will co-lead a virology workshop with Tom Gegeny;
· Gayle Scott, also of the Scientific Solutions Division, will lead two workshops on Drug Interactions and Pharmacokinetics;
· UBC-Envision Group President Dan Donovan presents at one of the event’s Open Sessions on the afternoon of October 23. Dan will be sharing his extensive knowledge of the medical publications arena in a presentation entitled, ‘Journal Selection Process: Getting Beyond the Impact Factor’.
The AMWA conference offers a total of 38 open sessions, workshops, and roundtables, as well as many networking opportunities.
For more information on the AMWA conference, including registration details, please visit www.amwa.org. Members of the UBC-Envision Group who are in attendance at the AMWA event look forward to meeting with their peers in the medical communications industry; meanwhile, if you would like to learn more about UBC-Envision Group’s approach to medical communications, please contact Dan Donovan at dan.donovan@UBC-EnvisonGroup.com or (203) 480 0090.
UBC Envision Group Continues to Play Leadership Role in Medical Publications Planning
UBC-Envision Group has a strong presence at The International Publication Planning Association (TIPPA) 7th Annual Meeting – Strategies and Solutions to Overcome Regulatory, Ethical and Operational Challenges in Publication Planning. The conference takes place June 15–16, 2009, at The Palace Hotel, San Francisco, CA, USA. UBC-Envision Group President Dan Donovan will chair, address the meeting, and moderate a roundtable discussion while Gene Snyder, Business Planning Solutions Divisional Lead, is on the faculty and will make two conference presentations and moderate a panel.
TIPPA aims to promote excellence in medical publications by assisting biopharmaceutical communication executives and their agencies in the production of ethical and targeted publications and clinical data. TIPPA’s 7th Annual Meeting is a two-day session for the publication planning community, with an agenda focused on producing innovative and practical solutions to key challenges such as new regulatory standards, the fiscal crisis, and media and public calls for transparency.
Dan Donovan will present to delegates on Risk Mitigation in Publication Planning: How to Proactively Face the Industry’s Newest Challenges. Dan also facilitates the roundtable discussion, Balancing Publication Planning with Compliance. Gene Snyder, Immediate Past President, International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP), will address delegates on implications of the US Senate Finance Committee Inquiries for publication planning. Gene also leads the session, Update on ISMPP’s Credentialing Program for Medical Publication Professionals, and moderates the discussion on practical steps to disclosure and transparency, Tackling the Authorship Debate.
The TIPPA 7th Annual Meeting also features an interactive panel discussion led by the editors of a number of leading medical journals, as well as discussion and networking opportunities.
For more information on the TIPPA 7th Annual Meeting, please visit www.pharmedassociates.com. If you would like to learn more about UBC-Envision Group’s approach to medical publications planning, please contact Dan Donovan at dan.donovan@UBC-EnvisonGroup.com or (203) 480 0090.
Scientific Profiling – Unacceptable Behavior at Some Medical Journals
Members of the UBC-Envision Group recently submitted a letter to the editor of Blood on the subject of Scientific Profiling, published in the Correspondence section of the May edition of the journal; volume 113, number 20. Amid renewed interest in the media and public calls for transparency in medical writing, UBC-Envision Group President Dan Donovan and colleagues, Sue Sutch, PhD, Neil Baker, PhD, and Jeanette Cook, PhD provided a timely reminder of their company’s long-standing commitment to pursuing best practice in medical writing.
Dan has previously addressed the issue of the ‘climate of mistrust’ and misperceptions in certain parts of the media and among other stakeholders in the medical publishing circle regarding the role of the medical writer and the need to judge medical publications on scientific merit rather than on any sort of preconceived bias. The UBC-Envision Group supports positive solutions that attempt to establish best practice in medical writing, such as disclosure and transparency; in addition, Dan has proposed further initiatives to this end, including the establishment of a ‘Medical Publishing Cooperative’ that allows different stakeholders in the medical writing arena to understand each others` roles and points of view.
The letter to Blood reiterates the UBC-Envision Group’s view that “We all have an interest in generating fairly balanced publications” and that we should strive towards a new climate of respect of the roles of the various parties involved in medical publications, including the pharma industry scientists and agencies, journal editors, as well as publishers and academia. The UBC-Envision Group hopes that publication of the letter is a worthy addition to the debate on scientific profiling and will provide another positive step in the direction of excellence in medical publications.
