Preparing a Presentation- Pointers for MDs
Joanne Karen S. Aguinaldo, MD
Clinical Associate Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology
When is an MD tasked to make a presentation?
• Imparting Research Results
• Reporting Clinical Cases
• Giving Lectures
What are the components of a ‘presentation?’
• ORAL
– What do you want to say?
– How do you say it?
• VISUAL
– What do you show?
‘ORAL’ PRESENTATION1.
What do you want to say?
• Keep your objective in mind.
E.g. Breastfeeding lecture
‘To teach’ > Present a step by step tutorial
‘To encourage’ > Present advantages to
mother and baby
What do you want to say?
• Know your audience.
E.g. Breastfeeding lecture
Lay > Basic information, clarify misconceptions
Paramedical staff > Scientific information, clarify
misconceptions, emphasize important conclusions
How do you say it?
• Make your goals
clear at the
beginning.
• State your point at
the beginning and
repeat it at the
end. Reference: http://presentations.catalysis.nl/presentations/presentation.php
How do you say it?
Reference: http://presentations.catalysis.nl/presentations/presentation.php
How do you say it?
• Speak clearly and deliberately.– Volume : LOUD enough to hear
– Speed : SLOW enough to follow
– Intonation : INTERESTING enough to keep on the hook
• BE CONFIDENT. PRACTICE!!!
How do you say it?
• Keep track of time.
– Be structured. Edit!
– Be brief. Remember your point!
How do you say it?
• Be extemporaneous.
– Engage your audience.
– Maintain eye contact.
‘VISUAL’ PRESENTATION2.
What do you show?
• Identify the data that can be presented visually.
– What is important?
– What needs to be emphasized?
– What needs graphic representation?
What do you show?
• Identify the data that can be presented visually.– E.g. Research
• Title of presentation and authors
• Statement of the purpose or hypothesis
• A list of the essential steps in the methods
• Graphs, tables, and figures that show the major findings
• Clinical photographs or diagrams that illustrate key points or help explain
content
• Summary of the conclusions
How do you prepare a slide?
1. Follow "The Rule of Seven"
– no more than 7 words per line
– no more than 7 lines per slide
How do you prepare a slide?
2. Be concise.
– Avoid jargon and abbreviations
– Do not just cut and paste!
How do you prepare a slide?
3. Use the largest font available.
4. Limit the font sizes to three per slide.
TITLE (size 40)
Major text (size 32)
Minor text (size 28)
How do you prepare a slide?
5. Use only one font style throughout the
presentation.
– Simple, readable
Serif vs Sans Serif
How do you prepare a slide?
6. Use bullets to highlight individual points in
the text.
How do you prepare a slide?
7. Use color to add interest and to emphasize.
– Use the same color scheme for titles, text, and
background.
– Do not mix colors within a text sentence.
– Use no more than four different colors per slide.
– Choose color combinations that contrast well.
How do you prepare a slide?
8. Use tables.
– To present complex data
– To demonstrate relationships and patterns
– To present exact data
How do you prepare a slide?
8. Use tables.
– Make it simple.
– Make it fit.
– Make your point.
Parity Early ECV Delayed ECV
1 76 76
2-4 39 39
> 4 1 1
• Population characteristics (Table 1-a)
Racial background Early ECV Delayed ECV
Asian 10 13
African American 0 3
White 103 98
Other 3 2
• Population characteristics (Table 1-a)
How do you prepare a slide?
9. Use figures.
– To quickly emphasize a relationship between
data
– To quickly state a process
– E.g. Graphs, Charts
How do you prepare a slide?
9. Use figures.
– Line graphs
• Show continuous change over time (e.g. birth rates)
• Limit to 4 lines per graph
First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth0
1
2
3
4
5
6
1st Q2nd Q3rd Q4th Q
How do you prepare a slide?
9. Use figures.
– Bar graphs
• Show change over time of discrete variables (e.g. item
numbers, symptoms)
• Show multiple variables
Distribution of male and female residents in OB Gyn
1st year 2nd year 3rd year 4th year0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
How do you prepare a slide?
9. Use figures.
– Pie graphs
• Compare the parts of a whole
• Show no more than 6 slices
• Position largest slice at 12 or 6 o’clock position.
1st Q
FirstSecondThirdFourthFifthSixth
Pointers for Making a Presentation
1. Know your objective.
2. Know your audience.
3. Identify information that needs graphic
representation.
Pointers for Making a Presentation
• An effective presentation is gets the
message across.
• An effective message is clear, short and
simple.
Reference
• American College of Physicians
• European Federations of Catalysis Societies