Medical Education: Speaker selection

After the content, your speaker panel is probably the most important element of a medical education event (for example, a symposium or a webinar).

📢 So who are the best speakers and how do we find them? Are there foolproof criteria we can use to ensure an all-star speaker line-up? 📢

The short answer is ‘no’. You can never be sure that your line-up will be amazing until you see them together on stage.

💡 But can you maximise your chances? 💡 Yes, of course you can!

After you’ve done your key opinion leader mapping and selected people who are known experts in the field and work in the countries that will be covered in the education event, consider each speaker individually.

✅ You want your speakers to be relaxed on stage. Select those with a lot of experience delivering keynote addresses at meetings.

💡 Tip: don’t be afraid to engage an occasional rising star. 🌟

💡 Tip: If you haven’t seen their past presentations at congresses, look online for media interviews or other videos with your speaker candidates – they will give you a good idea of what to expect from the expert on stage.

✅ Enthusiastic speakers usually connect well to the audience. Select people who feel strongly about your subject.

🌟 This is where a rising star can really shine if they have enthusiasm and passion for your topic.

💡 Tip: look beyond the usual pool of specialist physicians! A GP or nurse from a community centre or a patient advocate can deliver a presentation that is highly relevant and impactful.

One common rule is:

💡Your speaker profile should match your educational objectives and your audience needs, not some abstract criteria of expertise. 💡

✅ Consider if your panel will work together – think chemistry 🧪 on stage!

If you feel brave, invite people who hold different views of a topic and hold a live debate.

💡 Tip: avoid inviting experts who are long-standing competitors in their field, unless they are known to have a good personal relationship. Between competitive researchers, the chemistry may turn sour pretty quickly.