If you would like to learn more about UBC-Envision Group’s position on the role of the professional writing team in medical research and publications, please contact Dan Donovan at dan.donovan@UBC-EnvisonGroup.com or (203) 480 0090.
UBC-Envision Group team members successfully complete the first Certified Medical Publication Professional (CMPP) examination
The International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP) established the CMPP program to assess the levels of knowledge and experience that are required to plan, develop, and implement an effective, compliant, and transparent publications program in the complex environment of medical publications.
Eligibility to sit the CMPP exam, which assesses knowledge across four content areas related to medical publication planning and development, requires candidates to meet a number of ISMPP-determined education and experience criteria. UBC-Envision Group strives to deliver exceptional levels of expertise in publications planning across our organization and best service our broad client base, and all of our team members who sat for the exam met ISMPP’s requisite criteria.
Of the 75 candidates from around the globe who submitted applications, 63 individuals were invited to sit the inaugural CMPP examination in February 2009. Seven UBC-Envision Group candidates were successful in the exam, resulting in UBC-Envision team members holding approximately 10% of all CMPP certifications. We confidently expect to field a new group of candidates for the second certification examination in September 2009.
UBC-Envision Group’s involvement in the CMPP program demonstrates our commitment to and expectation of excellence in the medical publication planning profession and, most importantly, our support for ISMPP’s efforts to ensure scientific and professional integrity in the field of medical publications.
If you would like to learn more about UBC-Envision Group’s approach to medical publications planning, please contact Dan Donovan at dan.donovan@UBC-EnvisonGroup.com or (203) 480 0090. Further information on the CMMP program is available at www.ismpp.org.
Envision Pharma President Dan Donovan and Evidence Scientific Solutions Division Leader Gene Snyder addressed the 4th Annual Forum on Strategic Publication Planning, which took place in Philadelphia, PA, USA, December 9–10 2008
This Center for Business Intelligence (CBI)-sponsored event provided industry professionals with an opportunity to discuss the changing regulatory landscape for publication planning, and considered realistic, practical, and innovative approaches to planning.
The Forum addressed the challenges of day-to-day operations through presentations, panel discussions, case studies, and interactive sessions. Evidence’s Gene Snyder, who is also President of the International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP), provided the Keynote Address as a highlight of this Forum. The presentation provided an analysis of the medical publication environment with suggestions on how to operate within an evolving landscape. Gene focused on the negative perception of the industry in the public eye, identified the challenges that medical publication professionals face and reviewed best practices to assist in navigating the publications arena. Gene also participated in a Forum panel discussion devoted to developing solutions to the challenges surrounding the ICMJE’s recently updated guidelines, specifically addressing the issues of ghostwriting, conflict of interest, and undue influence.
Envision Pharma’s Founder Dan Donovan addressed Forum delegates on the importance of strategic planning. Dan posited the view that many healthcare organizations, groups, and authors fall far short of true publication planning because they are focused only on the quantity of documents produced. He argued that a well-informed program must have direction and showed that scientific publications that add value to the medical literature do not simply emerge ‘out of the blue’, but need to be thoroughly considered and viewed as part of the bigger clinical trial program. Dan examined the crucial role of strategy to medical publication professionals in order for delegates to consider how it can be applied to publication planning in their particular organization.
In addition to presentations and panel discussions featuring key speakers, the CBI Forum provided an opportunity for industry leaders to come together and learn from one another’s successes and past experiences in both informal and moderated settings. The CBI delivered a new and innovative approach to delegate networking, with small-group, roundtable discussions where participants shared information peer-to-peer. In addition, the Envision Pharma Exhibit Booth was open to delegates at the Forum, and all attendees were invited to visit the stand to view the industry-leading publications planning software, Datavision, and share perspectives and approaches to the opportunities and challenges in the medical publication industry.
If you would like to learn more about Envision Pharma’s approach to publications planning, please contact Dan Donovan at dan.donovan@UBC-EnvisonGroup.com or (203) 480 0090. To learn more about CBI events, please visit www.cbinet.com.
Envision Pharma had a small but significant presence at the 68th Annual Conference of The American Medical Writers Association (AMWA). This event took place October 23–25, in Louisville, Kentucky, and attracted more than 900 participants.
The leading professional organization in the field of medical communications, AMWA has more than 5600 members in the USA, Canada, and 26 other countries, and its Annual Conference features prominent speakers, discussion sessions, and workshops.
