Patricia McAdams
Kennett Square, Pa.
pmcadams@nasw.org
(610) 444-1669

SCIENCE WRITER and EDITOR
 

EXPERIENCE SUMMARY
Experienced with a breadth of consumer, academic, corporate and government assignments. Assignments centered on researching and writing news and feature stories about breaking scientific research; and editing large, multiple-author reports and publications. Managed the design, page layout, and production of many of these publications. Copy edited journal articles for medical publications and general-interest articles for other publications. Edited proposals, health and safety studies, and similar reports for public and private sector clients. Assisted with the preparation and coordination of SF254s and SF255s for U.S. government facilities. Experienced with on-line writing and editing.

Independent Writer.  I have 15 years experience writing and editing scientific copy for a general audience. The concentration of my experience has been in agriculture and biotechnology, human health and the environment. I live in southeastern Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia.

GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Writing
Biographical sketches.  Research and write sketches of scientists for a variety of clients including the University of Delaware, Gale Research Company, and The Franklin Institute and Science Museum.

Consumer healthcare.  Research and write articles for the American Federation for Aging Research, the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, and other medical groups. Articles relate to a range of topics including aging, anxiety, bi-polar illness, cancer, epidemiology, depression, heart disease, hormone disorders, neurology, nutrition, orthopaedic surgery, osteoporosis, pharmocogenomics, prostrate disease, sleep apnea, stroke, vision, vestibular disorders, and more.

Magazine/newspaper articles.  Published articles in AARP Bulletin, Science, Family Circle, UPenn Arts and Sciences, EpilepsyUSA, Hawk Mountain News, Intelligencer Journal, The Penn Stater, Pennsylvania Forests, Country, Pennsylvania Illustrated, Church Teacher, The Messenger, Horizons, Academy News, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Lancaster New Era, the Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization publication, Lifeline, and the National Institutes of Health publication, Environmental Health Perspectives.

Marketing and communications.  Wrote a variety of corporate communications and marketing materials including Corporate Identity Manual (Environmental Resources Management) and Adult Student Guide (Penn State). Co-wrote Science at the Academy (The Academy of Natural Sciences).

Newsletters.  Outreach, DBI News and Events (University of Delaware); The Know-How Exchange Bulletin, Federal Market News, (ERM); and Environmental Research (The Academy of Natural Sciences).

Public relations.  Wrote research-based news and feature stories and served as media contact for scientific research at the University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, and The Academy of Natural Sciences. Related endeavors include assignments with The Franklin Institute and Science Museum, Health Behavior News Service, and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

Presentation.  A Biotechnology Primer compiled for the Delaware Biotechnology Institute and the University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources to be presented to Science Olympiad, a group of high school scholars, to acquaint them with careers in biotechnology.

Research.  Write science briefs, summaries, and other copy based on current research at the National Academies of Sciences. These include: Frontiers in Polar Biology in the Genomic Era, a science brief; stories of polar scientists for A Vision for the International Polar Year 2007-2008, a white paper; Minorities in the Chemical Workforce, a brochure disseminating the discussions of a professional meeting on diversity; "Overview of Findings of Panel Reports," a book chapter for U.S. Corps of Engineers Contributions to National Water Management; and Realizing the Promise and Potential of African Agriculture, an executive summary for the InterAgency Council/NAS. Also wrote "The Aging Healthcare Workforce: Implications for Worker Health and Safety," for Healthcare Hazard Management Monitor (ECRI).

Workshop coverage.  Provided synthesis of professional meetings. Covered "In Search of the Fountain of Health: The Hype and the Hope" for the American Federation for Aging Research and "The Progress and Promise of Systems Microbiology" for the National Academies of Sciences.

Editing
Edited proposals, remedial assessments, and health and safety studies at Environmental Resources Management (ERM). Rewrote technical marketing materials for ERM Group companies in Latin America. Copyedited a variety of materials for health care journals and book publishers. Edited Water Security Research and Technical Support Action Plan: Executive Summary for the National Homeland Security Research Center.

Web
ERM.  Assumed responsibility for ERM Web site soon after it was launched. Moved the site to the next plateau of effectiveness as an interactive communications tool: Updated site weekly; responded to user requests for information and services; analyzed each page to optimize marketing potential; redesigned publications pages to allow for more efficient processing of orders internally; restructured the process for getting employment listings online immediately; responsible for re-engineering of site to facilitate increased quality control.

Webmaster: Parish Church

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
• 1980 to Present: Freelance.
• 1999 to 2002: University of Delaware. Joint appointment to UD College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Delaware Biotechnology Institute; Newark, Del.; Communications specialist.
• 1993 to 1999: Environmental Resources Management, Inc. (ERM); Exton, Pa.; Marketing coordinator, marketing and administrative support.
• 1991 to 1993: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Phila., Pa.; Special assistant to the vice president, Department of Environmental Research.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
• National Association of Science Writers
• American Medical Writers Association
• Association of Health Care Journalists
• Editorial Freelancers Association
• National Writers Union

EDUCATION AND HONORS
• Penn State, 1991: Magna Cum Laude
• Liberal Arts: Concentration, Science communications
• President  Adult Student Organization, Penn State Delaware County: 1990 to 1991.
• Adult Student of the Year  Penn State Delaware County: 1991.
• Adult Student of the Year  Pennsylvania Association for Adults in Continuing Education: 1991.