Download - 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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Learning Objectives (LOs)
1. Define the field of medical writing
2. Outline possible paths into medical writing
GalenMedicalWriting.com
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Learning Objectives (LOs)
1. Define the field of medical writing
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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About MePhD in Pharmacology 2005
Genetics of alcohol sensitivityHominid evolution
Postdoc at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
Learning and memory
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About MePhD in Pharmacology 2005
Genetics of alcohol sensitivityHominid evolution
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
GalenMedicalWriting.com
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What Is Medical Writing?
Writing about medical topicsSubset of science writing
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What Is Medical Writing?
Writing about medical topicsSubset of science writing
Field consists of editors and writers
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What Is Medical Writing?
Writing about medical topicsSubset of science writing
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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Types of Medical WritingRegulatory
Technical
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Types of Medical WritingRegulatory
Technical
Promotional
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Types of Medical WritingRegulatory
Technical
Promotional
Educational
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Types of Medical WritingRegulatory
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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What Does It Take to Be a Medical Writer?
Organized and Detail Oriented
Writing Abil-ity
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What Does It Take to Be a Medical Writer?
Organized and Detail Oriented
Desire to Learn
Writing Abil-ity
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What Does It Take to Be a Medical Writer?
Organized and Detail Oriented
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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What Does It Take to Be a Freelancer?
Ability to accept risk
Organized (to the max)
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What Does It Take to Be a Freelancer?
Ability to accept risk
Organized (to the max)
Desire to run a business
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What Does It Take to Be a Freelancer?
Ability to accept risk
Organized (to the max)
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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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
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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How to Get Into Freelance Medical
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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Resources: Other Medical Writers
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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Resources: Other Medical Writers
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?
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