Following are links to a few examples of continuing medical education (CME) / continuing professional development (CPD) materials I produced for various clients while working as a medical writer for Discovery Sydney and Publicis Healthcare.
This list is by no means exhaustive!
Patient tear-off sheet - Allergic Rhinitis
Summary Card - The managment of insomnia in patients with depression
A Case Study - The management of insomnia in patients with depression
Conference coverage - Vascular Event '07
Conference coverage - Vascular Event '09
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Newsletter editing
The National E is a two-handed sailing dinghy with a spinnaker and trapeze. My husband and I regularly compete in our boat Escapee from Balmoral Sailing Club in Sydney.
From March 2007 - April 2008 I was the newsletter editor and regular contributor.
Copies of the newsletter can be downloaded here
From March 2007 - April 2008 I was the newsletter editor and regular contributor.
Copies of the newsletter can be downloaded here
Monday, 27 September 2010
Stem cells, dead neurons and appetite - some Mad Sci(ence)
MadSci Network is an online question and answer forum where scientists respond to questions within their speciality. In my case, this is Neuroscience and Physiology.
Here are links to some of the answers I have written to a range of questions, including:
"What is a cell pattern in an animal's body and organ system?"
MadSci - Cell pattern
"Does the distance a nerve impulse travels affect the speed of response?"
MadSci - Nerve impulses
"Why are there stem cells in cord blood of newborns? How are scientists intending to use them for research?
MadSci - Stem Cells
"What is an afterimage"
MadSci - retina and afterimage
"What happens to a nerve after it is damaged?"
MadSci - Nerve damage
"Why does the heart of a dead fish beat if you spead table salt on it?"
MadSci - Heart
"Does the way food is presented (how it looks) affect your appetite?"
MadSci - Food
Here are links to some of the answers I have written to a range of questions, including:
"What is a cell pattern in an animal's body and organ system?"
MadSci - Cell pattern
"Does the distance a nerve impulse travels affect the speed of response?"
MadSci - Nerve impulses
"Why are there stem cells in cord blood of newborns? How are scientists intending to use them for research?
MadSci - Stem Cells
"What is an afterimage"
MadSci - retina and afterimage
"What happens to a nerve after it is damaged?"
MadSci - Nerve damage
"Why does the heart of a dead fish beat if you spead table salt on it?"
MadSci - Heart
"Does the way food is presented (how it looks) affect your appetite?"
MadSci - Food
Sunday, 26 September 2010
Employment History
Here is an overview of my employment history:
• Freelance Science and Medical Writer. April 2008 – present.
• Tutor, Graduate Medical Program, University of Sydney, Australia. April 2008 – November 2009.
• Medical Writer, Discovery (Medicus International), Sydney, Australia. September 2007 – April 2008,
• Postdoctoral Researcher, Hearing Research Group, Neuroscience Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia. May 2005 – September 2007
• Conjoint Associate Lecturer, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Australia. 2004 - 2005,
• Postdoctoral Researcher, Spinal Cord Injuries Research Centre, Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Sydney, Australia. Aug. 2003 - May 2005
• Project Officer, National Breast Cancer Centre, Sydney, Australia. Feb. 2003 – Aug 2003
• Tutor, (Philosophy, Psychology, Physiology), Lady Margaret College, University of Oxford, UK. 2000 – 2001
• Research Assistant, Radiology Department, Christchurch Women’s Hospital, New Zealand, Summer Vacation Project. Nov. 1996 – May 1997
• Laboratory Demonstrator, (Neuroanatomy for 3rd year Medical Students), University of Otago Medical School, New Zealand. 1996,
• Freelance Science and Medical Writer. April 2008 – present.
• Tutor, Graduate Medical Program, University of Sydney, Australia. April 2008 – November 2009.
