Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. h.c., CEO American Association for Cancer Research Michael A. Caligiuri, M.D., Director The

3. The Problem There are very few opportunities at medical centers for physicians-in-training to obtain guidance in written and oral presentation skills Weaknesses in these areas often contribute to anxiety, self-doubt, and access to certain positions and promotions in the field

4. The Solution Study the principles of good scientific writing and effective oral communications Observe your colleagues who do it well, read books, and attend seminars on these subjects when time permits Invest the time and effort to learn and then apply these principles early in your career

12. Abstract Should contain all key points and keywords - especially important for online retrieval systems Should be clear and concise, and adhere to journal format N.B. The Abstract is extremely important. It is often the only thing that people read

19. Summary: Scientific Writing Publication in high-quality journals is still one of the major criteria by which your impact as an academic scientist is judged Good data and the careful preparation of manuscripts will result in publications that are highly readable, cited, and lauded Adherence to the principles of good scientific writing will markedly increase your chances of publication

20. Publication Process Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. (h.c.)

25. Variations in Journal Acceptance Rates Depend on the policies set forth by the Publisher, Publications Committee, and Editor-in-Chief Range from about 8% (NEJM) to 10% (Science, JAMA) to about 30% (Cancer Research, Clinical Cancer Research, other society journals) Keep your ear to the ground and know the acceptance rates of your preferred publication outlets!!

27. Perceived lack of broad interest to readership Lack of adherence to requirements for the category of publication Excessive length of paper Timing of the paper’s submission (some journals aim for heterogeneity of topics) Submission of paper to multiple journals Journal’s backlog of accepted papers

33. Know Your Material You must be At ease with your topic Expert in the methodology, results, and interpretations of the data Up to date on the published literature Prepared to address any potential divergent interpretations or controversial scientific aspects

36. Apportion your time adequately between topics Walk the audience through each slide Make smooth transitions when you are shifting topics Adhere to your stated instructional objectives and ensure that the audience will have a take-home message(s)

37. Prepare Clear, Readable Slides Limit the number of lines per slide Take the size of the meeting room into consideration Draw the eyes of the listener to the most important part of each slide Avoid using difficult to read fonts Use one font family throughout the presentation Limit the number of colors on the slides Select colors that will be legible on the screen

38. MODERN CANCER RESEARCH Requires more scientists in cancer-related fields Bioinformatics and computational molecular biology Mathematical modeling Systems biology Structural and chemical biology, and chemical genetics Physics Nanotechnology Engineering Chemistry Other

39. Modern Cancer Research Requires more scientists in cancer-related fields Bioinformatics and computational molecular biology Mathematical modeling Systems biology Structural and chemical biology, and chemical genetics Physics Nanotechnology Engineering Chemistry Other

40. Modern Cancer Research Requires more scientists in cancer-related fields Bioinformatics and computational molecular biology Mathematical modeling Systems biology Structural and chemical biology, and chemical genetics

41. Know Your Setting Know whether it is large and formal or small and informal Practice your presentation on-site to ensure that the slides project properly (use the speaker-ready rooms) Get to the meeting site well ahead of time Make sure that you are familiar with the podium, the lighting, and the equipment

42. Short Proffered Abstract Presentations Usually 10 minutes for the talk and 5 minutes for discussion (equivalent to manuscript length of about 1,000 words) Prepare an outline; speak extemporaneously and don’t read your talk word for word Try not exceed 7 to 8 data-intensive slides Be careful. Presentation of these could take as much as 2 minutes each. Be selective about your content (too many concepts in a short presentation will confuse the listener) Summarize your key findings before closing

44. Hone Your Delivery Skills YOU are the medium and the message You need to connect with your audience - Words/content = 7% - Voice = 38% - Non-verbal communication = 55%

45. Major Barriers to the Delivery of Successful Oral Presentations Inappropriate orexcessive jokes; self-deprecating humor Fear and anxiety Tone of voice (mumbling, monotone) Boredom Lack of eye contact Poor posture

46. Self-assured elegance conveys speaker expertise and an overall positive impression Eye contact and good posture command the attention of the audience Good body language is a passport to successful oral presentations The Delivery of Successful Oral Presentations

47. Summary: Characteristics of Memorable Scientific Presentations Utilize excellent verbal and non-verbal communications techniques Capture attention of the audience early and keep them interested Impress upon the listener the importance of the subject and especially your data Convey your enthusiasm about the topic Change an opinion or evoke an action in the listener – the take-home message(s)!