Editor’s Note: Connecting Our Past to a Borderless Future
Looking back through the archives of the Pacemaker, which has served our community since 2008, I am struck by how much has changed. And yet, how much has remained the same.
In those early issues, contributors were grappling with the emergence of Web 3.0 and the promise of a semantic web that could process language naturally. Today, as we move through 2026, those early digital dreams have evolved into our current reality of generative AI and the challenge of keeping humans in the loop to retain critical thinking.
Our newsletter has always been a space for both technical mastery and social connection. I am moved by throwbacks to our shared history: from Catherine Magill’s 2008 reflections on the "eternal vigilance" required to improve the clarity of our communication to Mark Hagerty’s 2023 reminder that the best way to strengthen our "professional muscle" is through direct action and networking. Whether we were meeting for bocce ball in Livermore nearly two decades ago or touring the Computer History Museum last year, the heart of this chapter has always been its people.
A Vision Without Borders
I, Zahra Moosavi, MSc, step into this editorial role with a deep respect for that legacy, although I bring a slightly different perspective.
I am drafting this note from Toronto, Canada. With over 10 years of experience in preclinical research and biotech start-up management, and as the Founder of BitLab Medical Consulting, my journey to becoming your Editor is a testament to the fact that our community truly exists beyond borders. You do not need to be in Northern California to contribute to the pulse of this chapter; you only need a passion for medical communication.
The Next Chapter
As the editorial team looks ahead, our goal is to transform the Pacemaker into acollaborative, educational hub that connects medical writers across all geographic boundaries and welcomes fresh perspectives on industry best practices in our evolving field.
To achieve this goal, I invite you to help shape our future voice. The Pacemaker has always relied on a handful of people willing to step up and share their expertise; now we want to expand that circle. Volunteering to write is the best way to flex that professional muscle that Mark Hagerty, MS, spoke of. This community-driven initiative represents a low-lift opportunity for you to build your professional portfolio and establish yourself as a subject matter expert. You do not even have to be an AMWA member to have your work published on our platform.
By sharing our knowledge, whether it’s a deep dive into new tech or Microsoft Word tricks such as those shared in our February 2008 issue, we continue a tradition of mutual support that has defined us for the last 18 years.
I look forward to hearing your stories and bridging the distances between us.
Zahra Moosavi
Editor, Pacemaker Newsletter
About the author: Zahra Moosavi is the Founder and CEO of BitLab Medical Consulting. She brings over 10 years of experience in preclinical research, biotech start-up management, and scientific writing. Zahra is the Vice President of Science Writers and Communicators of Canada. She also serves as the Editor for the Pacemaker newsletter for the American Medical Writers Association Northern California Chapter and is a member of the chapter’s communications leadership team.