• Medical Writer, Discovery (Medicus International), Sydney, Australia. September 2007 – April 2008,
• Postdoctoral Researcher, Hearing Research Group, Neuroscience Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia. May 2005 – September 2007
• Conjoint Associate Lecturer, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Australia. 2004 - 2005,
• Postdoctoral Researcher, Spinal Cord Injuries Research Centre, Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Sydney, Australia. Aug. 2003 - May 2005
• Project Officer, National Breast Cancer Centre, Sydney, Australia. Feb. 2003 – Aug 2003
• Tutor, (Philosophy, Psychology, Physiology), Lady Margaret College, University of Oxford, UK. 2000 – 2001
• Research Assistant, Radiology Department, Christchurch Women’s Hospital, New Zealand, Summer Vacation Project. Nov. 1996 – May 1997
• Laboratory Demonstrator, (Neuroanatomy for 3rd year Medical Students), University of Otago Medical School, New Zealand. 1996,
My Qualifications
Here are my academic qualifications:
• D.Phil. 1999 - 2003. University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
• M.Sc in Neuroscience. 1998 - 1999. University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
I won a four-year Wellcome Trust scholarship and also a three-year overseas student scholarship from the British Government to attend Oxford University for my Masters and Doctorate studies in Neuroscience.
I wrote my PhD on brain development, more specifically - development of receptive fields in primary visual cortex.
Prior to that I attended Otago University in Dunedin, New Zealand.
• B.Sc (Hons) 1st class. 1993 - 1996. Neuroscience, University of Otago, New Zealand.
• D.Phil. 1999 - 2003. University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
• M.Sc in Neuroscience. 1998 - 1999. University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
I won a four-year Wellcome Trust scholarship and also a three-year overseas student scholarship from the British Government to attend Oxford University for my Masters and Doctorate studies in Neuroscience.
I wrote my PhD on brain development, more specifically - development of receptive fields in primary visual cortex.
Prior to that I attended Otago University in Dunedin, New Zealand.
• B.Sc (Hons) 1st class. 1993 - 1996. Neuroscience, University of Otago, New Zealand.
Invited Talks
Here is a list of talks I was invited to give:
• Invited speaker. Live surgery-Audiology Seminar, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck and Skull Base Surgery/St Vincent’s Private Hospital. June 2006. Using stem cells to repair the deafened cochlea – characterization of new hair cells.
• Invited speaker. Exciting Cells Colloquium. University of New South Wales. May 2006. Development of the auditory pathway in deaf mice.
• Research Talk. Garvan Institute of Medical Research. March 2006. Development of the auditory pathway in deaf mice.
• Invited speaker. Sydney Spinal Cord Injury Group. February 2005. Inflammation after spinal cord injury – evidence from animal studies.
• Invited speaker. Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, April 2004. Starting to see – the nature of the first responses in visual cortex.
• Research Talk. ANS (Australian Neuroscience Society) annual meeting, Perth, January 2005. Differential recruitment of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes and macrophages into sensory ganglia after nerve and spinal cord injury.
• Invited speaker. Live surgery-Audiology Seminar, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck and Skull Base Surgery/St Vincent’s Private Hospital. June 2006. Using stem cells to repair the deafened cochlea – characterization of new hair cells.
• Invited speaker. Exciting Cells Colloquium. University of New South Wales. May 2006. Development of the auditory pathway in deaf mice.
• Research Talk. Garvan Institute of Medical Research. March 2006. Development of the auditory pathway in deaf mice.
• Invited speaker. Sydney Spinal Cord Injury Group. February 2005. Inflammation after spinal cord injury – evidence from animal studies.
• Invited speaker. Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, April 2004. Starting to see – the nature of the first responses in visual cortex.
• Research Talk. ANS (Australian Neuroscience Society) annual meeting, Perth, January 2005. Differential recruitment of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes and macrophages into sensory ganglia after nerve and spinal cord injury.
Conference abstracts
Here is a list of conference abstracts I have authored or co-authored
T. Corlette, S.M. McKay, H. Pau, D. Saunders & S. Oleskevich (2006) Microsurgery for cell injection into mouse cochlea. Frontiers in Otorhinolaryngology, Australia.
McKay S.M. & Oleskevich S. (2006) The role of sound-driven activity in developmental plasticity at a giant auditory synapse. Proceedings of the Australian Neuroscience Society 17 (41).
