Employment Opportunities in the Medical Writing Field

A career in the field of medical writing pays well and offers a certain level of job security. The latter is due to the fact that work is generally available on a consistent basis in a variety of areas such as general, scientific, pharmaceutical and commercial writing. A basic foundation of knowledge concerning anatomy and medicine is necessary to complete most assignments in the aforementioned fields, and sometimes in depth research or specialized knowledge are also needed to complete certain projects.

Most medical writers specialize in the health care industry or in general biology. Those who hold such writing positions usually write detailed, technical copy for publication in industry periodicals, medical journals or consumer-targeted literature. The latter often involves explaining complicated biological processes in layman’s terms.

Educational Requirements

Most medical writers have a formal education in one or more medical fields and have studied subjects such as chemistry, math, biochemistry and biology. Although some writers in this field hold bachelor’s degrees, there are many who hold graduate-level degrees or who once worked as a physician or other health care professional.

Pharmaceutical Industry Writing

The need for medical writers in the pharmaceutical industry has increased exponentially over the past 30 years. Such writers create documents for regulatory agencies as well as draft marketing and promotional material for physicians and patients. Anyone who has read a pamphlet about a certain medication or read promotional material at a medical seminar has read something that was created by a medical writer.

Additional Venues

There is a wide variety of places at which one can obtain employment as a medical writer. For instance, advertising agencies with clients in the medical field hire those with medical writing skills to produce promotional and marketing material. Medical writers can also find employment in positions where they will be called upon to write, fact-check, proofread and edit textbooks and educational material.

The movie and television industries also use medical writers to assist their general writers with scripts. Although such projects are being created for their entertainment value only and are not meant as medical advice, audiences still expect medical themed television shows and movies to have an aura of authenticity.

Becoming a Medical Writer

Obviously, a person who wishes to work as a medical writer has many job opportunities from which to choose. In addition, the more medical knowledge a writer acquires the more choices he or she will have regarding employment options. Some individuals even find work as permanent hospital or pharmaceutical company employees. Similarly, entry level writers should consider working with such an establishment on a part-time basis or freelancing until their skills improve.

To be successful in the arena of medical writing one must also have disciplined writing habits. There is little or no room for error with such writing. Depending on the purpose for which the copy is being written, errors can have costly or dangerous repercussions. In addition, such writing requires that one have the ability to think in a logical, organized way as well as exercise the appropriate analytical skills. If a person feels that he or she possesses such characteristics, then a career as a medical writer is certainly a viable option for that person.