Choosing a Career Path as a Medical Writer

The life sciences industry is amazingly diverse and the demand for skilled Medical Writers is high.  Medical writers work closely with scientists, doctors, and other groups in the medical and biotechnology profession, by curating a vast array of content that can cover patient information sheets, medical reports, clinical study reports, and regulatory submissions.

The life science market is growing at a rapid pace and is projected to continue expanding at an extraordinarily strong rate. It is a great time to consider making that career change and becoming a medical writer.

Determining your path

There are several paths you can pursue as a Medical Writer; the key is understanding the various possibilities you can take:

• Regulatory Medical Writing

Working in this field, you will be writing documents that are part of the development process for medical drugs or devices. This could take the form of clinical trial study reports, marketing applications, or regulatory documents regarding the release of the drug. You will need to have a good understanding of laws – specifically medical regulations. It is a fast-paced environment that will expose you to groundbreaking developments in the life sciences industry.

• Medical Communications Writer

The main difference between regulatory writing and medical communications writing is that medical writing encompasses a vast array of subject matter.  This includes writing legal and regulatory documentation to tackle marketing and advertisements for the latest drugs. A majority of this role will involve information dissemination – writing documents that inform doctors and patients about the latest drug or device and how to use it. Another differentiation is that medical communications writers can either work for an agency or at a pharmaceutical company and can be performed remotely.

• Translation Writer

A less known field within medical writing is translation writing. Bilingual writers are highly sought-after to translate clinical and technical documents into different languages. Medical translators are especially important for clinical trials where translation needs are for regulatory organizations, clinicians, and patients.

Qualifications needed

To become a medical writer, you need to have a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of your chosen field. For some roles, you will most likely be required to have a Ph.D. or Masters in Life Sciences, Biology, or Chemistry. And although it can be difficult to break into the life science industry without experience, focus on building a portfolio of writing samples by interning at a biotechnology company.

Securing employment

Reaching out to a life science recruiter will be beneficial to you. In a market with a talent shortage, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies are continually growing and rely on their relationships with life science staffing agencies, such as  Precision Life Sciences, to source the best talent.   With more than 50 years of leveraged staffing experience, Precision Life Sciences is better equipped to help you with your medical writing career objectives. You will be supported by recruiting experts who specialize in your field and will have access to our robust network of clients.