Contract Technical Writer (Specialize in Medical Device)

Summary of Qualifications

- Over ten years of technical writing and editing experience for software and hardware products

- Documentation project management experience

- Localization management experience

- Online and print documentation experience

- Experience creating documentation for localization

Single-sourcing strategies/CMS/structured writing experience

- Experience working with multi-site and offshore software development and engineering teams

- Ability to write for audience levels ranging from highly technical users to lightly technical end users

- Strong technical background

- Bachelor of Arts – Mathematics and Computer Science

Summary of Consulting Experience

Technical Writer Consultant, Nashua, NH

October 2000 – Present

Clients:

Philips Medical, Andover, MA (SureSigns Patient Monitors)

- Updated one of the SureSigns VS monitor Instructions for Use (IFU) and created an IFU for a new touch screen monitor using a single source method. Both products are vital signs monitors.

- Helped the technical publications team start using conditional text so they could use a single set of source files to create multiple IFUs.

- Programs: Acrobat, FrameMaker

Thoratec, Burlington, MA (Medical Devices for Circulatory Support)

- Updated the TLC-II Portable VAD Driver Instructions for Use (IFU), a lightweight, portable, pneumatic VAD driver for use with the Thoratec Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) and Thoratec Implantable Ventricular Assist Device (IVAD).

- Assist the permanent technical writer with other technical writing and editing services.

- Programs: Acrobat, QuarkXPress

Candela Corporation, Wayland, MA (Aesthetic Laser Equipment and Software)

- Designed and created operator’s manual templates for new and legacy product documentation.

- Wrote the GentleLASE PRO Laser System Operator’s Manual (Revisions A and B). This laser system is used by physicians for the treatment of wrinkles, vascular lesions, benign pigmented lesions, and permanent hair reduction.

- Programs: Acrobat, FrameMaker, Illustrator, SnagIt

Seahorse Bioscience, Billerica, MA (Biological Research Hardware and Software)

- Designed and created rebranded user guide templates for all of their user documentation.

- Wrote the XF Mito Stress Test Kit user manual for their first assay kit offering. This kit is used to test and interpret mitochondrial function in cells or isolated mitochondria.

Converted legacy user guides into the new template and revising them for the next SDLC release.

- Programs: Acrobat, FrameMaker, SnagIt

Pitco/MagiKitch'n/Anets, Concord, NH (Food Service Equipment)

- Wrote the service manuals for their line of high efficiency fryers. Effort entails taking video and pictures of disassembling, removing and replacing, and then reassembling the fryers to create the service manuals that will be used by service technicians.

- Created a service manual template that encompasses a new design, layout, and content organization. This template will be used for all new product service manuals.

- Programs: Acrobat, Microsoft Word

Dräger Medical, Andover, MA (Medical Devices, Patient Monitoring Systems and Software)

- Rewrote a majority of the Infinity CentralStation and M300 (patient-worn, wireless monitor) IFU to add new functionality (GUI was redone to harmonize with the Infinity Acute Care System (IACS) GUI), to increase the use of single-sourcing content (harmonized with IACS IFUs), and to write the content better in order to reduce the cost of translations into 25 languages. Work also entailed maintaining documentation deliverable schedule, writing large portions of the IFU from scratch, and ensuring adherence to strict regulatory requirements.

- Wrote several Instructions for Use (IFU) for the new IACS (Cockpit monitor and M540 wireless monitor) product line. Work entailed maintaining documentation deliverable schedule, writing the IFU from scratch, writing for translation into 22 languages, and ensuring adherence to strict regulatory requirements including (EN 60601) for CE mark and FDA approval. Wrote IFUs for both Beta and Commercial releases.

- Updated content for the Infinity Symphony IFU, a web-based application for reviewing stored data in the MultiView Workstations on the Infinity network. Also wrote a Release Note and managed the translation of the software strings and IFU into 9 languages.

- Updated content for the Infinity MegaCare IFU, a web-based ECG management system. Also managed translation of the IFU into 8 languages.

- Updated several legacy IFUs to adhere to current IEC and EN standards and regulations for electrical medical equipment.

Edited other technical writers’ work to ensure that they are adhering to the corporate style guide, style rules, and regulatory requirements.

- Researched and provided findings on what it would entail to implement DITA-based documentation.

