careers in science: medical writing

Medical WritingErik MacLaren, PhD

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Learning Objectives (LOs)

1. Define the field of medical writing

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2. Outline possible paths into medical writing


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2. Outline possible paths into medical writing

3. Identify resources for learning more about medical writing


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About MePhD in Pharmacology 2005

Genetics of alcohol sensitivityHominid evolution


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Postdoc at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute

Learning and memory


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Postdoc at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute

Learning and memory

Postdoc at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Brain development


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About Me2013

Discovered medical writing

Postdoc in MCDB at Boulder campus


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About Me2013

Discovered medical writing

Postdoc in MCDB at Boulder campus

2014 Galen Medical Writing


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What Is Medical Writing?

Writing about medical topicsSubset of science writing


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Field consists of editors and writers


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Field consists of editors and writersReasons I switched to medical writing:

No more benchwork!More variety in topics, people, and jobs GalenMedicalWriting.com

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Medical EditingBoard of Editors in the Life Sciences (BELS)

Offer credentials to manuscript editorswww.bels.org


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Medical EditingBoard of Editors in the Life Sciences (BELS)

Offer credentials to manuscript editorswww.bels.org

Opportunities for editors at journals, companies that edit manuscripts for foreign authors, and in freelance work GalenMedicalWriting.com

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Types of Medical WritingRegulatory


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Technical


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Technical

Promotional


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Technical

Promotional

Educational


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Technical

Promotional

Educational

Medical news


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Types of DeliverablesDocuments, manuscripts, and grant applicationsSlidesPostersOnline contentMulti-media projects


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Places Medical Writers Work

Big PharmaSmall BiotechJournalsAcademicFreelance


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What Does It Take to Be a Medical Writer?

Writing Ability


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Organized and Detail Oriented

Writing Abil-ity


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Desire to Learn

Writing Abil-ity


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Desire to Learn

Enjoy Work-ing Alone

Writing Abil-ity


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What Does It Take to Be a Freelancer?

Ability to accept risk


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Organized (to the max)


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Desire to run a business


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Desire to run a business

Can accept criticismGalenMedicalWriting.com

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FreelancingAdvantages

Flexibility on hours and locationsVariety of work both formats and subjectsHigher Income Potential

AMWA 2011 Salary Survey:Freelance = $126,000Full-time = $92,800Editing = 25-33% less

Disadvantages


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FreelancingAdvantages

Flexibility on hours and locationsVariety of work both formats and subjectsHigher Income Potential

AMWA 2011 Salary Survey:Freelance = $126,000Full-time = $92,800

Disadvantages

Lots of non-writing responsibilitiesMore risk

No regular paycheckLess support

Can be isolating


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How to Get Into Freelance Medical

WritingGet a full time job as a medical writer On the job training Built-in clients when you switch to freelance

workX Fewer opportunities to explore different fields and types of projects


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WritingGet a full time job as a medical writer On the job training Built-in clients when you switch to freelance

workX Fewer opportunities to explore different fields and types of projects

Freelance part time Get to try it out first Keep getting a steady paycheckX Takes a lot of effortX May be unable to take time-sensitive jobs


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WritingStart a full-time freelance business Best chances of successX Takes time to get a critical mass of clients

Need at least 3 to 6 months of savings


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Resources: Professional Associations

American Medical Writers Association (AMWA)www.amwa.org and www.amwa-rmc.org

Rocky Mountain Chapter is active locallyEducational programs and certificatesFreelance directoryForums and LinkedIn groupsVolunteer opportunities

**Annual Conference in Denver on Oct 5-8, 2016** GalenMedicalWriting.com

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Resources: Professional Associations

National Association of Science Writerswww.nasw.org

Society for Technical Communicationwww.stc.org

Freelancers Unionwww.freelancersunion.org


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Resources: Other Medical Writers

Nascent Medical, LLC (Emma Hitt)www.nascentmc.com

Hitt List newsletterOnline coursesBooks


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Nascent Medical, LLC (Emma Hitt)www.nascentmc.com

Hitt List newsletterOnline coursesBooks

Gordon Squared (Debra Gordon)www.debragordon.com

6-Figure freelancingWhite papers


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The Mighty Marketer (Lori De Milto)www.themightymarketer.com

The Accidental Medical Writerwww.theaccidentalmedicalwriter.com

Science Writers’ Handbookwww.pitchpublishprosper.com

Coffee Break Medical Marketing - blogcoffeebreakmedicalmarketing.com


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Resources: Formal TrainingUniversity of the Scienceswww.gradschool.usciences.edu/biomedical-writing/biomedical-writing-program-overview

Graham School at the University of Chicagograhamschool.uchicago.edu/noncredit/certificates/medical-writing-editing/index

MOOCs – Massive Open Online Courseswww.coursera.org


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Thank you!Any questions?
