Some of the most valuable information in Medical Design & Outsourcing is found in the expert-authored MDO Contributors Network articles covering medtech innovation, design and manufacturing — and it’s all thanks to readers like you.
If you’d like to share the latest research, developments or lessons learned from your organization to inspire and empower other MDO readers, here’s a guide to get you started.
It all begins with a great idea. What uniquely relevant and useful knowledge or expertise do you have that could help others in the medtech industry? It might be as simple as covering the basics of how a commonly used component works, or something as complex as explaining the science behind cutting-edge breakthroughs. Skim our archives for some examples and remember that this is an opportunity to educate and share what you’ve learned, not to advertise your goods or services.
MDO Contributors Network requirements
Exclusivity
Because contributing authors work with MDO editors to develop, produce and publish these articles, MDO Contributors Network submissions must be exclusive for MDO‘s website and magazine, including our annual Medical Device Handbook. That means readers can only find them here, not on your organization’s website or elsewhere.
Length
Much of the value of these articles comes from keeping them short enough to read within a few minutes, but that’s no easy feat. These pieces run between 700 and 900 words, divided into three or four sections with section headers. Any writer will tell you it’s harder to write short than it is to write long, and we’re here to help. If you pitch an idea and it’s a good fit, we’ll start by discussing options for a working headline and subheadline (a single sentence summarizing the article), along with the best ways to structure an article for clarity and brevity. Headlines and subheadlines are how readers will decide whether to take the time to dive into your piece. A compelling and captivating headline will also keep you focused on telling the story that the headline promises to deliver, which will help you decide exactly what information to include — and what to leave out.
Visual aids
Authors will also need to provide at least one high-resolution image for publication to help readers better comprehend the subject. Photographs and illustrations should be at least 300 dpi and a few inches wide, but if you’re not sure look at the file size: anything larger than 500 KB will usually work online and in print. If you or your organization didn’t take the photo or create the illustration, that means you’re probably not the copyright holder and won’t be able to grant us permission to publish them.
Author information
Authors need to submit a headshot/portrait and a one- or two-sentence biography explaining how their particular expertise relates to the subject of the article.
Do’s and Don’ts
Show off your expertise by packing the article full of as much useful guidance and advice as possible. Think of it as a “what is” or “how to” type of article. Get into the details of the technology involved. Remember that the audience is made up of medical device industry insiders. Avoid statements like, “Find a trusted development partner, supplier, etc.” because this isn’t an advertisement, and our savvy readers know when someone’s trying to sell them something.
How to pitch
Email me at [email protected] with a brief summary of what you’d like to cover in the article and some ideas for the headline, subheadline, section headers and visual aids to start the conversation. If it’s a good fit for the MDO Contributor’s Network, we’ll be in touch to talk more and set deadline for submission about four weeks later, at which point we’ll work together on revisions and final tweaks before publication.