| When would-be freelance medical writers connect | | | | writing. Hospitals often need medical writers to create |
| with me, they often ask for help getting that elusive | | | | patient-education materials or marketing materials, |
| first job. To get a job in the field of medical writing, | | | | whereas pharmaceutical companies and contract |
| it's important to first determine what kind of content | | | | research organizations (CROs) hire medical writers |
| you want to produce. As a medical writer, you can | | | | who are skilled in regulatory writing. Medical education, |
| write in any of three broad categories: Regulatory, | | | | medical communications, and medical advertising |
| promotional, and educational. Regulatory writing, | | | | agencies work directly with pharmaceutical companies |
| which is highly scientific, involves creating documents | | | | and manufacturers of biologicals and medical devices |
| for submission to the US Food and Drug | | | | to develop creative products such as videos, DVDs, |
| Administration. An example of this would be a clinical | | | | slide decks, and flashy print materials for multiple |
| study report, which summarizes the results of a | | | | audiences that will communicate key messages about |
| clinical trial. Promotional writing includes creating | | | | the drug or device they are selling. These companies |
| content for materials, produced in any media, that | | | | are generally full-service agencies that can do it all, |
| are used to sell or promote a drug, intervention, or | | | | from strategic planning to website development, to |
| medical device. One example of promotional writing is | | | | event planning and implementation. Because they |
| a sales training program that is designed to teach | | | | offer such a variety of services, companies that |
| sales representatives the important information about | | | | specialize in medical communications have a great |
| the pharmaceutical product they will be selling. | | | | need for writers to keep up with the demands of |
| Another example would be writing the scripts and | | | | their clients. |
| advertising copy for direct-to-consumer radio, | | | | Go to your favorite search engine and type in |
| television, and print ads. Educational writing involves | | | | "medical communications company" or "medical |
| creating materials for the purpose of educating health | | | | communications jobs" and you'll find some of the big |
| care professionals or the general public. A | | | | and small players in the industry. Go to their websites |
| patient-education brochure that explains a certain | | | | and look at the services they provide. Find out who |
| medical condition or disease and how to control it is | | | | their clients are and what type of media they |
| one example of educational writing. | | | | specialize in. If you think you have something to |
| Why do you need to determine what you want to | | | | offer, send the creative director or human resources |
| write? Because the content you want to create | | | | manager an introductory email along with samples of |
| determines who will hire you. A variety of companies | | | | your work. |
| employ medical writers or purchase that type of | | | | |