What’s this all about?

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We’re here to help you learn about careers in MedComms and then, if you decide it’s of interest, to help you get your first job! Good luck.

Sign up to our FirstMedCommsJob Elert for regular updates for news of careers events, internships, open days and other relevant information.

We’re grateful for contributions from many members of the MedComms Networking community and specifically the following Sponsors of this FirstMedCommsJob service: AMICULUM, Ashfield Health, Bioscript, Envision Pharma Group, Fishawack Health, Helios Medical Communications, Lucid Group, McCann Health Medical Communications and Oxford PharmaGenesis.

Upcoming events

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Relevant upcoming careers events:

Check out www.MedCommsNetworking.com for many more meetings that you might find of interest. Many of which are online and so you can attend from wherever you are based.

The following events should specifically be of interest to entry-level job seekers…

FIRSTMEDCOMMSJOB WEBINAR
What is Market Access?
Venue: Global
Date: 12.00 midday UK time, 15 June 2022
[PROGRAMME AND REGISTRATION DETAILS]

FIRSTMEDCOMMSJOB WORKSHOP
Prepare for success
Venue: Global
Date: 10.00-12.00 UK time, 27 June 2022
[PROGRAMME AND REGISTRATION DETAILS]

Working in and around #MedComms, 19 September 2022, Heathrow, London

What is Medical Communications (MedComms)?

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MedComms is all about the development of materials that communicate the science behind a medicine/treatment for stakeholders in healthcare.

MedComms employs Medical Writers to develop, write, and edit these materials.

If you’re considering a career as a Medical/Scientific Writer in MedComms, you’ve probably got lots of questions about who the employers are, what MedComms writers do, how you can learn more, and what MedComms actually involves?

In this MedComms explainer video, Vicky Sherwood aka Biomed Badass answers all these questions.

Be sure to watch to the end for some top tips on slide development in MedComms…

Recorded 03 May 2022, by Biomed Badass and is included here with their permission.

Continue reading →

In conversation with the medical writers

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In this webinar, we’re joined by Ewa Kilinska (Fishawack Health), Alicia Lledo Lara (Oxford PharmaGenesis), Lauren Oswald (Helios Medical Communications), Lucinda Sinclair (Ashfield MedComms) and Helen Speedy (AMICULUM) to talk about their own journeys into MedComms and their current roles, the day-to-day working life of medical writers, training opportunities and career prospects. The panellists have all been profiled in the new issue of our FirstMedCommsJob careers guide, From academic to medical writer: a guide to getting started in medical communications, published in March 2022. And we answer questions from the audience.

It should be of interest to anyone who is looking for insights in to MedComms as a career and how to maximise their chances of gaining an entry level job.

Recorded 06 April 2022 as a MedComms Networking webinar. Produced by NetworkPharma.tv

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Careers guide – a guide to being a freelance writer in MedComms

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freelancers_cover_369x523Making it my own business: a guide to being a freelance writer in MedComms

By Dr Kathryn White, published April 2022 [Download your copy]

Freelancing in MedComms offers a great way of making a living for medical writers. Reasons for becoming a freelancer are many and varied: redundancy, a long daily commute to the office or changing family commitments. Some people leave employment because of bad experiences with their employers. Others feel they’re moving further away from the work they love as their careers progress and line management responsibilities take precedence. Within organisations, a medical writer’s role may be quite narrow, focusing on one specific type of writing or document or
a particular therapeutic area. Continue reading →

I work in MedComms…

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Screenshot 2022-03-10 at 09.06.48

Whilst preparing the new issue of our latest careers guide, From academic to medical writer: a guide to getting started in medical communications (published March 2022)  we invited people working in medical writing and editing positions in MedComms to tell us why they are doing so….

