🎄 Pre-Christmas MedComms Networking Event 2025
- St Giles Medical
- Nov 10
- 4 min read
📅 Date: Tuesday 16 December 2025
🕒 Time: 13:30 – 17:00 (GMT)
📍 Venue: Business School, 3rd Floor Seminar Room BS 3.11, Manchester Metropolitan University, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6BH
🌐 Format: Hybrid – join in person or online via Zoom
💷 Cost: Free to attend
💻 Register for online attendance: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/a5vZIQ4ORXat4KeQ7Y3fig#/registration
🎟️ Register for in-person attendance: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/medcommsnetworking-pre-christmas-event-2025-tickets-1781693997709?aff=oddtdtcreator
🎁 Overview
Join us for the final MedComms Networking Event of 2025 — a festive afternoon of learning, discussion, and connection at Manchester Metropolitan University. Expect engaging talks from leading voices in medical communications, lively conversation, and of course, homemade mince pies!
Whether you attend in person or online, this hybrid event is the perfect way to reflect on 2025, share insights, and celebrate the strength and creativity of our MedComms community.
🗓️ Programme Highlights
13:30 – 14:00 | Arrival & refreshments. Enjoy coffee, conversation, and festive treats before the sessions begin.
14:00 – 14:05 | Welcome – Tim Hardman & Steven Walker (MedSciCommsNet)
14:05 – 14:30 | Martin Delahunty – “Current State of Publishing”
President, European Medical Writers Association (EMWA) | Director, Inspiring STEM Academic Publishing. A commercially focused and innovative publishing executive with extensive global experience across STM publishing, academia, and industry, Martin specialises in high-impact communication solutions — from open-access journals and digital communities to conferences and publishing innovation. In this session, Martin will explore the evolving landscape of scientific publishing — from open access and AI tools to the changing role of peer review — and what these shifts mean for medical communicators.
14:30 – 14:55 | Corinne Swainger – “New AI Opportunities for MedComms Writers and Editors”
Freelance Senior Medical Copywriter, Strategic Medical Writer & Medical Affairs Writer at MediQuill Ltd. Corinne is a creative and strategic medical writer with over 25 years’ experience across pharma, biotech, and healthcare, known for accessible, evidence-based storytelling. A frequent MedComms speaker and patient advocate, she champions ethical communication and rare-disease awareness. Her talk will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping medical writing — highlighting practical ways to harness AI responsibly while preserving accuracy, ethics, and the human voice.
14:55 – 15:15 | Steph Carter & Vicki Evans – “Let’s Talk Rates: What Are MedComms Freelancers Charging in 2025?”
Steph Carter – Freelance Scientific Director & Medical Writer, Lyrical Medical Writing Services. Steph, a PhD-qualified medical writer with 13 years’ experience and 70+ publications, specialises in publications and medical affairs materials across multiple therapy areas. She delivers high-quality, compliant content and supports pharma clients from brief to submission.
Vicki Evans – Freelance Account Director & Scientific Content Writer, Meadgate Medical Communications. Vicki brings deep experience in medical education and event delivery — from symposia to advisory boards and e-learning modules — with therapeutic expertise spanning rheumatology, oncology, neurology, and more.
Together, Steph and Vicki will lead an open discussion on freelance rates, workload balance, and fair value in today’s MedComms market.
15:15 – 15:30 | Break & Homemade Mince Pies 🥧
15:30 – 16:00 | Caroline Halford & Leah Bundy – “One Message, Many Voices: Adapting Medical Education for Every Audience”
Caroline Halford – Business Development Director, Springer Health+ IME. Caroline leads Springer Health’s educational strategy, developing impactful HCP programmes that drive measurable improvements in clinical practice. With expertise in digital innovation, social media, and journal management, she advances new formats to enhance engagement.
Leah Bundy – Principal Medical Education Writer, Springer Health+ IME. Leah creates clear, engaging content that bridges science and education, with a background in metabolic research and public science outreach. She is passionate about making complex medical information accessible.
Together, they will discuss how independent medical education can be tailored to meet the needs of diverse audiences — ensuring consistent messaging across clinicians, patients, and policymakers worldwide.
16:00 – 16:30 | Alice Choi – “MedComms: Past, Present, and Do We Have a Future?”
President, Envision Medical Communications | Chair, Healthcare Communications Association (HCA)With over 20 years’ leadership in global medical communications, Alice has driven strategic innovation across major networks including IPG Health and CMC. A mentor and advocate for diversity and inclusion, she serves on advisory boards for Cancer Research UK and Marketing Manchester. Named Communicator of the Year (2023), Alice will reflect on MedComms’ evolution — from its scientific roots to its digital transformation — and share her perspective on what the next decade holds for our profession.
16:30 – 16:50 | Tim Hardman & Steven Walker – Christmas Prize Quiz 🎁
A festive quiz with prizes to wrap up the year in MedComms style!
16:50 – 17:00 | Discussion & Close
🍻 Informal Networking
From 17:00 onwards, join us at The Salutation Pub on campus for relaxed festive networking and conversation.
ℹ️ Event Details at a Glance
Free to attend – open to all MedComms professionals, freelancers, students, and industry colleagues.
Hybrid format – join in person or online via Zoom.
Parking – Car Park D, Booth Street West (Higher Cambridge Street access, M15 6AR).
Contact – info@medscicommsnet.org.
Selected sessions will be recorded and shared post-event.
🌟 Join Us
Celebrate the festive season with colleagues, reflect on another exciting year in MedComms, and look ahead to 2026. Whether you’re joining us in Manchester or online from afar — you’ll be part of the conversation that continues to shape our community.
🎟️ Register now to attend in person or online! https://www.stgmed.com/medcomms-networking-pre-christmas-event
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