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 “Newbies” email alert 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: AMICULUM Ltd, Ashfield Healthcare Communications, Envision Pharma Group, Fishawack Group, Highfield:Communication, Lucid Group and Oxford PharmaGenesis.

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Open MedComms Careers Event – Manchester, September 2018

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Venue: University of Manchester Sackville Street Building, Sackville Street, M1 3NJ
Date: 13 September 2018

This will be the eighth time we have run this event in Manchester. Once again we are expecting an enthusiastic audience of post-docs and DPhil/PhD students students and others from the biomedical sciences departments within and around Manchester and from other universities and organisations further afield. They will meet with a number of medical communications professionals for a highly engaging session which presented medical writing and account management in MedComms as attractive career options. Everyone welcome!

[PROGRAMME AND REGISTRATION DETAILS]

Writing skills for medical writers: what MedComms agencies expect

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Venue: The Windsor Centre, 15-29 Windsor Street, London, N1 8QG
Date: 31 October 2018

This one-day workshop is designed for those who intend applying to work as a medical writer for a MedComms (medical communications) agency. Led by John Dixon, Trainer in scientific writing and presentation skills, this is a FirstMedCommsJob.com initiative.

The programme is split into 10 topics, encouraging you to be: prepared, clear, readable, coherent, concise, relevant, accurate, visually aware, correct and consistent. We will use examples and short exercises to illustrate important points. Over lunch, a recruitment consultant from Media Contacts will join the group to pass on tips about writing your CV.

[PROGRAMME AND REGISTRATION DETAILS]

Careers guide – HEOR and market access medical writing

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Evidence generation and communication: a guide to getting started in HEOR/market access medical writing

By Linda Harrison, 1st edition published June 2018 [Download your copy

This new guide focuses on medical writing roles in the HEOR/market access arenas, but will be of interest to anyone who wants to understand more about the business of ensuring access to new medicines and devices for patients. If you have an interest in the commercial aspects of healthcare delivery and in helping deliver value to patients, a passion for writing and enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, then working in HEOR/market access might be for you. This guide will provide you with an in-depth introduction to this specialist area.

This issue includes seven personal profiles written by current specialists in leading HEOR/market access companies, describing their personal journeys and the day-to-day work they now do, and an up-to-date directory of agency contacts.

The first edition of this careers guide about HEOR and market access medical writing is freely available here, published by Burntsky Ltd in June 2018, and it will now be updated every year.

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I work in MedComms…

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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 2018)  we invited people working in medical writing and editing positions in MedComms to tell us why they are doing so….

“I work in MedComms having just finished my PhD, and love that I am still involved in scientific research. It’s great to learn about the latest advances in biomedical science, whilst having an impact on patient care.”

Caroline Anderson, Associate Medical Writer at Envision Pharma Group

“I work in MedComms because whilst I love science, I quickly figured out that post-doc life wasn’t for me. I heard a whisper of ‘medical communications’ and investigated it further – since then I haven’t looked back. I have found enjoyment in medical writing through being immersed in science without spending my days by a microscope. The work we do has the potential to have an impact on patient lives, advancing the care they receive and supporting development of new treatments.”

Jennifer Badger, Senior Medical Writer at Leading Edge (part of Lucid Group)

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Careers guide – medical writing

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careersguidecover_369x524From academic to medical writer: a guide to getting started in medical communications

By Dr Annick Moon, 10th edition published March 2018

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.

The 10th edition of this careers guide about medical writing is freely available here, published by Burntsky Ltd in March 2018, and it will now be updated every year.

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Reflection on the Allegro eight-week training curriculum by Amy Watkins

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Amy Watkins

When I first applied for a job in healthcare communications as an Associate Medical Writer, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I received a job offer to join the Allegro programme a month after I had submitted my PhD thesis, and, to be honest, working outside of the comfort of academia was a little bit daunting. Allegro is a 12-month programme, comprising an eight-week training phase followed by two five-month rotations in different agencies within Ashfield Healthcare Communications (AHC). I have now just finished my eight weeks of training, and it has been quite the journey!

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