Our members are a dynamic combination of freelancers, employees, and job seekers and include those who write, edit, or develop medical materials for a wide range of audiences, including:
- Patient education brochures, news articles, web content, and books
- Journal articles and continuing education monographs
- Regulatory documents supporting drug and device research and development
- Sales training and marketing materials
Our target audiences include the general public, patients, press, health care professionals, government agencies including the Food and Drug Administration, contract research organizations, pharmaceutical industry, research scientists, and institutions.
Some of us have backgrounds with strong medical or science experience while others have solid writing or journalism experience. Together we share our love for writing, science, and medicine.
Meet Our Current Board of Directors
President- Jayanika Samaranayake, PhD
Jaya is currently the President for AMWA Carolinas. She is a senior regulatory medical writer at Trilogy Writing & Consulting and is based in the Research Triangle Park area, NC. Jaya has a Master’s degree in cancer immunology and a PhD in cancer biology. She joined AMWA in 2018 and has volunteered in different roles within AMWA: as secretary for the Florida chapter, section editor for the AMWA journal, led roundtables at the AMWA national conference, and has served on the Carolinas chapter conference planning committee since 2023. One of Jaya’s biggest passions is guiding bench scientists in their transition from academia into medical writing careers in industry.
President Elect- Abigail Agoglia, PhD
Abigail Agoglia is currently the President Elect for AMWA Carolinas. She received a BS in Neuroscience from SUNY-Binghamton University, then moved to North Carolina to attain a PhD from the University of North Carolina. Although she loved bench science and research with rodents, her allergies eventually drove her out of that line of work. A year into her postdoc, she began exploring alternatives and discovered medical writing. Having loved writing since she was a child, her only regret is not joining the field sooner! Abigail currently works as a regulatory writer, primarily working on New Drug Applications. She has always had a niche interest in rare and orphan diseases, and specifically enjoys her work on applications for new treatments of these conditions. She loves the variety of her day-to-day job, working on a range of different projects with diverse teams. She also loves the challenge of writing on a team with the support of subject matter experts and enjoys the satisfaction of delivering exactly what the team had in mind. She can’t emphasize enough how incredible, supportive, and helpful the AMWA Carolinas community has been, and would advise anyone interested in medical writing to involve themselves and discover more about the profession.
Immediate Past President- Jennifer Pickett, PhD
Jenni Pickett is the current Immediate Past President for AMWA Carolinas. She recently served as the Social Media Coordinator (2019 -2022) and on the AMWA Carolinas Conference Committee (2020 – present). Her focus areas within medical writing are regulatory documents and plain-language writing. Jenni previously worked in a scientific capacity in the pharmaceutical industry, and her transition to medical writing allows her to play a role in the final stages of the drug-development process. As an advocate for diversity in the medical writing community, Jenni believes that many paths can lead to a successful career, and she also believes in the importance of networking and connecting with others to create a community. In order to help others enter the field and advance their careers, Jenni has compiled a list of free or low-cost resources, which can be found on her website: https://jennipickett.com/2019/05/01/free-and-low-cost-education-for-medical-writers-and-pharma-scientists/
Treasurer- Simone Otto, PhD
Simone Otto is currently the Treasurer of the AMWA Carolinas. Before she entered the field, Simone worked in fashion design. An emerging interest in science led her to pursue a PhD in neuroscience, after which she moved to North Carolina for a postdoctoral position. Deciding not to pursue a career in academia after her postdoc, she began working as a medical writer. Simone loves working with diverse teams to develop documents that aim to better human health, and she feels that her work allows her to gain new knowledge while also making an impact on patients in need. Simone is looking forward to seeing how artificial intelligence is integrated into the field in the future, helping to eliminate repetitive work and give writers more space to do innovative writing. For people who are interested in working as medical writers, Simone recommends gaining experience in writing medical documents wherever possible, and she also believes that networking is essential.
Secretary- Katie Kelm, PhD
Katie Kelm serves as the Secretary for the AMWA Carolinas Chapter. During her undergraduate studies in pharmaceutical sciences, she discovered a passion for writing and effective communication while working as a tutor at the university writing lab. This enthusiasm for writing continued throughout her doctoral and postdoctoral studies, where she actively sought opportunities away from the bench to gain additional writing experience. In 2012, she was thrilled to join PPD, part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, as an associate medical writer. Over the years, she has taken on various roles within the medical writing group. In her current role, Katie leads teams that provide regulatory medical writing support to biotech and pharmaceutical companies. As an AMWA Value of Medical Writing working group member, she contributed to development of a toolkit to define, achieve, and communicate success as a regulatory medical writer; she co-presented the toolkit at the 2023 AMWA national conference. For those interested in pursuing a career in medical writing, Katie recommends seeking volunteer roles that involve writing and editing and sharing career interests with professional connections—it takes just one opportunity to break into the field.