Doyle K.D., Kazda, A., Hort Y., McKay S.M. & Oleskevich S. (2006) Differentiation of adult olfactory precursor cells into auditory hair cells. Proceedings of the Australian Neuroscience Society 17 (69).
K. Doyle, A. Kazda, Y. Hort, S. McKay & S. Oleskevich. (2006) Differentiation of adult olfactory stem cells into auditory hair cells. Developmental Neurobiology Satellite Meeting, Sydney, Australia.
McKay S.M., Hu P. & McLachlan E.M. (2006) Patterns of microglial activation differ between white and grey matter of lumbosacral spinal segments below a mid-thoracic spinal cord transection in rats. Proceedings of the Australian Neuroscience Society 17 (162). Sydney, Australia.
K. Doyle, A. Kazda, Y. Hort, S. McKay & S. Oleskevich. (2005) Characterisation of olfactory stem cell-derived hair cells. Australian Stem Cell Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.
A. Kazda, K. Doyle, Y. Hort, S. McKay & S. Oleskevich. (2005) Characterisation of olfactory stem cell-derived hair cells. 15th St Vincent’s Research Symposium, Sydney, Australia. (Student Poster prize winner).
McKay S.M. McLachlan E.M. (2005) Differential recruitment of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes and macrophages into sensory ganglia after nerve and spinal cord injury. Proceedings of the Australian Neuroscience Society 16 (12-3). Perth, Australia.
McKay S.M. & McLachlan E.M. (2004) Spinal cord injury induces inflammation at remote sites in the peripheral nervous system. ASMR 13th NSW Scientific Meeting. Sydney, Australia.
McKay S.M., & Thompson I.D. (2004) A role for visual experience in the development of receptive fields in ferret primary visual cortex. Proceedings of the Australian Neuroscience Society 15 (151). Melbourne, Australia.
McKay S.M., Smyth D., Akerman C.J., Thompson I.D. (2002) Changing receptive fields and response properties underlie orientation development in ferret primary visual cortex. FENS Abstr 14, 007.17 Paris, France.
McKay, S.M., Smyth D., Akerman C.J., Thompson I.D. (2001) Changing receptive fields during development in ferret primary visual cortex. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 27 (475.13). San Diego, USA.
Akerman CJ., Smyth D., McKay S.M., Baker G.E., Thompson I.D. (2000) Role for visual experience before eye-opening in the development of the retinogeniculate pathway. FENS Abstr 12, 132.11 Brighton, UK.
McKay S.M., (2000) Receptive field development in the primary visual cortex of ferrets. Physiological Society Young Physiologists Symposium. – The excitement of excitable cells. Oxford, UK.
McKay S.M., Duxson M.J., Sheard P. (1996). Possible evidence for electrical coupling between adult skeletal muscle fibres. Proceedings of the University of Otago Medical School Research Council. 74(3), Dunedin. NZ.
T. Corlette, S.M. McKay, H. Pau, D. Saunders & S. Oleskevich (2006) Microsurgery for cell injection into mouse cochlea. Frontiers in Otorhinolaryngology, Australia.
McKay S.M. & Oleskevich S. (2006) The role of sound-driven activity in developmental plasticity at a giant auditory synapse. Proceedings of the Australian Neuroscience Society 17 (41).
Doyle K.D., Kazda, A., Hort Y., McKay S.M. & Oleskevich S. (2006) Differentiation of adult olfactory precursor cells into auditory hair cells. Proceedings of the Australian Neuroscience Society 17 (69).
K. Doyle, A. Kazda, Y. Hort, S. McKay & S. Oleskevich. (2006) Differentiation of adult olfactory stem cells into auditory hair cells. Developmental Neurobiology Satellite Meeting, Sydney, Australia.
McKay S.M., Hu P. & McLachlan E.M. (2006) Patterns of microglial activation differ between white and grey matter of lumbosacral spinal segments below a mid-thoracic spinal cord transection in rats. Proceedings of the Australian Neuroscience Society 17 (162). Sydney, Australia.
K. Doyle, A. Kazda, Y. Hort, S. McKay & S. Oleskevich. (2005) Characterisation of olfactory stem cell-derived hair cells. Australian Stem Cell Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.