“I work in MedComms because I feel like I am really making a difference to patients’ lives while also being able to ‘geek out’ on the most up-to-date scientific knowledge.”
Maria Allen-Davies, Medical Writer at Helios Medical Communications

“I work in MedComms so I can feel engaged with ground-breaking new medical treatments that benefit patients today and in the future.”
Marc Astick, Senior Medical Writer I at Langland

“I work in MedComms because I like writing and reading up on new research – and I love not doing any lab work. I feel very lucky to work with such a great team and client, and to have a secure job I enjoy!”
Victoria Atess, Scientific Content Director at Ashfield MedComms

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Careers guide – medical writing

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careersguidecover_369x522From academic to medical writer: a guide to getting started in medical communications

By Dr Annick Moon, published March 2022 [Download your copy]

This guide focuses on medical writing careers in medical communications, in particular in MedComms agencies. The MedComms industry provides consultancy services to pharmaceutical companies, and the role of the medical writer is to use science and language to deliver these services successfully, while working to the highest ethical standards and adhering to industry regulations and guidelines.

The aim of this guide is to give you the information you need to decide if you are suited to the role of medical writer, and to provide the insider knowledge you need to excel at interview.

This issue includes nine personal profiles written by current medical writing specialists in leading MedComms agencies, describing their personal journeys in to MedComms and the day-to-day work they now do as well as an updated directory of agency contacts. Continue reading →

The Role of the Regulatory Medical Writer – is it clear?

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If you enjoy both science and writing, then why not become a regulatory medical writer? Claire Gillow, Martin Murray, Vicky Powell and Cameron Campbell, all regulatory writers working for Bioscript, an independent regulatory writing and communications agency, describe the clinical documents they prepare and the teams they work with to help sponsors get their drugs to market and beyond. They provide insight into the typical working life and career path of a regulatory writer, and touch on some similarities and differences with Bioscript’s medical communications writers. And we answer questions from the audience.

It should be of interest to anyone who is looking for insights into medical writing as a career and how to maximise their chances of gaining an entry-level job.

Recorded 16 February 2022 as a MedComms Networking webinar. Produced by NetworkPharma.tv

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Starting a career in Medical Communications

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Do you have strong scientific credentials, but the lab isn’t for you? Are you interested in a job that deals with cutting-edge developments in medicine? If so, watch this webinar to learn about medical communications. ‘MedComms’ agencies partner with pharmaceutical industry clients to develop and communicate scientific content in impactful ways through meetings, materials and more. Presented by Helios, a global agency group with offices in the North West, Oxford and the USA, you’ll learn why MedComms is a great long-term career choice and how to be successful in your application.

The Helios panel are; Liam Burnham (Scientific Director), Maggie Boyd (Senior Scientific Project Coordinator), Lucy Collins (Medical Writer), Andrew Minnock (Managing Director) and Jo Oswald (Training Facilitator) – all of whom have been in your position and know what it’s like to love science but want something beyond the lab.

Recorded as a live webinar, 15 February 2022, by the Helios Global Group and is included here with their permission.

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A new pathway to a medical writing career in MedComms

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In this webinar, representatives from Aspire Scientific discuss the challenges of entering the medical communications industry. Learn more about a novel pathway to a first medical writing role and hear some real-life success stories first-hand. Our panellists are Rick Flemming (Joint Managing Director), Hannah Mace (Scientific Director) and Beatrice Tyrrell (Senior Medical Writer). And we answer questions from the audience.

It should be of interest to anyone who is looking for insights in to MedComms as a career and how to maximise their chances of gaining an entry level job.

Recorded 09 February 2022 as a MedComms Networking webinar. Produced by NetworkPharma.tv

Continue reading →

I work in MedComms…

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Screenshot 2022-01-19 at 18.31.26

Whilst preparing the new issue of our latest careers guide, The business of medical communications: a guide to getting started in account management (published January 2022)  we invited people working in account management positions in MedComms, to tell us why they are doing so….

“I work in MedComms because it allows me to put my project management and soft skills to use within a field that truly makes a difference to patients’ lives.”
Abi Ainscough, Account Manager at Ashfield MedComms

“I work in MedComms because I love the fast-paced environment and working with a great team to deliver excellence in everything we do! No day is ever the same and I enjoy the challenges that each day brings as well as building great relationships with both clients and internal teams to allow collaboration and innovation across all projects.”
Samantha Anderson, Senior Account Director at Ashfield MedComms Continue reading →