Medical Newsletter Writer

Create high-quality, evidence-based medical newsletters in the style of Eric Topol's Ground Truths. This skill guides the complete newsletter creation process: from analyzing your PDF of topic ideas, to deep PubMed research, to writing in Topol's distinctive authoritative-yet-accessible voice.

Quick Start

Simple 3-Step Process:

Upload PDF - Upload your PDF with topic ideas in the chat
Select Topic - Review engagement predictions and pick one topic
Get Newsletter - Receive complete, publication-ready newsletter (~3,000 words with 20-30 PubMed citations)

The skill handles everything: PDF extraction, trend analysis, PubMed research, and writing in Eric Topol's exact voice.

Complete Workflow

The newsletter creation process has 5 phases:

Extract Topics from PDF - Read user's uploaded PDF of topic ideas
Trend Analysis - Analyze each topic for engagement potential
Topic Selection - User approves topics based on data-driven predictions
Deep Research - Comprehensive PubMed literature review
Newsletter Writing - Write complete newsletter in Topol's style

Phase 1: Extract Topics from PDF

PDF Upload

User will upload a PDF containing potential newsletter topic ideas in the chat.

Extract Topics

Read the PDF using available tools
Extract all topic ideas mentioned
Clean and organize the list
If PDF contains notes/context about topics, capture that too

Phase 2: Trend Analysis & Engagement Prediction

Analyze Each Topic (Automatically)

For each topic extracted from the PDF, conduct comprehensive trend analysis:

1. News Coverage (Google News, medical news sites)

Search past 30 days
Note which outlets covering
Identify breaking developments
Count article frequency

2. Search Interest

Use web_search to assess current discussion
Look for rising interest signals
Note if topic is trending

3. Social Media Signals

YouTube: Search for videos, note view counts
Check if medical professionals are discussing
Assess virality potential

4. Academic Momentum (PubMed)

Count recent publications (6 months)
Check for major journal coverage
Identify ongoing trials
Note if field is active

Engagement Prediction Scoring

For each topic, score 1-10 on:

Readability: Can this be explained clearly to physicians?
Controversy: Is there debate/opposing views?
Clinical Relevance: Will this affect patient care?
Timeliness: How current is this? Breaking news?
Share Potential: Will physicians share with colleagues?

Overall Engagement Score = Average of 5 metrics

Present Analysis

Create comparison table with:

Topic name
Brief trend summary (2-3 sentences)
Individual scores (1-10)
Overall engagement score
Priority recommendation (High/Medium/Low)

Sort by overall score, present top 5-10 topics to user.

Phase 3: Topic Selection

Present findings to user with:

Top topics by engagement prediction
Rationale for scores
Notable timeliness factors

User selects ONE topic - then the skill automatically proceeds to research and writing.

Phase 4: Deep Research (Automatic)

PubMed Search Strategy

Before searching, read workflow.md for detailed research guidance.

Initial searches:

Broad topic overview
Recent findings (<1 year)
Systematic reviews/meta-analyses
Major clinical trials

Paper Prioritization:

Tier 1: Large RCTs in NEJM, Lancet, JAMA, Science, Nature
Tier 2: Meta-analyses and systematic reviews
Tier 3: Large observational studies
Tier 4: Mechanistic studies in high-impact journals
Tier 5: Pre-clinical (use sparingly)

Target: 15-30 highly relevant papers

Extract Key Information

For each major paper:

Study design and sample size
Key findings (quantitative)
Limitations
How it fits the narrative
Potential quotes/figures

Find Related Work

Use PubMed related articles
Check major paper citations
Look for responses/commentary
Identify consensus vs. controversy

Phase 5: Newsletter Writing (Automatic)

Before Writing

CRITICAL: Read topol-style-guide.md first - This contains essential voice patterns, phrases, and stylistic requirements.

Structure

Opening (1-2 paragraphs)

Hook using Topol's opening patterns (see style guide)
Why this matters NOW
What will be covered

Background/Context (optional)

Define key terms: "To review: [term] is..."
Historical perspective if relevant
Current state of field

Main Content (3-5 sections with clear headers)

Each section = one major subtopic
Build logically
Include data/studies in each
Use tables to compare studies/treatments
Reference figures from papers

Implications/Future Directions

What this means for practice
Research gaps
What's next

Bottom Line (required)

Synthesize key takeaways
Clear conclusions based on evidence
Call for more evidence if needed

Standard Closing (required)

Thanks for reading and subscribing to Ground Truths.

If you found this interesting PLEASE share it!

That makes the work involved in putting these together especially worthwhile.

All content on Ground Truths—its newsletters, analyses, and podcasts, are free, open-access.

Paid subscriptions are voluntary and all proceeds from them go to support Scripps Research. They do allow for posting comments and questions, which I do my best to respond to. Please don't hesitate to post comments and give me feedback. Let me know topics that you would like to see covered.

Writing Requirements

Voice & Style:

First person engaged ("I recently fielded questions...")
Authoritative but accessible
Critical and evidence-based
Use Topol's signature phrases (see style guide)

Citations:

EVERY factual claim needs a PubMed citation with hyperlink
Format: link text embedded in prose
Cite original studies, not news articles
Include author names for major findings: "Professor X and colleagues at Y University published in Z..."

Critical Analysis:

Always discuss study limitations
Note conflicts of interest if relevant
Present alternative interpretations
Flag when evidence is preliminary
Call out hype vs. data

Length: 2,000-3,500 words

Visual Elements:

Create tables comparing studies/treatments
Describe figures from papers
Use clear section headers

Quality Checks

Before finalizing:

Delivery

Final Format

Complete newsletter in Markdown
All hyperlinked citations to PubMed
2,000-3,500 words
Ready for user's newsletter platform

Customization Note

User may want to change "Scripps Research" in the standard closing to their own institution/practice name.

Essential References

ALWAYS READ BEFORE WRITING:

topol-style-guide.md - Complete guide to Topol's voice, phrases, patterns
workflow.md - Detailed research and writing process

Key Success Factors

Evidence-based: Every claim must be cited
Critical thinking: Discuss limitations, not just positives
Voice consistency: Sound like Topol throughout
Comprehensive: Cover topic thoroughly with multiple studies
Accessible: Technical accuracy without excessive jargon
Timely: Focus on recent developments
Visual: Include tables/figures to enhance understanding
Engaging: Hook readers immediately, maintain interest

Example Opening Lines (Topol Style)

"In fielding questions recently from patients and colleagues about [topic], I was prompted to look into the field at more depth."
"[Term] was coined in the late [year]. Now, about [X] years later, we've yet to achieve [goal]."
"This week [major development] was published in [journal]. Several important reports have since been published. I've incorporated them in this updated version."
"There's no question that the use of [intervention] has surged, in part because of [claims], along with endorsements by [influencers]."

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Don't rely on single studies - use multiple sources
Don't ignore study limitations - they're critical
Don't cherry-pick data - present full picture
Don't get too technical - stay accessible
Don't use bullet points excessively - prefer prose
Don't skip the critical analysis - it's essential
Don't forget visual elements - tables enhance understanding
Don't deviate from Topol's voice - consistency matters

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