Chapter Advisor- Demetrius Carter, MBA
Demetrius is the Past President of the AMWA Carolinas Chapter (2022-2023) and currently serves as the Chapter Advisor. Having worked in the pharmaceutical industry for many years, he has experience in all stages of drug development and understands the value of the end process, which is why he enjoys medical writing. In May 2022, Demetrius led a talk at the AMWA Carolinas Chapter Conference addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the medical writing field, which is one of his central professional interests. Demetrius wants any interested writers to know that there is no single path to medical writing, as he believes that passion and skill can lead anyone to be successful in the field. Demetrius encourages people to explore this career regardless of their personal or professional background, and he hopes to enrich the professional community of medical writers through the greater inclusion of individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences.
Volunteer Coordinator- Kim Jochman , PhD, RAC
Kim Jochman is the Past President of the AMWA Carolinas Chapter (2021-2022) and currently our Volunteer Coordinator. After she completed her PhD in neuroscience and undertook 2 postdoctoral research positions, she became interested in medical writing, and has now been working in the field for over 14 years. As a regulatory writer in a management position, Kim enjoys learning new things and creating a positive impact on her colleagues, who she feels are incredibly smart, hard-working, and scientifically engaged. In the future, she hopes that different types of technology can be integrated for smoother communication of data from clinical trials. She also hopes that more people learn about careers in medical writing. By working to establish an entry-level training program at her company, Kim has dedicated herself to helping the industry grow and attract diverse talent. For people who are interested in pursuing a career in medical writing, Kim recommends looking for entry-level medical writing programs, as well as exploring classes and trainings online and even volunteering to write for venues such as professional association blogs or university websites to hone writing skills.
Student Volunteer Coordinator- Amber Carr, MWC
Amber Carr is currently the Student Volunteer Coordinator for AMWA Carolinas. Amber has always been interested in both science and the humanities, and medical writing provides her with a rewarding way to combine these interests. After obtaining her PhD in chemistry, Amber pursued teaching positions that allowed her to hone her skills in science communication for both specialist and nonspecialist audiences. She then transitioned to educational writing for pharma sales representatives and medical science liaisons, where she learned more about clinical trials and was inspired to pursue a career as a regulatory medical writer. Amber feels that this is a rewarding career that provides her with constant learning opportunities and allows her to make an impact on patients’ lives. For people who are looking to enter the field, she recommends seeking out opportunities to write about science and medicine in the local community and taking online courses in clinical research, such as those offered by the NIH.
Webmaster- Nina Oshiokpekhai, MS, PharmD
Nina Oshiokpekhai is a freelance medical writer dedicated to advancing the field of medical writing and communication. She currently serves as Webmaster for the chapter following her term as Secretary from 2022 to 2024. She also serves as one of the co-chairs of the 2025 conference committee and has volunteered for the committee since 2023. Her passion is driven by a deep appreciation for the collaborative relationships within the communication and writing communities. She is honored to contribute to the growth of medical writing and communication through her volunteer service with AMWA Carolinas. For those considering a career in medical or scientific writing, Nina advises cultivating open-mindedness, adaptability, and a receptiveness to constructive feedback. She underscores the value of networking and recommends AMWA as a particularly supportive and welcoming community for professional development and exploration of the field.
Events Coordinator- Molly Rodriguez, MPH
Molly Rodriguez is our Event Coordinator and has almost 30 years of clinical research experience in academia, government (Centers for Disease Control), and CRO environments.
Her current role is Director of Medical Writing at AbbVie where she manages a team of highly credentialed, scientific writers. She enjoys developing relationships with stakeholders to facilitate communication and teamwork, which allows work to get done faster.
Molly works remotely in Cary, North Carolina and has 4 children and several pets including Winky, CheeWeenie (chihuahua-dachshund), and a leopard gecko, Jax. Molly also works as a yoga instructor and enjoys cooking, weightlifting, hiking, and travel.