- Attended development team meetings, representing the technical publications departments.

- Created innovative ways to reduce time and effort for TUV audits on the IFUs, and to increase the use of single-sourcing across IFUs without a CMS.

- Programs: Acrobat, Acrocheck, FrameMaker, Illustrator, Project, SnagIt

Myomo, Inc., Boston, MA (Neuro-Robotic Software and Hardware Medical Devices)

- Wrote an IFU for a Neuro-Robotics medical device for stroke patients. This device helps improve mobility of their paretic upper limbs. Work entails rewriting user manual, incorporating new illustrations, designing a new layout, and ensuring adherence to FDA and regulatory requirements.

- Programs: Acrobat, FrameMaker

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., Westbrook, ME (Veterinary Software and Hardware Medical Devices)

- Updated new features and functionality for the PACS Operator’s Guide and online Help which is for their digital radiography “X-ray” software for domestic and equine animals.

- Programs: Acrobat, InDesign, Word, Fullshot

VT MÄK, Cambridge, MA (Battlefield Simulation Software)

- Updated, edited, and proofed online, print, and PDF versions of a new release of VR-Forces software applications. VR-Forces is a simulation toolkit for generating and executing battlefield scenarios for the defense industry. Their customers include the world’s ten largest defense contractors.

- Programs: Acrobat, FrameMaker (Structured)

Telelogic I-Logix Inc. (now IBM), Andover, MA (Graphical Modeling and Simulation Software)

- Updated a documentation set for a legacy product called Statemate, a graphical modeling and simulation software tool for developing complex embedded systems. The final documentation products were 27 PDFs with a cataloged index and comprehensive online Help system.

- Troubleshooted and solved a problem with the migration previous Help from WebWorks Publisher 2003 to ePublisher Pro after a permanent technical writer left in the middle of the project.

- Created and wrote a documentation set that included PDF and online Help for their free version.

- Edited the other technical writers and eLearning developer’s documentation work.

- Programs: Acrobat, ClearQuest, FrameMaker, SnagIt, Quadralay WebWorks ePublisher Pro

Millipore Corporation, Billerica and Bedford, MA (Biopharmaceutical Software)

- Created validation guides for Millipore’s biopharmaceutical products. These ISO®-controlled documents provide details on how Millipore validates its process when manufacturing a product. It defines how users can validate their own product using a Millipore product. The validation guides contain background information on where the product was made and lists the specifications of the products. It also contains detailed procedures on what tests Millipore ran and provides details on the results.

- Updated the Integritest® 4 Automatic Filter Integrity Test Instrument Operators Guide (hardware/software combination guide).

- Created product data sheets for Millipore’s biopharmaceutical products.

- Created FrameMaker templates to duplicate the PageMaker template that was being phased out.

- Programs: Acrobat, FrameMaker, InDesign

Interpose, LLC, Nashua, NH (Security Software)

- Created WebHelp in RoboHTML and a user manual in FrameMaker for their flagship product: Savant™ Anti-malware for Windows®, the next-generation solution in anti-virus, anti-malware and anti-spyware technology.

- Edited marketing material.

- Programs: Acrobat, FrameMaker, RoboHelp

PaperThin, Inc., Quincy, MA (Content Management Software)

- Wrote and updated new feature updates to the end-user documentation, user interface content, and developer API documentation for their flagship product CommonSpot Content Server 4.5, a website building, publishing, and content management software.

Extracted information from XML and ColdFusion source files using a web development editor.

- Programs: Acrobat, Homesite, Word, RoboHTML

BIO-key International, Inc., Law Enforcement Products Department, Marlborough, MA (Software)

- Wrote a WebHelp system and Release Notes for a Field Interview Tracker application.

- Created a documentation suite for several customer-specific software applications. The set includes several software administrator’s guides, online Help systems, and report module guides.

- Created a documentation set for the PocketCop software suite (server-client applications). The set includes: a server and client administrator’s guide, a server WebHelp system, a laptop (client) WebHelp system, and a handheld (client) user’s ebook.

Created a system administrator’s guide and Release Notes for the VirtualCOP (server-client) software applications.

