Kerri Wachter

Ellicott City, MD
T: 410-371-9979
E: knwachter@gmail.com
W: www.sci-scribe.net
Summary
KW
To get the right word in the right place is a rare achievement. To condense the
diffused light of a page of thought into the luminous flash of a single sentence, is
worthy to rank as a prize composition just by itself...Anybody can have ideas--the
difficulty is to express them without squandering a quire of paper on an idea that
ought to be reduced to one glittering paragraph.
- Mark Twain, Letter to Emeline Beach 1868

Skills ● Ability to translate complex medical and scientific material into simple,
concise prose for a wide variety of audiences.
● Experience working with teams including public relations, editorial,
design, publishing, social media, web content, program managers,
scientific experts, and executive management.
● Experience writing and editing web content, federal agency reports, C-
suite speeches, talking points, PowerPoint presentations, magazine
articles, press releases, FAQs, white papers, scientific and annual
reports, marketing copy, and public-facing educational materials.
● Facility with social media and multimedia journalism: Twitter, Instagram
Facebook, WordPress, PhotoScape, podcast scripts, and filming and
video editing.

Experience
Freelance Science Writer/Editor
Ellicott City, Maryland — 2021-present

Develop and write a variety of publications from medical news articles to white
papers and web content for professional medical organizations. Write long-form
articles for a range of audiences. Edit medical news articles. Co-ordinate content
needs, writers, and publication. Work with editorial teams on very tight deadlines
during coverage of medical meetings.

Science Writer, American Society of Clinical Oncology

Alexandria, VA — 2019-2021

Developed, managed, and wrote ASCO Clinical Cancer Advances, a yearly report
that summarizes the most significant and ground-breaking cancer research of the
past year. Project involved developing a team of specialty and executive editors
and collecting and compiling proposed advances. Worked with executive editors
to select final list of advances; wrote summaries of advances, executive summary,
president's letter, introductory material, and chapter-specific text. Coordinated
production of article in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Worked with designer,
promotion/social media, and web development teams to ensure the report

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Experience achieved maximum distribution and media. Drafted talking points for chief medical
officer, board president, and ASCO president. In advance of the ASCO annual
meeting, worked with a team of experts to identify newsworthy studies to promote.
Interviewed study authors and drafted press releases. Drafted talking points for
ASCO leaders conducting press briefings at the meeting. Wrote press releases
related to other ASCO meetings, journal articles, and ASCO scientific research as
needed. Guided other members of science communications team to improve
understanding of cancer-related science.

Accomplishments
 Development and production of 20+ page ASCO Clinical Cancer
Advances report, including an edition focusing on the need for diversity
among oncologists, researchers, and patients.
 As part of a science writing and public relations team, drafted press
releases promoting featured studies at ASCO annual meeting.
 Working with thought/research leaders in oncology to promote ASCO’s
scientific mission through a variety of written materials.

Science Writer, AABB

Bethesda, MD — 2014-2019
Wrote annual meeting speeches and remarks for incoming/outgoing presidents
and CEO. Ghostwrote monthly president's and CEO columns in AABB News,
presidential correspondence, video scripts, talking points, and president's
welcome in annual meeting program. Wrote short science articles for Weekly
Report newsletter and longer articles for AABB News magazine. Conducted
research, interviewed experts, and wrote preview articles and post-meeting
highlight summaries for AABB professional meetings. Attended FDA and NIH
meetings and reported on key actions in quick-turn news articles. Proposed,
researched, and wrote white papers (patient blood management, document
control, biotherapies). Managed annual reports, including writing and coordinating
editing/design/web.

As part of a team, identified and organized blog-based news coverage at annual

meetings. Managed annual meeting blog and technical social media posts. As
interim managing editor of AABB News magazine: assigned feature articles;
coordinated other content including research articles, advocacy updates, and
member news and member profiles; edited feature articles; and coordinated with
advertising team, copy editor, designer, printer, and web team. Developed and
edited marketing copy. Experience working with campaigns targeting special
populations, including the need for more diverse blood donors, molecular and
genetic differences among patients receiving transfusions, and sickle cell disease,
AIDS, and malaria patients.

Accomplishments
 Conceived, developed, wrote, and coordinated publication of AABB
annual reports.
 Developed, managed and wrote for yearly annual meeting blog
highlighting scientific advances in blood banking, transfusion medicine,
hematology, and cell therapies.
 As interim managing editor oversaw production of AABB’s monthly news
magazine from article assignments, to advertising copy, to editing, to

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Experience design, production, and mailing.
 Mentored and supervised interns.

Science Writer/Editor, Office of Autism Research Coordination,

National Institute of Mental Health (Contractor, Kelly Services)
Rockville, MD — 2013-2014

Attended meetings of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) on

behalf of the Office of Autism Research Coordination (OARC) and wrote detailed
minutes. Edited meeting transcripts. As part of a team, wrote and edited several
publications, including annual strategic plan, research portfolio analysis,
congressional reports, and summaries of scientific advances. Worked with
designer to develop and finalize publications and to reflect the range of individuals
with autism spectrum disorders. Wrote press releases and supported NIMH social
media.

Accomplishments
 Drafted meeting minutes for Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee
(IACC) on behalf of the Office of Autism Research Coordination.
 Wrote press releases about OARC and IACC activities.
 Wrote and edited IACC annual strategic plan and scientific advances
report.

Senior Writer, IMNG Medical Media

Rockville, MD — 2002-2012
Identified and wrote targeted news stories and features based on scientific
presentations at professional medical organization meetings for 18 medical
specialty publications, 15 specialty websites, and a medical news wire service.
Attended and wrote news stories based on press conferences and FDA/NIH
advisory committee meetings on a quick-turn basis. Wrote news stories based on
press releases or journal articles. Evaluated press releases for newsworthiness
and ease in translating into news stories. Tracked medical imaging research;
identified and wrote important stories related to medical imaging.

Helped plan coverage of medical meetings, particularly medical imaging, surgery,

and oncology. Photographed or obtained images to accompany news stories.
Arranged, filmed, conducted, and edited video interviews of physicians at medical
meetings and press briefings.

Accomplishments
● Created, identified cutting edge imaging research, contacted and
interviewed experts, and wrote two monthly imaging columns (Image of
the Month for “Clinical Neurology News” and Image of the Month for
“Rheumatology News”).
● Identified relevant New Products and FYI shorts from press releases.
● Wrote quick-turn articles and photographed speakers for several on-site
daily meeting newspapers.
● Proposed, developed and administered the “Notes from the Road” blog
(now “Blognosis”). Mentored editors and writers on social media and web
content.

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 ● Helped develop editorial use of and guidelines for social media (blogs and
Twitter). Helped writers and editors develop social media skills.
● Mentored and supervised interns.

Education University of Maryland at College Park

Graduate multimedia reporting coursework — 2010

University of Alabama at Birmingham

B.S. Chemistry — 1993 to 1996 — Magna Cum Laude

Senior research project: on-column high-performance liquid chromatography to

detect and identify proteins. Golden Key honor society.

University of Maryland at College Park

B.S. Journalism — 1987 to 1991 — Summa Cum Laude

Concentration in news writing and editing. Alpha Lambda Delta, Golden Key, and
Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. Dean’s list; Kappa Tau Alpha Journalism Society
Top Scholar Award 1991. Inducted into Phi Beta Kappa as a junior.