Among the invited speakers was Thomas Gegeny, Team Leader on the Scientific Solutions team of Envision Pharma, and AMWA President-Elect. Tom has been an AMWA member since 1998 and presented workshops on advanced use of the Internet and specialized bibliographic and biomedical databases. Gayle Scott, Medical Writer on Envision’s Scientific Solutions team, presented two workshops: Drug Interactions and Pharmacokinetics and in addition acted as Moderator at the Open Session, Update on New Drugs.
Gene Snyder, Envision Pharma’s Evidence Scientific Solutions Division Lead and ISMPP President, made a presentation on “Performing Scientific Communications Analysis for Pre-Launch Pharma Products” and acted as Moderator for two Roundtable sessions: Identifying Thought Leaders to Facilitate Your Communications Plan and Publication & Congress Planning. Gene also attended the AMWA Board Meeting. Hilary Flora of Envision’s Editorial Solutions team attended a number of conference sessions.
Envision Pharma’s presence at the event recognizes and endorses AMWA’s mission statement “to promote excellence in medical communication and to provide educational resources in support of that goal”. As a leading professional organization in this field, AMWA aims “to enhance the professionalism of freelance medical writers and editors and of those employed by hospitals, medical schools, clinics, health sciences centers, foundations, and nonprofit associations, as well as pharmaceutical, medical communication, and biotechnology companies”.
If you would like to learn more about Envision Pharma’s approach to medical communications and publications planning, please contact Dan Donovan at dan.donovan@UBC-EnvisonGroup.com or (203) 480 0090. For more information on AMWA’s continuing education program and future conferences, please visit www.amwa.org.
Thomas Gegeny, Senior Medical Writer and Editor at Envision Pharma, addressed a meeting of The American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) New England Chapter, on September 24 2008, at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
Tom Gegeny, a Team Leader in the Scientific Solutions division of Envision Pharma, and an AMWA member since 1998, was invited to speak at the New England Chapter’s first meeting of the 2008–2009 season on recent efforts by AMWA and other groups to correct misconceptions about the role of medical writers in biomedical research.
In a presentation entitled ‘Medical Writers: Transparent, But Not Ghosts’, Tom outlined the complexities of defining individual contributions in biomedical research planning and implementation, specifically as these apply to authorship of publications. He examined the authorship criteria developed by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and other groups, and noted a resulting trend toward increased transparency in acknowledging contributors who do not meet these criteria.
However, Tom acknowledged that in spite of the positive developments led by the ICMJE and other groups, the role of the medical writer continues to be misunderstood and, in some cases, actively disparaged, with recent media stories portraying medical writers as ‘ghosts’ who create publications for ‘authors’ to sign off. Tom responded to this misconception by positing the view that in research-based publications, the role of the author is still both central and essential, and that ‘authorship’ continues to connote responsibility for data. However, he argued that with the research process growing increasingly complex, and with demands on resources increasing, it is necessary for more people to collaborate towards the final product, facilitating the growth of a team-based approach to medical writing.
Tom, who has been nominated as national president-elect of AMWA, to be confirmed by vote at the annual business meeting in late October, outlined the efforts by AMWA and other groups to communicate a code of ethics for teams of medical writers to observe. He also spoke about the organization’s positive response to adverse media coverage, and the continued commitment to emphasize the legitimate role of medical writers in biomedical research. A question-and-answer session followed Tom’s presentation, generating a lively discussion with a variety of perspectives shared.
AMWA seeks to promote excellence in medical communication and to provide educational opportunities and resources in support of this goal. For more information on AMWA New England, please visit www.amwa-ne.org.
If you would like to learn more about Envision Pharma’s position on the role of the professional writing team in medical research and publications, please contact Thomas Gegeny at thomas.gegeny@envisionpharma.com or call (203) 480 0118 or Dan Donovan at dan.donovan@UBC-EnvisonGroup.com or (203) 480 0090.
Envision’s Founder and President, Dan Donovan, selected as one of PharmaVOICE’s Top 100 for second year running
Dan Donovan, Founder and President of Envision Pharma, is once again selected as one of PharmaVOICE’s 100 Most Inspiring People in the Life-Sciences Industry. Dan, with his fellow nominees, is featured in the July/August 2008 issue of PharmaVOICE.
The PharmaVOICE 100, now in its fourth year, identifies the key global thought-leaders across the life-sciences industry. The list celebrates the men and women of the industry who inspire and motivate—good people who are doing great things. PharmaVOICE believes that these forward-thinking individuals are setting the standard for corporate leadership, entrepreneurial vision, technology enhancement, marketing strategies, and creative thinking; in many cases they are creating whole new business areas as well as steering their companies to new heights.
