An interesting paradox has arisen. An email came through my website that commented on “My Ambulance Education” and referred to it as my first professional writing. That comment, while kind in its intention, gave me pause for thought. I actually do consider myself a professional writer and did so before this. My job as a university professor requires me to write papers, grants and reports. I’m not complaining about the comment, but I acknowledge that my ‘professional’ publications are not that widely read. For example, a grant application that gets funded for a few million dollars is likely only read by about five or six people to get that funding. The research papers are read by a few more people and I know that the book, “Creatine and Creatine Phosphate” sold about 2000 copies. There are a lot of great writers who toil tirelessly to convey very complicated scientific concepts and these people are professional authors. I considered myself amongst the ranks of these professional writers. I also teach students to write scientifically and it is a learned skill required for the academic community.

I am honored to have a publication in the popular press and really do not think that the skill of science writing and writing “My Ambulance Education” is that different. The common denominators are to know the reader, know your audience and have a clear goal of what you want to say. If I write a grant, I put myself in the shoes of the grant reviewer. When writing “My Ambulance Education”, I put myself in the shoes of the active ambulance personnel. If I felt they could relate and like what they heard, I would keep writing. I love my job, I love to write and I loved writing “My Ambulance Education”.