About

M & D Science Consulting and Communications offers a range of writing, communications, data analysis, research, and continuing education services for professionals in the biomedical sciences, healthcare, and public health fields.

Based in the capital region of upstate New York, we have connections with many of the region’s premier scientific and public health organizations, including the New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center Laboratories, and the University at Albany School of Public Health. We are a respected team with over 20 years of combined experience in the health sciences, education, and professional writing and communications services.

Our areas of expertise include:

· Biomedical sciences

· Epidemiology

· Biostatistics

· Genetics

· Medical writing

· Science and health communications

· Developmental writing

· Science and public health education

Patrick Murphy, Ph.D.

Co-Owner

S. Patrick Murphy received his Ph.D. in Biomedical Science with a concentration in molecular genetics from the University at Albany. He has over eight years of research experience investigating the effect of endogenous retrovirus activity in a model system representing the maintenance of stem cell populations, and over eight years of expertise in confocal and wide-field fluorescent microscopy and data analysis. He also has over five years of experience teaching the biological principles of public health and scientific writing to MPH students at the University at Albany School of Public Health. Patrick designs online educational content and has served as a mentor for high school science teachers, undergraduate students, and high school students. He has provided continuing education for health and human rights professionals combating the spread of HIV-1 and tuberculosis in Central Asia. He specializes in science and medical communications, biological science and public health education, design of visual materials for publication, and patient advocacy.

Heather Duncan, MPH, Ph.D.

Co-Owner

Heather Duncan received her Ph.D. in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo. After over a decade of teaching professional and technical writing, American literature, and environmental humanities to undergraduate students, she transitioned to a career in public health. She received her MPH in 2024 from the University at Albany, where she is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Epidemiology. Heather also has ten years of experience working as a writing and marketing consultant for a small writing services company. More recently, she has done communications work for the University at Albany School of Public Health and for the New York State Public Health Association (NYSPHA). Heather is a strong advocate for making science more accessible and improving the strategic communications of public health organizations. Heather currently specializes in science and medical communications, data analysis and interpretation for the health sciences, and public health education.