Welcome to Day 2 of the program! The Chair and Vice Chair of the 17th Annual Meeting will walk you through the day's events. Be sure to tune in to hear the Poster Winners which will be announced by this year's Abstract Chair, Gary Burd.

Speakers:
Kirsten Parr
Amy Foreman-Wykert
Gary Burd
Stacy Robison
Catherine Skobe

Keynote Description:
As the audience for medical communications expands to include diverse stakeholders, patient organizations, and patients themselves, there is an even greater need for empathy and transparency in our writing. Using inclusive language and expressing empathy are critical to building trust with our audiences.

Language is powerful. It can make people feel seen and heard -- or excluded and stereotyped. And the meanings and connotations of words can change quickly. This talk will address the importance of inclusive language and provide specific tips and best practices for writing about topics including race and ethnicity, sex and gender, sexual orientation, and disability. We will discuss several ways to practice empathy in medical communications including using familiar words, acknowledging emotion, avoiding stigmatizing language, and maintaining credibility.

Learning Objectives
After participating in this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify 3 benefits of using inclusive language in medical communications
• Describe the role of empathy in medical communications
• Name 2 strategies that medical communicators can use to advocate for inclusive language choices throughout the editorial process