What Is a Medical Writer?
A medical writer is many things.
The term "medical writing" encompasses many kinds of composition for clients in media, government, and industry.
Pharmaceutical companies, medical-device manufacturers, and clinical-research organizations all employ writers to prepare regulatory documents used to seek U.
S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for drugs and devices.
These professionals help physicians and scientists develop and format research articles, monographs, and reviews on medical topics.
Continuing medical education (CME) companies employ medical writers to produce educational materials and slide kits that healthcare professionals use to prepare for license renewals and certifications.
Those who do this type of writing construct manuals and sales training materials, pamphlets and booklets, press releases for industry, and fact sheets or Web site materials for government organizations.
Health informists also write about research discoveries for medical journals, Web sites, newsletters, magazines, newspapers, and any other medium that includes coverage of health and medical issues.
Many employ these specialists to write about their products for marketing purposes.
Scientists and practitioners interested in a health information career should seek projects outside the circles they normally move in.
The main emphasis in medical writing is on clarity.
Employers seek writers who can translate medical investigations into accurate but amenable language and customize the information to audiences that include regulators, health professionals, investors, or the general public.
Health informists need solid writing skills, attention to factual detail and accuracy, and the ability to see relationships between ideas and organize complex information.
The American Medical Writers Association provides several certificate programs that educate medical writers about the fundamentals of editing and writing, freelance writing, and writing for specific markets.
The careers in this field are divided into two classifications: scientific and nonscientific.
Writers in both categories can earn a productive living using their diverse talents and generally focus on one style or the other.
Scientific medical writers possess advanced degrees in a scientific area, such as biology or medicine.
They generally acquire writing skills as they become medical writers.
Nonscientific freelancers are also called marketing medical writers.
They usually write for the general public audience and apply their knowledge in the medical field to assist in conveying health related material.
The term "medical writing" encompasses many kinds of composition for clients in media, government, and industry.
Pharmaceutical companies, medical-device manufacturers, and clinical-research organizations all employ writers to prepare regulatory documents used to seek U.
S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for drugs and devices.
These professionals help physicians and scientists develop and format research articles, monographs, and reviews on medical topics.
Continuing medical education (CME) companies employ medical writers to produce educational materials and slide kits that healthcare professionals use to prepare for license renewals and certifications.
Those who do this type of writing construct manuals and sales training materials, pamphlets and booklets, press releases for industry, and fact sheets or Web site materials for government organizations.
Health informists also write about research discoveries for medical journals, Web sites, newsletters, magazines, newspapers, and any other medium that includes coverage of health and medical issues.
Many employ these specialists to write about their products for marketing purposes.
Scientists and practitioners interested in a health information career should seek projects outside the circles they normally move in.
The main emphasis in medical writing is on clarity.
Employers seek writers who can translate medical investigations into accurate but amenable language and customize the information to audiences that include regulators, health professionals, investors, or the general public.
Health informists need solid writing skills, attention to factual detail and accuracy, and the ability to see relationships between ideas and organize complex information.
The American Medical Writers Association provides several certificate programs that educate medical writers about the fundamentals of editing and writing, freelance writing, and writing for specific markets.
The careers in this field are divided into two classifications: scientific and nonscientific.
Writers in both categories can earn a productive living using their diverse talents and generally focus on one style or the other.
Scientific medical writers possess advanced degrees in a scientific area, such as biology or medicine.
They generally acquire writing skills as they become medical writers.
Nonscientific freelancers are also called marketing medical writers.
They usually write for the general public audience and apply their knowledge in the medical field to assist in conveying health related material.