Award-winning medical editor to run conference workshop

AMWA is honoured to have award-winning editor Barbara Fountain presenting a PDP workshop at our annual conference in Auckland this year.

Her workshop, Writing a killer intro – hooks and headlines, is one of four PDP workshops on offer at the 33rd AMWA conference, which will be exploring issues related to modern health communication.

Barbara won the inaugural Editorial Leader of the Year award, announced at the 2016 Canon Media Awards in late May, and bestowed in Barbara’s 20th year of service to New Zealand Doctor.

Her workshop provides a unique opportunity to learn from one of Australasia’s finest health editors.

Barbara graduated with an honours degree in biochemistry and worked in medical research and then scientific publishing before completing a postgraduate degree in journalism in 1989.

She was a reporter for the Otago Daily Times and then the now-closed Independent Business Weekly before starting with New Zealand Doctor.

WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT! AMWA Early Career Award 2026

Congratulations to Nicole Vassileff, winner of the AMWA Early Career Award for 2026!

Nicole's submission, When the Eye Learns to Grow Back, made a significant impression on the judging panel:

"I learnt something about a topic I previously knew nothing about – the complex scientific information was presented in an accessible, informative and interesting way."

"I really enjoyed reading this piece from start to finish. It is clear that the writer has a talent for producing scientific writing that is both clear and engaging. I hope they continue to bring these skills to the field of medical and health communication—Australia needs more writers like them."