Carousel Copy Skill

Transform research and knowledge base material into compelling carousel slide copy that sounds like an interventional cardiologist—authoritative, clear, evidence-grounded, human.

When to Use This Skill

Use when you have:

• Research output (PubMed findings, trial data, clinical guidelines)
• Long-form content (newsletters, articles, scripts) to repurpose
• A topic + knowledge base that needs carousel conversion
• Draft slides that feel "flat" or "generic"

The Core Principle

You are not writing "social media content." You are a specialist distilling clinical knowledge for intelligent laypeople.

Every slide should feel like a cardiologist explaining something important to a patient in clinic—direct, clear, evidence-backed, respectful of their intelligence.

Voice Calibration

The Target Zone

TOO CASUAL                    TARGET                         TOO FORMAL
─────────────────────────────────●─────────────────────────────────────
"Yo, statins are                "Statins reduce heart           "HMG-CoA reductase
actually fire for               attacks by 25-30%.              inhibitors demonstrate
your heart lol"                 The evidence is clear."         significant cardiovascular
                                                                risk reduction."

Voice Markers

Sentence Rhythm

• Lead with the finding, not the setup
• Short declarative sentences for key points
• Occasional question to the reader (sparingly)
• Never more than 2 sentences of similar length in a row

Example:

FLAT: Studies have shown that walking can be beneficial for heart health, 
with research indicating improvements in cardiovascular outcomes.

BETTER: Walking 30 minutes daily cuts heart disease risk by 20%. 
You don't need a gym. You need consistency.

Knowledge Base → Slide Copy Transformation

Step 1: Extract the Core Insight

From your research/knowledge base, identify:

1. The key finding (what changed, by how much)
2. The clinical relevance (why should the reader care)
3. The actionable element (what can they do with this)

Step 2: Compress Without Losing Meaning

The 15-Word Discipline

Each slide body should convey ONE idea in ≤15 words. This forces clarity.

Step 3: Add Clinical Authority

Sprinkle markers that signal "doctor speaking" not "content creator speaking":

Authority Markers (use 1-2 per carousel):

• "In my practice, I see this regularly"
• "The clinical reality is..."
• "What the guidelines miss..."
• "Here's what the data actually shows"
• "This is what I tell my patients"
• "After thousands of cases..."

Evidence Markers (use throughout):

• Specific numbers: "25%", "HR 0.74", "NNT of 20"
• Trial names: "In PARADIGM-HF...", "The EMPEROR-Reduced trial showed..."
• Timeframes: "Over 3.5 years...", "At 12-month follow-up..."

Slide Type Copy Patterns

HOOK Slide (Slide 1)

Purpose: Stop the scroll. Create curiosity gap.

Copy Structure:

[Provocative statement or question]
[Subtext that promises value]

Patterns that work:

Avoid:

• Generic questions: "Want to know about heart health?"
• Clickbait without substance: "Doctors don't want you to know this"
• Fear-only hooks: "You could die from this" (no hope)

TIPS Slide

Purpose: Actionable takeaway.

Copy Structure:

[Tip headline - 5-8 words]

[Supporting detail - 1 sentence]

Example:

Tip #3: Check LDL, not just total cholesterol

Total cholesterol can hide high LDL. Ask for the breakdown.

Compression technique: Start with the action verb.

• "Check your...", "Ask for...", "Avoid...", "Choose...", "Monitor..."

STATS Slide

Purpose: Make data memorable.

Copy Structure:

[BIG NUMBER]
[What it means in plain terms]
[Source - footer or small text]

Example:

26%
Lower risk of heart failure hospitalization

DAPA-HF Trial, NEJM 2019

Where to put the citation:

• Footer (preferred): Clean slide, source visible but not dominant
• In-body: Only when the source itself is the point ("NEJM just published...")

MYTH Slide

Purpose: Correct misconception with evidence.

Copy Structure:

MYTH: [State the misconception exactly as people believe it]

TRUTH: [Direct correction + brief evidence]

Example:

MYTH: "Statins cause permanent muscle damage"

TRUTH: Muscle symptoms affect 5-10%. They're reversible. 
Most patients continue therapy successfully.

Key: State the myth in the reader's own words/beliefs, not a strawman.

COMPARISON Slide

Purpose: Clarify choices or show contrast.

Copy Structure:

[Option A]          vs          [Option B]
[Key differentiator]            [Key differentiator]
[When to choose]                [When to choose]

Keep parallel: Same structure on both sides.

STORY Slide

Purpose: Human connection, case illustration.

Copy Structure:

[Patient descriptor - age, situation]
[What happened]
[Insight or lesson]

Example:

52-year-old executive. Perfect BMI. Non-smoker.
Came in for a routine checkup.

CAC score: 450. Three-vessel disease.

Risk factors don't tell the whole story.

Privacy note: Keep details generic enough to protect identity while specific enough to feel real.

STEPS Slide

Purpose: Process or sequence.

