Meet the expert speakers who will share practical insights, industry perspectives, and professional strategies at this year’s AMWA-MAC Annual Conference.
The 2026 AMWA-MAC Annual Conference will be held on March 13, 2026 at Mason Square, George Mason University Arlington Campus.
See event details and register here today! (last day to register: March 09, 2026)
Hope Lafferty, AM, ELS, Hope Lafferty Communications & Coaching
Hope has a long career in medical writing, adult learning, and personal development. She has served on faculty for the Medical Writing and Editing Certificate Program at the University of California, San Diego, and as president of the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences (BELS). In 2023, Hope received the Golden Apple Award from the American Medical Writers Association for excellence in teaching. Originally trained as a group psychotherapist, Hope has professional certifications from the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences, the Association for Talent Development, Habit Finder™, Future Force Coaching Academy, and Dell’Arte International. Hope launched the Freelance Success Library in January 2026 and coaches individuals, groups, and teams to enhance their creative, personal, and professional lives.
Andrea Clark, PhD, Principal Medical Writer, Eldridge Writing & Consulting
Andrea is a Principal Medical Writer at Eldridge Writing & Consulting. She earned a PhD in chemistry and began her career in drug regulatory affairs before transitioning to medical writing. In her current role, she develops clinical and regulatory documents and supports drug development programs across multiple therapeutic areas. She has led and mentored teams of medical writers, fostering effective collaboration and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, compliant documents. Andrea is an active member of the medical writing community, regularly presenting at industry conferences and currently serving as Membership & Volunteer Coordinator for the AMWA Mid-Atlantic Chapter.
Swati Dadhich, PhD, Manager, Regulatory Medical Writing, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine
Swati is a Manager of Regulatory Medical Writing at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, where she co-leads the Early Development Oncology medical writing team and serves as lead writer for six oncology programs. During her five years with J&J, she has contributed to numerous regulatory deliverables—including protocols, investigator’s brochures, briefing documents, and clinical summary documents—and has supported multiple IND and NDA submissions.
Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson, Dr. Dadhich was a principal medical writer supporting the National Cancer Institute. In that role, she managed a large portfolio of approximately 30 IRB-approved Phase I clinical studies in cutting edge therapeutic areas such as immune-oncology, cancer vaccines, and gene therapy. Dr. Dadhich holds a PhD in Molecular Biology, completed postdoctoral training at the National Institutes of Health, and has adjunct teaching experience at the Delhi university.
She has authored 16 peer-reviewed publications and is actively involved in the medical writing community, currently serving as President of the AMWA Mid-Atlantic Chapter. She is passionate about bridging science and strategy to produce high-quality regulatory documents that advance innovative treatments and improve patient outcomes.
Adele Gonski, PhD, CMPP, Associate Scientific Director, Medical Communications, Precision AQ
Adele is an Associate Scientific Director at Precision AQ. She earned her PhD in Genetics and Molecular Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has been working in medical communications, with a focus on publications, since 2021. Her publications expertise spans multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, diabetes, and rare disease. She has been a member of AMWA since 2025 and is also an active member of ISMPP, where she serves on the ISMPP Professional Collaborations & Outreach Committee.
Crystal Herron, PhD, ELS(D), CMPP, Founder and CVO, Redwood Ink Academy
Crystal is a distinguished editor, award-winning educator, and writing coach who serves scientists and clinicians who want to communicate with clear, concise, and compelling writing. Her distinctive style transforms conventional complex language into modern writing that engages, informs, and persuades readers. Crystal is also an international speaker and educator. She leads webinars, workshops, and courses to equip researchers and other professional writers with the principles, resources, and systems they need to write compelling manuscripts and grants in the health sciences. Crystal is a BELS-certified Distinguished Editor in the Life Sciences and Certified Medical Publications Professional. She has more than a decade of experience as an editor and more than two decades of experience as an educator. Before pursuing her passion for words, she completed her PhD in biomedical science and then collaborated on diverse projects in clinical research. Crystal lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and loves baking, trail running, and exploring the outdoors with her dog. She values giving back to the community and volunteers with several national and local organizations.
Haifa Kassis, MD, President, Crisp Writing, LLC
Haifa is a freelance medical writer specializing in continuing education for physicians and other health professionals (CME/CE). Originally trained as a physician and neuroscientist, Haifa transitioned into medical writing in 2017, a few months after joining AMWA. Since then, she has helped many education providers plan and execute successful CME/CE programs in a wide range of therapeutic areas. She is also a regular contributor to Clinical Practice Today, a Duke Medicine publication, where she writes about practice management. Currently a member of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter, Haifa was previously an active volunteer for the AMWA New England Chapter, serving as President, Program Director, and Chapter Advisory Committee Representative. Nationally, she joined the AMWA Journal editorial board in 2019, most recently serving as Section Editor for the CE Craft Corner and previously as Editor-at-Large. Haifa is an AMWA fellow and a current member of the AMWA Nominating Committee and the Education CME Subcommittee.
Meagan Eldridge, MS, President, Eldridge Writing & Consulting
Meagan is the President of Eldridge Writing & Consulting (EWC), a specialized regulatory medical writing consultancy supporting biopharma organizations across the drug development lifecycle. Prior to founding EWC, Meagan held medical writing roles of increasing responsibility on both the sponsor and contract sides of the industry, supporting programs from early development through global marketing application submissions. Meagan brings a strategic, execution-focused approach to medical writing leadership, partnering closely with clinical, regulatory, biostatistics, and operations teams to drive document quality, consistency, and submission readiness. Her experience spans all phases of development, multiple therapeutic areas, and a broad range of deliverables, including briefing documents, protocols, clinical study reports, and clinical modules for marketing application submissions. Along with her team at EWC, Meagan provides strategic oversight and a hands-on approach to writing high-quality clinical and regulatory documents for critical development milestones.