The 2008 list reflects not only an individual’s accomplishments but also his or her contribution to the industry as a whole and influence on the growth and well-being of the life-sciences community. The selection process is based on the number of nominations received from individuals who have been motivated or inspired by the industry’s leaders and on other criteria, such as nominees’ work within the community or charitable activities. In essence, PharmaVOICE is recognizing the 100 men and women that it believes are "committed to doing the right thing for the right reasons."
The PharmaVOICE 100 is divided into different categories. After his inclusion in last year’s ‘Risk Takers’ group, Dan has been selected in this year’s ‘Entrepreneurs’ category, which recognizes innovative, forward-thinking leaders who not only carved out a niche in the life sciences—in some cases creating a whole new business area—but also successfully brought their companies to new heights.
Each year, PharmaVOICE strives to give readers a more personal insight into the Top 100; this year it asked the selected industry leaders to provide two adjectives that they believed best described themselves; unsurprisingly, Dan’s were ‘competitive’ and ‘family oriented’.
"I am truly honored to have made the list for the second consecutive year. Once again, I believe my inclusion reflects the efforts of the people on my team who help make our vision a reality. I firmly believe that this honor belongs to all members of the Envision Pharma team" said a delighted Dan.
The PharmaVOICE website includes podcasts featuring the 100 thought leaders. Dan’s individual profile provides an overview of the man, his accomplishments, and his unique leadership style. The article includes a synopsis of Dan’s career before founding Envision Pharma and captures the essence of the Envision environment—a winning environment that has landed the company as a Connecticut Best Places to Work 2 years in a row, first in 2007 as the 2nd best place and second in 2008 as the best place.
Dan Donovan would once again like to thank PharmaVOICE and the readers who nominated him.
Dan Donovan, Founder and President of Envision Pharma, highlights journal articles that identify good publication practices in recently launched industry website The Publication Plan
It’s no secret that reporting in the general media can be negative towards the pharmaceutical industry. For example, a recent article in the BMJ asked `..is there an (unbiased) doctor in the house?` Unfortunately, this reflects the current views of many people in the media on the industry and medical publications, particularly on the subject of ghostwriters and guest authors.
So it is critical that attention is, where possible, directed towards understanding the work of those who support good publication practices and positive efforts to improve medical writing. In the latest issue of online newsletter The Publication Plan, Dan Donovan of Envision Pharma highlights a number of recent journal articles that provide an alternative point of view on publications planning, and which stress the positive efforts being made in the area of the medical writing. For example, with regard to guest authors, a recent editorial in Nature Biotechnology points out that pharmaceutical research is a team effort, so it is hardly surprising that some people conduct the research, whilst others write the papers. While the article supports some criticisms of the use of ghostwriters, it suggests that ‘crackdown’ recommendations go too far. It concludes that highlighting the issue of ghostwriters to imply that all industry research is somehow unreliable is not helpful.
Dan Donovan is a proponent of positive solutions that respect the roles of the various parties involved in medical publications, including the pharma industry and agencies, publishers, journal editors, and academia, and is a strong advocate of positive change in the medical publications arena. To this end, he has proposed the establishment of a ‘Medical Publishing Cooperative’ with the aim of getting the different stakeholders to understand each others` roles and points of view in an effort to establish best practice in medical writing.
www.ThePublicationPlan.com was launched in July 2008, and is a freely accessible online resource for everyone involved in publication planning, including medical journal editors and publishers, as well as medical writers, communications professionals, and pharmaceutical industry managers. Links to the full articles identified by Dan Donovan are available in the Commentary section and can be accessed by subscribers to the newsletter.
Dan Donovan and Envision Pharma lead the way for the founding of a Medical Publishing Co-operative – from an interview with Faith Reidenbach for the American Medical Writers Association Journal
When Envision Pharma Founder and Managing Director Dan Donovan presented a poster entitled “The Dangers of Polarization in Publications” to the 2007 national conference of the American Medical Writers Association, he expressed concern that key stakeholders in medical publishing are continuously becoming more biased and extreme in their positions on disputed issues. His solution: to establish a Medical Publishing Co-operative from an international array publishers, editors, writers, representatives from the medical and pharmaceutical industries, as well as legislative representatives and representatives from the National Institutes of Health, with the aim of bridging the divide “characterized by mistrust and misperceptions.