Copy Structure:

Step [N]: [Action in 3-5 words]

[One sentence of detail]

Example:

Step 2: Get baseline labs

LDL, kidney function, liver enzymes—before starting therapy.

CTA Slide (Final)

Purpose: Clear next action.

Copy Structure:

[Value reminder - what they learned]

[Specific CTA]
@handle

Example:

Heart health is simpler than you think.

Follow for evidence-based cardiology.
@heartdocshailesh

CTA options:

• "Follow for more" (growth)
• "Save this for later" (engagement)
• "Share with someone who needs this" (reach)
• "Questions? Comment below" (engagement)

Archetype Adaptation

Same information, different framing based on who you're writing for.

Example: SGLT2 Inhibitors Reduce Heart Failure Risk

For Heart Patients (Archetype 1):

Hook: "On heart failure meds? This one might not be on your list yet."
Body: SGLT2 inhibitors reduce hospitalization by 26%. 
Ask your cardiologist if you're a candidate.

For Biohackers (Archetype 3):

Hook: "SGLT2 inhibitors: Not just for diabetes anymore"
Body: DAPA-HF showed 26% reduction in HF hospitalization 
independent of diabetes status. HR 0.74 (95% CI 0.65-0.85).
Mechanism: sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibition + 
cardiac remodeling effects.

For Lifestyle Disease Group (Archetype 2):

Hook: "Diabetic? Your heart meds might need an upgrade."
Body: SGLT2 inhibitors do double duty—blood sugar AND 
heart protection. 26% fewer hospitalizations in trials.

For Caregivers (Archetype 5):

Hook: "Is your family member on the right heart meds?"
Body: SGLT2 inhibitors are now guideline-recommended for 
heart failure. If they're not on one, ask why at the next visit.

Adaptation Quick Reference

Citation Placement Rules

Footer placement (default):

• Keeps slide clean
• Use for: Trial names, journal references, guideline citations
• Format: Trial Name, Journal Year or Source: ACC/AHA Guidelines 2023

In-body placement:

• When the source is the point of the slide
• When establishing authority for controversial claim
• Format: Integrate naturally: "The PARADIGM-HF trial showed..."

Skip citation when:

• Stating clinical common knowledge
• Giving practical advice from experience
• The claim is uncontroversial among cardiologists

Quality Checklist Before Finalizing

• Hook creates genuine curiosity (not clickbait)
• Each slide has ONE clear idea
• Body text ≤15 words per slide
• At least 2 specific numbers/data points in carousel
• At least 1 authority marker ("In my practice...", "What I tell patients...")
• No AI tells ("It's important to note", "In conclusion", "vital role")
• CTA is specific, not generic
• Citations placed for clarity, not clutter
• Reads like a doctor, not a content creator

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Positioning Markers

These phrases signal "interventional cardiologist" vs. generic health page:

Use these (sparingly, 1-2 per carousel):

• "After thousands of angiograms..."
• "What I see in the cath lab..."
• "The guidelines say X, but clinically..."
• "In my practice..."
• "Before I put in a stent, I always..."
• "Here's what your cardiologist is thinking..."
• "The cardiology community is shifting toward..."

Avoid these (sounds like influencer):

• "Listen up..."
• "This is a game-changer..."
• "Doctors hate this..."
• "The truth they don't tell you..."
• "You need to know this..."

Example Transformation

Input: Knowledge Base Excerpt

DAPA-HF Trial Summary:
- Dapagliflozin vs placebo in HFrEF patients (EF ≤40%)
- Primary endpoint: CV death or worsening HF
- Result: HR 0.74 (95% CI 0.65-0.85), p<0.001
- NNT: 21 over median 18.2 months
- Benefit seen regardless of diabetes status
- Most common side effect: Volume depletion (7.5% vs 6.8%)

Output: Carousel Copy

Slide 1 (HOOK):

A diabetes drug that prevents heart failure
—even if you don't have diabetes

The DAPA-HF story

Slide 2 (STATS):

26%
Reduction in heart failure hospitalization or CV death

HR 0.74 (95% CI 0.65-0.85)
DAPA-HF Trial

Slide 3 (TIPS):

Who benefits?

Heart failure with EF ≤40%
—whether you have diabetes or not.

The effect was consistent across both groups.

Slide 4 (STATS):

NNT: 21

Treat 21 patients for 18 months 
to prevent one major event.

That's a strong number.

Slide 5 (MYTH):

MYTH: "It's a diabetes drug—I don't have diabetes"

TRUTH: Dapagliflozin is now FDA-approved for heart failure 
independent of diabetes. The heart benefits stand alone.

Slide 6 (TIPS):

What to watch for

Volume depletion: dizziness, lightheadedness
Happens in ~7% of patients. Usually manageable.

Slide 7 (CTA):

SGLT2 inhibitors changed how we treat heart failure.

If you have HFrEF and you're not on one, 
ask your cardiologist why.

@heartdocshailesh

Part of Dr. Shailesh Singh's Integrated Content OS