ISMPP Committees and Objectives

ISMPP's Volunteer Committees are the foundation of our mission, strategically structured into five dynamic pillars: Medical Communications, Medical Publications, Collaborations & Outreach, Education, and Credentialing. Each pillar encompasses dedicated committees, driving initiatives that align with their unique objectives. Explore the committees under these pillars and gain insight into their impactful goals below.

Medical Communications

The Medical Communications pillar fosters innovation, engagement, and integrity in the dissemination of medical information. Its committees enhance digital and visual communications, apply data-driven insights, and curate high-quality content, ensuring impactful, multichannel, accessible, and ethically sound medical communications.

Digital Engagement & Visual Communications Committee

The Digital Engagement & Visual Communications Committee is dedicated to advancing the field by embracing innovative approaches to digital and visual medical communications. Through education, guidance, and practical resources, the committee supports strategies that enhance engagement for all types of audiences across digital platforms, including social media, while reimagining and expanding traditional forms of medical communications. From video abstracts and infographics to plain language summaries, the committee fosters progress, creativity, and accessibility in delivering medical information. Additionally, it provides resources and guidance on utilizing social media to disseminate published research effectively and deepen audience connections.

Metrics & Insights Committee

The new Metrics & Insights Committee will focus on defining and elaborating quantitative and qualitative approaches to assess and convey the value of medical communications and publications. By gathering and analyzing metrics and curating meaningful insights and trends, the committee will ensure that best practices, innovations, and recommendations are shaped by the evolving needs and preferences of stakeholders and audiences. Using a data-driven approach, the committee aims to identify and translate key metrics into actionable insights, ensuring that strategic communication plans and medical communications tactics drive tangible value and measurable impact. Additionally, the committee will leverage metrics and insights to highlight the critical role of medical communications professionals in shaping the dissemination of scientific information, demonstrating their expertise in delivering valuable content that advances the field. Industry, agency consultant, and publisher perspectives will each inform the work of the Metrics & Insights Committee. Through collaboration, data-driven strategies, and a commitment to continuous improvement, members will contribute to an enhanced understanding of audience engagement while championing the essential work of medical communicators.

The MAP Newsletter Committee

The MAP Newsletter Committee plays a vital role in shaping ISMPP’s The MAP newsletter, ensuring it remains an engaging, comprehensive, and timely resource that supports medical publications and medical communications professionals. With sections that publish insights, best practices, and innovations, The MAP is an online forum to engage the ISMPP community with content that reflects its interests and professional development needs. The Committee curates and evaluates compelling topics and structured content to develop a dynamic and well-rounded editorial plan for The MAP. The committee proactively identifies and fosters relationships with potential article contributors, guiding them throughout the creative process. Additionally, it provides strategic support for article development as needed to ensure high-quality, impactful content. The newsletter also engages readers through interactive polling developed by the newsletter committee, presenting relevant scenarios that foster discussion and diverse perspectives in the field.

Medical Publications

The Medical Publications pillar upholds the integrity, transparency, and best practices in medical publishing. Its committees provide essential guidance, educational resources, and ethical standards to ensure high-quality, compliant, and impactful scientific publications that advance the field.

Publication Practices Committee

The Publications Practices Committee provides expert guidance on the core competencies and knowledge base that form the foundation of the medical publications function. A key deliverable of the committee is a comprehensive publications toolkit, designed to equip professionals with essential resources for implementing best practices in medical publishing. This toolkit includes guidelines, models, and templates that support the development of high-quality publications while ensuring alignment with compliance and legal standards. Foundational documents—such as author agreement templates, standard operating procedures, publication policies, and publication plan materials—are included to promote consistency, transparency, and integrity across medical publications. As part of its commitment to professional education and in collaboration with the Publications Ethics & Standards Committee, the committee also provides a Publications Primer to equip newer professionals with essential knowledge on publication planning, development, and related best practices.

Publication Ethics & Standards Committee

The Publications Ethics & Standards Committee plays a vital role in upholding the integrity and ethical standards of medical publications. It is responsible for ensuring that the ISMPP Code of Ethics reflects the latest guidelines and policies related to compliance and publication integrity. As part of its commitment to professional education and in collaboration with the Publications Practices, the committee provides a Publications Primer to equip newer professionals with essential knowledge on publication planning, development, and related best practices. In addition to its educational initiatives, the committee proactively identifies emerging challenges and trends in publication ethics and standards. It develops guidance, resources, and tools to support professionals navigating key issues, including artificial intelligence in publishing, data sharing, financial transparency, authorship standards, open access, copyright and licensing, predatory publishing, and patient engagement.

Collaborations & Outreach

The Collaborations and Outreach pillar fosters global engagement and professional connections across diverse regions and industry sectors. Through its three committees, it strengthens collaboration within the US and Europe, expands outreach to Asia Pacific and intercontinental regions, and supports professionals in small companies and emerging careers within pharma, biotech, medical devices/diagnostics, and medical communications agencies.

Asia Pacific & Intercontinental Regions Collaborations & Outreach Committee

The Asia Pacific & Intercontinental Regions Collaborations & Outreach Committee fosters engagement with professional organizations across the Asia Pacific region and other intercontinental regions, providing education on medical publications and communications. Through strategic outreach, the committee aims to share best practices, industry standards, and the benefits of ISMPP membership and its educational offerings, supporting professionals in diverse global healthcare landscapes.

