By Colleen Morley, DNP, RN, CCM, CMAC, CMGT-BC, CMCN, ACM, FCM, FAACM
One of the greatest rewards of professional writing isn't simply seeing your name in print—it's realizing that your experience has the power to improve practice for colleagues across the country.
That moment came full circle at the 2026 CMSA Annual Conference in Las Vegas.
During this year's CMSA Writer's Workshop, attendees celebrated one of our participants: Amanda Law, whose first published article appeared in the newest issue of CMSA Today which just happened to be released at the conference. Amanda followed the path that Tiffany Ferguson and I frequently talk about, especially for 1st time writers; start with a blog, move to an article and keep going.
I met Amanda through a CCM Study Group I moderate on Facebook. She had a very personal and compelling story she wanted to tell, so she submitted a blog to tell her story. I encouraged her to expand that blog into a presentation abstract (she did) and submit to the CMSA National Conference Call for Presentations. Her abstract was accepted for the 2026 CMSA National Conference for a podium presentation!
Amanda got the writing bug from there and had an idea for an article in coordination with a coworker. We worked together on the manuscript over several months, and with encouragement, feedback, and perseverance , the article became a published contribution to the profession. We invited Amanda to the stage to give a perspective as a 1st time write, the process and how it felt to get published.
So, for every participant sitting in the room wondering, "Do I really have something worth writing about?" Amanda provided that answer.
Yes. You do.
The CMSA Writer's Workshop was created with a simple mission: to help case managers recognize that their daily work or even personal experience contains valuable lessons worthy of publication. Every quality improvement initiative, innovative workflow, challenging patient experience, leadership strategy, advocacy effort, or professional reflection has the potential to advance case management practice when shared with others.
Many healthcare professionals believe writing is reserved for researchers, experienced authors, or academics. In reality, professional writing begins with a story, a problem solved, or a lesson learned. The workshop is designed to remove barriers by helping participants break large writing projects into manageable steps while building confidence along the way.
This year's workshop expanded on that foundation by guiding participants through the process of transforming presentations, quality improvement projects, and clinical experiences into publishable articles and blogs. Participants explored strategies for organizing ideas, developing compelling narratives, using artificial intelligence responsibly to strengthen—not replace—their writing, and understanding the submission process for CMSA Today. Throughout the day, attendees worked collaboratively, exchanged ideas, and left with practical tools to continue writing after returning home.
But perhaps the most powerful teaching moment wasn't found on the slides.
It was Amanda's story.
Seeing a colleague move from idea to published author demonstrated something no presentation alone could convey: publication is an achievable goal. Her success reminded attendees that professional writing is less about being an expert writer and more about being willing to share expertise gained through practice.
Every published article strengthens the profession of case management. It expands the evidence base, shares innovative approaches, promotes excellence in patient care, and allows professionals to learn from one another across healthcare settings. More importantly, writing ensures that successful ideas do not remain isolated within a single organization but instead become resources that benefit the broader case management community.
As Editorial Board Chair for CMSA Today, I often hear prospective authors say, "I've never written before." My response is always the same: every published author once wrote a first article.
Amanda's accomplishment is a reminder that professional growth often begins with taking the first step. Whether that step is outlining an article, writing a blog, documenting a quality improvement initiative, or simply putting ideas onto paper, every contribution has value.
As the 2026 conference concluded, many workshop participants left not only with outlines and drafts but with renewed confidence that their voices matter.
We hope that when we gather again next year, we'll celebrate many more first-time authors whose publication journey began in a CMSA Writer's Workshop.
Congratulations, Amanda, on your first published article—and thank you for inspiring the next generation of CMSA authors.
What story will you write next? Check out CMSA's blog here:https://cmsa.org/publications/blog/
Bio: Dr. Colleen Morley, DNP, RN, CCM, CMAC, CMCN, CMGT BC, ACM-RN, IQCI, FCM, FAACM is the Associate Chief Clinical Operations Officer, Care Continuum for University of Illinois Health System and the current Immediate Past President of the Case Management Society of America National Board of Directors and President Elect of CMSA Chicago. She has held positions in acute care as Director of Case Management at several acute care facilities and managed care entities in Illinois, overseeing Utilization Review, Case Management and Social Services for over 14 years; piloting quality improvement initiatives focused on readmission reduction, care coordination through better communication and population health management. Her current passion is in the area of improving health literacy. She is the recipient of the CMSA Foundation CM Practice Improvement Award (2020) and ANA Illinois Practice Improvement Award (2020) for her work in this area. Dr. Morley also received the AAMCN Managed Care Nurse Leader of the Year in 2010 and the CMSA Fellow of Case Management designation in 2022. Her 1st book, “A Practical Guide to Acute Care Case Management”, published by Blue Bayou Press was released in February, 2022. Her 2nd book, "Practical Guide to Hospital Readmission Reduction =, published by Blue Bayou Press was released in February 2024. Her 3rd book, "Practical Guide to Acute care Case Management Leadership" is in the works, targeting publication in 2025. Dr. Morley celebrates 25 years of nursing experience and 20 years in case management in 2024. Her clinical specialties include Med/Surg, Oncology and Pediatric Nursing. She received her ADN at South Suburban College in South Holland, IL; BSN at Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, FL, MSN from Norwich University in Northfield, VT and her DNP at Chamberlain College of Nursing.