“You need to understand other people’s roles and their professions before you start casting aspersions,” he explains. “We all have an interest in generating fairly balanced publications. Instead of perpetuating an ‘us-against-them’ attitude, we can seek cooperation.”
Transparency of the biases which color and shape all aspects of the publication process will be a hallmark of the co-op. “The problem is a lack of understanding. It’s important to remember that writing assistance doesn’t come solely from the [medical writing] industry. Many major academic institutions have writing staff which, like us, are subject to potential biases. Investigators in academia need to get published in order to get grants, promotions, and so forth. Admitting that everyone has their own set of biases, and understanding what those biases are, will be another way the co-op could help.”
Proving his commitment to the understanding of which he speaks, Donovan proposed the idea at the Blackwell Publishing annual meeting. The concept was surprisingly well received, with only two naysayers in an audience of about fifty. Encouraged, the Envision Pharma founder has extended an open invitation: “I’d like anyone who has a view, whether it’s similar to mine or the polar opposite, to contact me and talk about it. This way we can begin to move the idea forward.”
Envision Pharma has offices in Horsham, UK; Southport and Glastonbury, Connecticut, USA; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. If you would like to learn more about Envision Pharma or any of our solutions, please contact Dan Donovan at dan.donovan@UBC-EnvisonGroup.com or (203) 480 0090.
Envision Pharma’s Dan Donovan and Thomas Gegeny clarify the need for professional medical writers as defined by the International Society for Medical Publishing Professionals position statement: the role of the professional medical writer
When the International Society for Medical Publishing Professionals (ISMPP) issued their position statement on the role of the professional medical writer, they sought to defend medical writers as “an important and valuable resource in contemporary clinical research,” and to assist in raising the profession’s profile and credibility through the endorsement of the “contributorship model, which offers detailed information on the roles of all who participated in planning, conducting, developing, and publishing medical research.”
Aware that the role of the medical writer is often misunderstood at best and, at worst, actively disparaged, ISMPP points to the varied and often exceptional backgrounds many of these professionals bring to their collaborations with the designated authors of scientific or clinical manuscripts; in addition to their excellent communication skills and a more practical knowledge of the needs of the medical publishing industry (such as style, format, and disclosure guidelines), many medical writers will have years of experience with pharmaceutical companies or medical communications agencies, possess advanced degrees in the life sciences, or even be physicians themselves.
Envision Pharma’s Managing Director Dan Donovan and senior medical writer Thomas Gegeny recognize ISMPP’s definition of the industry professional, and urge the Society one step further: to illustrate “the dire need and practical justification for qualified professional medical writers.”
The pair list increased demand for clinical trials, both for regulation and safety assurances, legislative initiatives, and their resulting strains on the time and resources needed for accurate recording and reporting of results, as evidence of the growing need for “skilled professionals to assist in the dissemination of important scientific and clinical findings.”
For their part, ISMPP concurs with Donovan and Gegeny, stating “that was…the foundation on which the [position statement] was based.”
“The ‘climate of mistrust’ of medical writers,” write Donovan and Gegeny in Current Medical Research and Opinion (2007; 23; XX), “can only be overcome when the case is made (and accepted) for their legitimate role, in addition to endorsing transparent disclosure of their involvement.”
Envision Pharma has offices in Horsham, UK; Southport and Glastonbury, Connecticut, USA; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. If you would like to learn more about Envision Pharma or any of our solutions, please contact Dan Donovan at dan.donovan@UBC-EnvisonGroup.com or (203) 480 0090.
Envision Pharma Acquired by Leading Evidence-Based Medicine Company
Envision Pharma today announced their acquisition by United BioSource Corporation (UBC). UBC provides evidence-based solutions to support the development and commercialization of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical devices. The acquisition of Envision Pharma expands the company’s global presence and capability in the development and delivery of scientific communication.
Envision Pharma has two market-leading applications. Datavision™ is the pharmaceutical industry’s premier application for developing and managing transparent, compliant publications programs. Used by over 30 companies with nearly 400 products, Datavision™ provides a platform for strategic planning and workflow management, while ensuring compliance and precision in the publications process. Visiontracker™, launched in 2007, offers management of independent investigator trials, supporting the process from application through to study completion for both the investigator and sponsor.
