Get Your Voice Out There! - How to Create an Effective Medical Op-Ed-Slides

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This presentation by Dr. Thomas Lew, a hospitalist and contributor to USA Today Opinion Board, guides medical professionals on how to craft effective medical op-eds to influence public discourse and combat misinformation. Dr. Lew emphasizes the urgent need for physician voices in public health debates, especially amidst widespread misinformation on topics like COVID-19, vaccines, and gun violence.<br /><br />Key learning objectives include understanding the public health influence landscape, writing engaging hooks, presenting expert arguments clearly, and navigating op-ed submissions. Dr. Lew shares a four-step op-ed structure: (1) the Hook – a personal, vivid opening to draw readers in and establish expertise; (2) the Argument – expanding on the problem with context and credibility; (3) The Data – presenting both emotional and factual evidence to resonate with a general audience; (4) Conclusion and The Ask – summarizing and urging specific, realistic actions from readers.<br /><br />Dr. Lew underscores writing in an accessible, natural voice aimed at a 7th-8th grade reading level, using emotional language appropriately, and leveraging personal clinical experiences to make points relatable and persuasive. He advocates for timely, topical issues that matter deeply to the writer and the public.<br /><br />Practical advice on submitting op-eds includes targeting diverse outlets (local, national, online), submitting to one outlet at a time, crafting clear, relevant cover emails, and utilizing institutional communications resources. Upon publication, authors should promote their pieces via professional and social channels while preparing for potential online backlash.<br /><br />The overarching message encourages physicians to engage publicly to shape understanding, influence policy, and improve health outcomes. Sharing expert perspectives through well-structured op-eds can raise professional profiles, inspire collaboration, and make a meaningful difference amid today’s “land of misinformation.”

Keywords

Medical op-eds

Physician public engagement

Combatting misinformation

Public health communication

COVID-19 misinformation

Vaccine advocacy

Gun violence discourse

Effective op-ed writing

Healthcare professional influence

Media submission strategies