Upcoming Workshops
Hands-on sessions where you can build your leadership and engagement skills. Walk out with a strategy, not just slides.
Engage!
Master the Art of Clinical Storytelling
DATE (2 DAYS)
March 4-5, 2027
TIME
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
LOCATION
Chicago, IL
Transform dense data into clear, memorable presentations that hold any conference audience. Learn to structure presentations around narratives, cut clutter, and use voice, pacing, and presence effectively.
Learning Outcomes:
- Build talks around clear stories, not slide decks
- Open with impact and close memorably
- Present complex data to mixed audiences
- Master voice, pacing, and stage presence
- Handle nerves and tough questions confidently
Get Funded!
Winning Strategies for Research Grants
DATE (2 DAYS)
April 1-2, 2027
TIME
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
LOCATION
Boston, MA
Master the structure and delivery that transform strong proposals into funded ones. Learn to frame research around problems, build clear proposals, and deliver confident pitches that withstand scrutiny.
Learning Outcomes:
- Frame research around the problem it solves
- Structure proposals reviewers can follow
- Write with clarity and conviction
- Deliver confident pitches under pressure
- Stand out in competitive funding rounds
About Robert van der Zwart
Robert van der Zwart (1967) brings together a background in strategy, academic teaching (Stanford, Oxford University, Utrecht University, Stellenbosch University), and the medical field. He helps professionals turn complex material into clear, compelling stories and deliver those messages with real impact.
His career sits at the intersection of science, communication, and entrepreneurship. He has served as an assistant professor of marketing at Nyenrode Business University and worked in the pharmaceutical industry at GlaxoWellcome. He went on to found several companies, including MEDtalks, an international platform dedicated to continuing medical education and specialist conferences.
That blend of academic depth and hands-on experience shapes everything he does. Robert understands how ideas come together and how easily they fall apart the moment someone steps on stage. In his trainings and keynotes, he focuses not just on what you say, but on how you say it: structure, storytelling, presence, voice, and the ability to persuade.
In recent years, Robert has coached medical professionals, including PhD candidates, postdocs, and entrepreneurs, on presenting at international conferences and on strengthening grant applications. He also speaks around the world on communication, strategy, and the impact of AI on how we work and make decisions.
His style is direct, analytical, and refreshingly free of gimmicks. Instead of tricks, he offers insight into what actually works, and why. He challenges you to be more deliberate about how you tell your story, so that it isn’t just understood. It’s heard, and it stays with people.