Envision Pharma combines its publications technology software with a global staff of experienced medical writers to support the planning and development of medical publications and other scientific communications for its pharmaceutical clients. The team also provides publication consultancy services to the industry, including the development of policies and processes that ensure optimal legislative and guideline adherence.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Envision team to the UBC family,” says Ethan Leder, CEO of UBC. “Like UBC,” Leder continues, “Envision combines strategically driven scientific and technology solutions for life sciences clients. Given the increasing demand of regulators and public opinion for transparency in research, Envision’s contribution to the production of objective, scientifically driven medical publications is a cornerstone of our evidence-based credo and highly valuable to the entire medical community.”
“Joining UBC helps us achieve our vision of bringing a more robust scientific offering to our clients faster than we could have on our own, with people of a similar mindset,” notes Brian Hepburn, Envision Co-founder and General Manager.
"UBC’s mission to build all of its services with a focus on evidence made UBC an ideal partner for Envision,” says Dan Donovan, Envision Co-founder and Senior Vice President of Strategy and Market Development. Dan Donovan adds, “Envision’s mission is built around the notion that products developed with a solid evidence base will deliver the greatest impact and success for all stakeholders, from industry to healthcare and insurance providers, governments, and patients.”
Envision Pharma is an innovative scientific communications and technology company providing commercially focused, strategically driven scientific and technology solutions to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and device industries. Envision specializes in data dissemination and the effective application of smart technology. For further information on Envision Pharma visit www.envisionpharma.com.
United BioSource Corporation (UBC) is a global pharmaceutical services organization that helps emerging and established life science companies develop and commercialize medical products. UBC specializes in providing new and innovative ways to study drugs and devices by offering expertise in science, strategy, and execution.
Envision Pharma has offices in Horsham, UK; Southport and Glastonbury, Connecticut, USA; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. If you would like to learn more about Envision Pharma or any of our solutions, please contact Dan Donovan at dan.donovan@UBC-EnvisonGroup.com or (203) 480 0090.
ENVISION PHARMA of Southport named Connecticut’s “Best Place to Work…”
An independent survey of companies from across the state of Connecticut has named Envision Pharma, a medical and scientific communications company based in Southport, as the state’s “Best Place to Work.” The survey was conducted by the Best Companies Group of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with the results being compiled and ranked by the Wilmington, Delaware, firm ModernThink, LLC.
Monday’s announcement of the award marked the second time the young company made the list – they took the Number Two spot in 2007. “After serving as bridesmaid [last year],” says company co-founder and managing director Dan Donovan, “this award provides validation that we are really doing something right.”
Gail Lebert of the Hartford Business Journal, sponsors of the survey, noted that Envision’s win demonstrates how “success in business is more than a matter of products, branding and service. It’s also about the character of the organization as reflected in the contentment of its employees.”
The survey looked at each company’s personnel policies and practices, demographics, and communication, as well as using a 65-point employee questionnaire to assess leadership development, fairness, and effectiveness of collaboration. Envision Pharma, based in Southport with a second Connecticut office in Glastonbury, as well as offices in Philadelphia and the United Kingdom, came up tops across the board.
Their success isn’t accidental. As Donovan explains, the young company’s success and marked growth makes them a target for headhunters. To combat this, Envision works hard to foster employee loyalty. Company benefits, including full medical and dental coverage, serve to let ‘Envision-aries’ know their value to the company.
On a more day-to-day level, the company doesn’t get hung-up on titles. “[We] don’t believe any one person is more valuable than the next,” says Donovan. “Everybody plays an important role.”
But perhaps most telling of Envision’s commitment to its employees is the way in which their individual passions direct the company’s heart. Since it’s founding, Envision has annually made substantial charitable giving a key element of its character, with a particular emphasis on issues significant to its personnel. In addition to official company support of the Lupus Foundation and the Lindsay Foundation – both organizations which have directly affected the lives of Envision employees and their families – team members routinely reach out to one another and together have raised many tens of thousands of dollars for charities such as AIDS Walk, Relay for Life, and the American Heart Association, to name but a few.
When one employee volunteered to shave his head for the St Baldrick’s Foundation (supporting families battling childhood cancer), the company not only offered to match funds, but also showed up on the night en masse in a display of solidarity with the ‘shavee’.
“We’ve been able to stay true to our mission,” says a rightly proud Donovan, pointing to his company’s success at both supporting their clients’ needs as well as each other’s. “In my book, that’s the sign of a great team.”
For more information, please contact: Tim Deenihan, Envision Editorial Solutions tim.deenihan@envisionpharma.com or (203) 296-0869.
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