Paul Casella, MFA


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Paul Casella, MFA
319.333.2387
paulcasella@aol.com

Course Descriptions: Professional Development for Academic Physicians and Scientists

 

Designed specifically for physicians, scientists, and other health care professionals, these seminars provide clear, practical advice on how to communicate effectively in a variety of written and spoken formats, from grant proposals to grand rounds.

Since 1993 Paul Casella has presented over 3,000 of these seminars and workshops to resident and faculty physicians, pharmacists, scientists, nurses, administrators and other scientific and health care professionals at medical centers and meetings across North America and Europe.

The topics can be tailored to the needs of the department or group and can be given in one-hour to multiple-day time frames. Measurable objectives are available for each course to facilitate continuing education credit approval.

Each seminar is entertaining and focused on the needs of the audience. Participants leave the sessions informed and empowered with strategies and skills immediately applicable to their work.

 

Writing for Publication
12 hours


A clear and reasoned presentation of ideas is critical to the success of a scientific manuscript. This seminar examines the structures and positions of emphasis in the sentence, paragraph, and sections of the formal study to help authors authorize their claims. Includes a test of reasoning that authors can apply to the articles they read and the papers they write.

This session will also address how authors can use a systematic approach to the writing process to improve the content and presentation of their ideas in a manuscript for submission. Includes suggestions about how to address the needs of the reviewers, editors and readers of a journal to improve your chances of publication. Can be tailored to emphasize

 

Speaking for Success: Strategies for Effective Medical and Scientific Presentations
12 hours

This course reviews how adults learn as a means to examine effective delivery techniques to engage scientific and clinical peer audiences. Provides practical information on how to deliver powerful oral and PowerPoint presentations in the classroom, the conference room, the auditorium, and at the regional or national meeting.

Includes a discussion of voice, inflection, body language, techniques to stimulate interest and involvement, and strategies to help facilitate audience recall of the message. Addresses how to prepare for a presentation, how to manage anxiety, and how to design and use visual aids effectively. Can be designed to include elements of

 

Writing Grant Proposals
12 hours

This course reviews the principles of good grantwriting to produce clear, direct, and compelling proposals. Focuses on understanding the psychology of reviewers and the review process, how to engage readers and facilitate understanding, and how to manage the proposal writing process. Suggests proposal templates. Includes exercises related to specific elements of a scientific proposal, particularly the Specific Aims page.

Provides specific direction on how to best organize and format NIH applications for reader accessibility and impact, including information on

 

Writing for Publication Workshop
24 hours

This session is dedicated to examining participants’ drafts of their manuscripts for publication and suggesting ways to improve the clarity, writing style and structure of the drafts. The group will also apply a test of reasoning to the conclusions. Emphasis will also be given to what the authors did particularly well, in addition to working on areas that can be improved.

 

Writing Effective Personal Statements and NIH Biosketches
1 hour

A course that reviews writing strategies that engage readers and help emphasize your story in a personal statement or NIH biosketch. Addresses how to frame your background, present, and your vision in a way that is integrated with your work or the project you propose. Identifies ways to stress the importance and significance of your ideas.

 

Individualized Consultation with an Editor
30-60 minutes each

A private consultation with a science editor. The participant sends a writing sample in advance and then meets with the editor to receive feedback and ways to improve the clarity, structure, and effectiveness of the writing.  

 

Individualized Presentation Skills Training
3060 minutes each

A private consultation with a speaking coach. The participant gives a short presentation that is videorecorded. The coach reviews the video with the speaker and offers suggestions to improve the power of the delivery and the presentation of the content. The speaker and coach repeat this process to refine the delivery and emphasize the main points. The speaker keeps the video, which includes the coach’s comments.

 

Presentation Skills Workshop
23 hours

Limited to 10–15 participants. Each participant gives a brief presentation that is videorecorded and critiqued—strengths and ways to improve—by a speaking coach. Includes a discussion of inflection, body language, and use of visual aids; techniques to stimulate audience interest and involvement; and strategies to help facilitate audience recall of the message. Participants keep their own video, which includes the coach’s comments.

 

Effective Interview Skills
1 hour

This seminar addresses effective strategies to use before and during interviews, including preparing talking points, examples, stories, and questions. Stresses how to highlight important information and convey it in a memorable way. Includes a focus on body language, inflection and tone, and the overall image you project.

 

Individualized Interview Skills Training
4560 minutes each

A private consultation with a speaking coach. The participant and coach conduct a mock interview, which is videorecorded. The coach reviews the video with the speaker and offers suggestions to improve the presentation of the delivery—including body language—and the effectiveness of the content. The speaker and coach discuss interview strategies and repeat this process to refine the delivery and emphasize the main points. The speaker keeps the video, which includes the coach’s comments.

 

Powerful Posters
1 hour

This course demonstrates the most effective ways to format and present information in a poster. Stresses the options that authors have to emphasize the visual presentation of their information and ideas. Provides direction on developing headings, formatting text, choosing colors, and adjusting the overall layout so that it engages viewers.

The session also addresses ways to facilitate discussion at the poster session itself and how to prepare and deliver a 1-minute overview of a study or program.