Communications Director– Dilmeet Singh, MS, MSHS, PhD
Dilmeet has served on the AMWA Carolinas Spring Conference Committee since 2024, and her current roles are Communications Director and Co-Chair for the 2025 Conference. Dilmeet is an experienced scientist, educator, and researcher with a passion for Regulatory Medical Writing. Her academic and professional experience shows a strong proficiency in scientific communication, both written and oral, essential for an effective medical writer. She has an M.S. and Ph.D. in Bioorganic Chemistry from the University of Toledo and MSHS in Regulatory Affairs from George Washington University. She has wide experience across academics, and pharmaceutical industry and deep-rooted interest in science and healthcare. She has served as a Bioinformatics Scientist at Chugai Pharma USA, LLC. Currently, she teaches Chemistry at Wake Technical Community College, NC.
She is excited to transition full-time into regulatory medical writing. She would love to write high-quality documents to facilitate the regulatory approval process and speed up safe, effective, and innovative cures for the healing and well-being of patients. Dilmeet has strong medical writing skills and is a constant learner. She has completed the “Specialization in Medical Writing” certificate course by Dr. Amber Carr. She is currently pursuing a regulatory medical writing training program at JM Biologics.
Dilmeet loves volunteering for AMWA Carolinas. She enjoys the fellowship, inspiring projects, and meaningful interactions with the supportive and dedicated AMWA Carolinas team. She recommends anyone interested in medical writing to involve themselves in the delightful AMWA community.
In addition to volunteering her time with AMWA, Dilmeet is also a Co-Vice Chair of YWIB, hosts STEM-based events and mentors young women in STEM. She volunteers for the Raleigh Speech and Debate league, and assists the speech, debate, and marching band programs at Apex Friendship High School. In her free time, Dilmeet enjoys cooking, music, yoga, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Social Media Coordinator – Nadezhda Sabeva, PhD
Nadia is the Social Media Coordinator for AMWA Carolinas and a faculty member at a medical school in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is committed to training bilingual healthcare professionals and serving an underrepresented community. With a master’s in molecular biology, a PhD in pharmacology, and post-doctoral training in neuroscience, Nadia built strong expertise in drug development, preclinical study design, scientific communication, and grant writing. She has played a key role in collaborative research evaluating the safety and toxicity of natural products across different animal species. As a scientific advisor for a startup, she contributes to advancing the therapeutic potential of natural compounds for neurodegenerative diseases. Her passion for regulatory medical writing led her to join AMWA in 2024, where she quickly became an active contributor to the Carolinas Chapter. She has taken on multiple roles, including Conference Session Reporter, DEI Resource Coordinator, and a member of the chapter’s conference planning committee. Nadia firmly believes that medical writers play a critical role in transforming complex scientific data into clear, actionable information—bridging the gap between research, healthcare professionals, and the public. She highly recommends the AMWA community to anyone looking to break into medical writing or expand their impact in the pharmaceutical industry and patient care.
Member Liaison – Maria X. Cardenas-Alvarez, PhD
Maria X. Cardenas-Alvarez currently serves as the Chapter Historian and is one of the Member Liaisons for AMWA Carolinas. After completing her PhD in Molecular Pathogenesis, she relocated to North Carolina as a Postdoc at the University of North Carolina. In this role, she leads research projects on antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae and contributes to the writing of scientific papers, grants, and material for conferences. Over the past few years, her interest in medical writing has grown, leading her to secure an internship in 2021 and to join the AMWA Carolinas Chapter in 2022. Upon completing her Postdoc, she plans to transition into the field.
Maria has found a supportive and helpful community in AMWA Carolinas and advises anyone who is looking to enter the field to take advantage of the resources offered by it. She believes that flexibility and curiosity are essential traits for a medical writer to deliver high-quality work, meet client expectations, and remain competitive in a constantly changing field.
Member Liaison – Michaela Price, PhD
Michaela Price is currently one of the Member Liaisons for AMWA Carolinas. Michaela earned a PhD in neuroscience, and is now a postdoctoral research associate at the University of North Carolina. She has always been passionate about science communication and helping others. She has also become interested in regulatory medical writing over the last few years as it gives her the perfect way to combine her passion for writing about science and her desire to help patients. Her interest in science communication and regulatory writing has led Michaela to seek out opportunities to gain more writing experience and get involved with the medical writing community. She joined AMWA in 2024, and has since volunteered to be the Session Report Coordinator for the 2025 AMWA Carolinas Chapter Conference. Michaela is eager to transition into the regulatory medical writing field after completing her postdoc. She also encourages other postdocs and graduate students that are interested in medical writing to join AMWA and get involved in this welcoming and supportive community.