- Programs: Acrobat, FrameMaker, PhotoShop, Captivate, RoboHTML, Visio

B/E Aerospace, Inc, Aerospace Lighting Department, Holbrook, NY (Aerospace Software)

- Created a documentation set that included: four software user guides and an Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) Supplement for a color mood lighting system for use on Boeing 747 and 777.

- Created FrameMaker templates for software guides.

- Programs: Acrobat, FrameMaker, Illustrator, WebWorks Publisher

Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Boston, MA (Insurance Software)

- Wrote and edited a system administrator’s guide for an internal software application for use by Liberty employees. Final format PDF. The single-sourcing methodology (write once, use many times) was implemented.

- Edited the online Help system written by an offshore India-based software development vendor.

- Participated in engineering meetings with offshore India-based software development vendor.

- Created the Liberty Mutual Style Guide for internal software application user manuals.

- Wrote and edited an abbreviated user’s guide, with information only relevant to Liberty Mutual employees, for the BMC PatrolExplorer software application.

- Organized and converted a variety of unformatted content into a searchable documentation library set.

- Programs: Acrobat, Author-it, Word

Schneider Electric, North Andover, MA (Automation Software)

- Edited HTML files, created by offshore India-based software development vendor, for the AI configuration software’s online Help system.

- Created and illustrated a Quick Start Guide for the configuration software.

- Created and illustrated a D2 catalog for Schneider’s internal customers.

- All documentation adhered to translation requirements.

- Programs: Acrobat, FrameMaker, Illustrator, Lotus Notes, Ovidius TC-Toolbox, SiteAid (HTML Editor)

Hewlett-Packard, Houston, TX (Server and Storage Hardware and Software)

- Documented a variety of hardware and software products including: Fibre Channel SAN Switches, SAN Configurations for Storage Systems on Windows Datacenter Servers, Storage Resource Software, Tape Drives, and Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs).

- Created the following types of documentation: Reference, Installation, Management and User Guides, Installation Cards, Read This First (RTF) and Important Cards, Read Me files, Configuration and Installation Posters, Release Notes, Cover Letters, and White Papers for the following media: CD-ROM, Web, translations, and hardcopy. Final formats included PDF, HTML, and online Help.

- Wrote and edited ProLiant user guides, maintenance and service guides (MSGs), installation cards, and white papers.

- All documentation adhered to translation requirements.

- Responsibilities included project leading, scheduling, researching, writing, and editing technical documentation for a variety of users.

- Programs: Acrobat, FrameMaker, RoboHELP, Word

Software Applications

- Adobe Acrobat - ixGen

- Adobe Captivate - MadCap Flare

- Adobe FrameMaker - Microsoft Project

- Adobe Illustrator - Microsoft Visio

- Adobe InDesign - Microsoft Word/Office 2007 and earlier

- Adobe RoboHELP/HTML - Quadralay WebWorks ePublisher Pro

- Adobe Technical Communication Suite - QuarkXPress

- Author-it - SnagIt

- ClearQuest - XMetaL

Awards

- 2005-2006 STC Online Communications Competition – Excellence Award for

BIO-key PacketCluster APIServer Manager WebHelp

- 2004 APEX Award for Publication Excellence for Liberty Mutual CCL Administrator's User Guide

- 2004 NH's Best Small Service Business Site Award for www.wing-group.com

- 2003-2004 STC Technical Publications Competition – Merit Award for Liberty Mutual CCL Administrator's User Guide

- 2000 The Integrity Group Excellence in Client Service Award

2000 Compaq Recognition Award

Education

Wheaton College, B.A.

Degree: Mathematics and Computer Science

Documenting APIs and SDKs Workshop

Just Enough Java Workshop

Professional Affiliations

- Society for Technical Communication (STC) – Northern New England (NNE) and Boston Chapters:

• Senior Member (2001-Current)

• STC-NNE Immediate President (2010-current)

• STC-NNE President (2008-2010)

• STC-NNE First Vice President (2006-2008)

• STC-NNE Second Vice President (2005-2006)

• STC-Boston STC Competitions STACIES Award Banquet Coordinator (2003-2007)

• STC-NNE Job Bank Manager (2002-2005)

• STC-NNE Webmaster (2004-2010)

• Online Communication Judge (2002-2005)

• Technical Publications Judge (2003-2005)

• International Technical Publications Judge (2004, 2005, 2008)

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