WRT 305: Writing for the Health Professions

Types of work scientific medical writers do include:

• Advertising copy for pharmaceuticals and other products
• CD-ROMs
• Editing
• Internet content
• Journal abstracts and articles
• Medical education materials
• Monographs
• Multimedia projects
• Pharmaceutical marketing and advertising
• Physician speeches and presentations
• Posters
• Regulatory documents (clinical trial reports, integrated summaries of efficacy and safety, investigator brochures, Investigational New Drug documents, New Drug Application submissions, protocols)
• Sales training manuals
• Slide kits
• White papers

Employers and clients for scientific medical writers include:

• Academic medical centers
• Associations
• Contract research organizations
• Foundations
• Hospitals/Health care systems
• Managed care organizations
• Medical advertising/communication agencies
• Medical education companies
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Publishers
• Web sites

Resources and tips for discovering and learning about exemplar medical writing includes:

• Read medical and pharmaceutical journals
• Read about the latest drug approvals by the Food and Drug Administration (www.fda.gov)
• Study medical terminology (MeSH database)
• Read medical writing dictionaries, style guides, and books on writing
• Familiarize yourself with FDA guidelines for preparing regulatory documents (See Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations)

When exploring writing in your subject area:

• Look for books and articles on writing for your profession. See the Books and Articles tabs for more ideas. 
• Check for relevant professional organizations. See if they publish a blog, magazine, or journal, or if they provide conferences or workshops. For example, the American Medical Writiers Association. 
• Check the Internet for templates, presentations, or videos aimed at writers in your displine. 
• Become familiar with trade journals in your area.