Collaboration Policy

I love collaborating with other scientists, physicians, researchers, educators, and creators when we are actually creating something together.

To keep collaborations fair and transparent, here’s how I approach them:

A collaboration means shared contribution.
Collaborator status is appropriate when both parties meaningfully contribute to the development of the content—for example, through research, subject-matter expertise, analysis, writing, editing, data visualization, or concept development. It entails alignment on ideas and how we deliver that message.

Sharing or amplifying a finished post is not a collaboration.
If I independently researched, developed, wrote, and produced a piece of content, I generally will not add someone as a collaborator after publication simply because they would like to share it with their audience. You are always welcome—and encouraged—to share, repost, cite, or discuss my work with appropriate attribution.

Expert review is credited as expert review.
If someone reviews a post, checks technical accuracy, provides a quotation, or contributes specialized expertise, I’m happy to acknowledge that contribution appropriately. That may mean tagging them, thanking them in the caption, identifying them as a reviewer or contributor, and yes, if discussed, adding them as a collaborator.

Collaborations should generally be discussed before the content is created.
This is REALLY important. If you have an idea for something we could develop together, please reach out before publication so we can agree on the concept, division of work, attribution, and format.

Please don’t add me at the last minute. Please reach out about collaborations before the content is substantially complete. It’s really difficult for me to accept a collaboration when I haven’t had meaningful creative or technical input. Even when we agree broadly on a topic, we may differ on the framing, conclusions, or how the message should be delivered. If my name appears as a collaborator, I want to have had the opportunity to help shape the work. This doesn’t mean every collaboration requires equal effort—it simply means collaboration should involve actual collaboration. If the content is already finished, I'm happy to share or amplify it. But sharing someone’s work and co-authoring it are different things.

Credit should reflect contribution.
My general rule is simple: authorship and collaborator credit should represent substantive intellectual or creative contribution—not audience size, professional title, or willingness to amplify the finished product.

And, of course, I apply the same standard to myself. I would never expect collaborator or co-author credit on someone else's work simply because I shared it or helped it reach a larger audience.

Want to collaborate?
Send me the idea, what you’d like to contribute, and how you envision us working together. I’m always interested in collaborations where our respective expertise can make the final work better than either of us could have made independently.