A. Kazda, K. Doyle, Y. Hort, S. McKay & S. Oleskevich. (2005) Characterisation of olfactory stem cell-derived hair cells. 15th St Vincent’s Research Symposium, Sydney, Australia. (Student Poster prize winner).
McKay S.M. McLachlan E.M. (2005) Differential recruitment of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes and macrophages into sensory ganglia after nerve and spinal cord injury. Proceedings of the Australian Neuroscience Society 16 (12-3). Perth, Australia.
McKay S.M. & McLachlan E.M. (2004) Spinal cord injury induces inflammation at remote sites in the peripheral nervous system. ASMR 13th NSW Scientific Meeting. Sydney, Australia.
McKay S.M., & Thompson I.D. (2004) A role for visual experience in the development of receptive fields in ferret primary visual cortex. Proceedings of the Australian Neuroscience Society 15 (151). Melbourne, Australia.
McKay S.M., Smyth D., Akerman C.J., Thompson I.D. (2002) Changing receptive fields and response properties underlie orientation development in ferret primary visual cortex. FENS Abstr 14, 007.17 Paris, France.
McKay, S.M., Smyth D., Akerman C.J., Thompson I.D. (2001) Changing receptive fields during development in ferret primary visual cortex. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 27 (475.13). San Diego, USA.
Akerman CJ., Smyth D., McKay S.M., Baker G.E., Thompson I.D. (2000) Role for visual experience before eye-opening in the development of the retinogeniculate pathway. FENS Abstr 12, 132.11 Brighton, UK.
McKay S.M., (2000) Receptive field development in the primary visual cortex of ferrets. Physiological Society Young Physiologists Symposium. – The excitement of excitable cells. Oxford, UK.
McKay S.M., Duxson M.J., Sheard P. (1996). Possible evidence for electrical coupling between adult skeletal muscle fibres. Proceedings of the University of Otago Medical School Research Council. 74(3), Dunedin. NZ.
Academic Publications
Here is a list of academic papers I have authored or co-authored.
S. Bogaerts, S. Douglas, T. Corlette, S.M. McKay, H. Pau, D. Saunders & S. Oleskevich (2008). Microsurgery for cell injection into mouse cochlea. J. Neurosci Methods.15;168(1):156-63
McKay S.M. & Oleskevich S. (2007) The role of spontaneous activity in development of the endbulb of Held synapse. Hearing Research 230 (1-2): 53-63.
Doyle, K.L., Kazda, A., Hort Y., McKay S.M. & Oleskevich, S. (2007) Differentiation of adult mouse olfactory precursor cells into hair cells in vitro. Stem Cells. 25(3):621-7
McKay S.M., Brooks D.J., Hu P. & McLachlan E.M. (2007). Distinct types of microglial activation in white and grey matter of rat lumbosacral cord after mid-thoracic spinal transection. J. Neuropatho. Exp Neurol. 66(8):698-710.
McKay S.M. & McLachlan E.M. (2004) Inflammation of rat dorsal root ganglia below a mid-thoracic spinal transection. Neuroreport 15(11):1783-6.
S. Bogaerts, S. Douglas, T. Corlette, S.M. McKay, H. Pau, D. Saunders & S. Oleskevich (2008). Microsurgery for cell injection into mouse cochlea. J. Neurosci Methods.15;168(1):156-63
McKay S.M. & Oleskevich S. (2007) The role of spontaneous activity in development of the endbulb of Held synapse. Hearing Research 230 (1-2): 53-63.
Doyle, K.L., Kazda, A., Hort Y., McKay S.M. & Oleskevich, S. (2007) Differentiation of adult mouse olfactory precursor cells into hair cells in vitro. Stem Cells. 25(3):621-7
McKay S.M., Brooks D.J., Hu P. & McLachlan E.M. (2007). Distinct types of microglial activation in white and grey matter of rat lumbosacral cord after mid-thoracic spinal transection. J. Neuropatho. Exp Neurol. 66(8):698-710.
McKay S.M. & McLachlan E.M. (2004) Inflammation of rat dorsal root ganglia below a mid-thoracic spinal transection. Neuroreport 15(11):1783-6.
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