Professional Collaborations & Outreach Committee

The Professional Collaborations & Outreach Committee fosters strong partnerships with professional organizations and medical societies across the United States and Europe. Through these collaborations, the committee provides valuable education on best practices in publication, ethics, and industry standards, as well as the benefits of effective medical communications.

Small Companies & New Professionals Collaborations & Outreach Committee

The Small Companies & New Professionals Collaborations & Outreach Committee fosters connections and engages medical communications/publications professionals who work in or work with biotech, small pharma, medical device, and diagnostics companies. It is also a forum for professionals working at small medical communications agencies and a landing place for new professionals to the field. Our goal is to connect individuals—including those new to the industry—with resources, best practices, and insights into medical publications and communications. Through outreach to academic programs and industry organizations, we aim to raise awareness of the profession, support career development, and highlight the benefits of ISMPP membership and educational offerings.

Education

Committees under the Education pillar empower medical publications and communications professionals with high-quality learning experiences. Through its committees, it delivers tailored educational programs, regional and global meeting content, webinars, and on-demand resources, ensuring continuous professional growth and knowledge advancement in the field. Across all Education committees, members contribute by: 1) brainstorming and prioritizing session topics aligned with the meeting theme and member needs; 2) identifying and recruiting qualified session presenters; and 3) partnering with fellow committee members to manage assigned sessions, including developing session briefs, supporting faculty, and participating in kick-off and run-through calls. 

Academy Program Committee

The Academy Program Committee is responsible for developing educational programming for the ISMPP Academy. This includes practical, best practices-focused content designed for professionals working with or at biotechnology, small pharma, and medical device companies, as well as those who are newer to the field or seeking to deepen their expertise of best practices. This committee is typically active from July through November.

Annual Meeting Program Committee

The Annual Meeting Program Committee is responsible for shaping the educational content of ISMPP’s Annual Meeting. Committee members collaborate to develop a well-rounded agenda that addresses a variety of professional roles, experience levels, and topic areas relevant to medical publications and communications. This committee is typically active from August to May.

Asia Pacific Education Committee

The Asia Pacific Education Committee is responsible for developing the content plan for ISMPP U webinars tailored to professionals in the Asia Pacific region. These webinars address regionally relevant challenges, trends, and best practices in medical publications and communications.

European Meeting Program Committee

The European Meeting Program Committee is responsible for shaping the educational content of ISMPP’s European Meeting. Committee members collaborate to develop a well-rounded agenda that addresses a variety of professional roles, experience levels, and topic areas relevant to medical publications and communications and with a particular focus in the region.

ISMPP U Committee

The ISMPP U Committee is responsible for developing the content plan for ISMPP’s monthly webinar series, including MedComms Day. These webinars provide timely, practical education across a range of topics relevant to medical publication and communication professionals.

On-Demand Education Committee - New for 2025-2026!

The new On-Demand Education Committee plays a vital role in shaping ISMPP’s on-demand educational offerings, including e-learning and podcasts, by identifying and creating timely, relevant content independently and in collaboration with other committees, task forces, and sponsors. This committee drives the development of high-quality educational experiences for professionals in medical publications and communications by assessing educational gaps, contributing to content strategy, engaging subject-matter experts, and supporting the creation of engaging learning materials. Active year-round, the committee operates with varying levels of engagement based on project timelines, ensuring the ongoing evolution and relevance of ISMPP’s educational resources. Accountable for broad digital education, the On-Demand Education Committee includes a subcommittee for Small Companies & New Professionals elearning.

Credentialing

The pillar supports the activities of the ISMPP CMPP™ Program and consists of the elected Certification Board and two volunteer committees—the Recertification Committee and the CMPP Newsletter™ Committee. Eligible members of the credentialing pillar are professionals with current ISMPP CMPP™ status.

Certification Board

The ISMPP CMPP™ Program functions under the leadership of the elected Certification Board, as required by ISMPP’s bylaws. The Certification Board serves as an independent and autonomous body within ISMPP and is responsible for the development, evaluation, supervision, and administration of all Certification Program policies, procedures, and activities. The Certification Board is also responsible for the financial management of the ISMPP CMPP™ Program.

Recertification Committee

The Recertification Committee supports the strategic initiatives of the Certification Board at a tactical level, specifically focusing on implementing and refining the Recertification program. The Committee qualifies ISMPP and non-ISMPP courses and activities (including self-study) for recertification credits and assigns credits consistent with Certification Board policy. The Committee also ensures the list of qualifying courses/activities and credits for existing CMPPs and candidates remains current.

CMPP™ Newsletter Committee - New for 2025-2026!

The CMPP™ Newsletter Committee will be the gateway to staying connected with the CMPP™ Community. It will be the go-to source for timely updates on the latest happenings in the “CMPP” world. Whether it's regional events, pressing issues, or exciting developments that impact credential holders, this newsletter will bring the community closer together and keep CMPPs informed. The CMPP™ Newsletter Committee will be responsible for developing and implementing a recurring newsletter for ISMPP CMPPs. This committee, composed of members from the global CMPP community, will collaborate with a designated Certification Board member to establish the newsletter's design, distribution frequency, and content. Members of this newly created Committee must hold the ISMPP CMPP credential.