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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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

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I work in MedComms…

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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 →

Careers guide – account management

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account_managers_369x524The business of medical communications: a guide to getting started in account management

By Lindsey Heer, published January 2022 [Download your copy]

As we explain in this guide, the terminology, job titles and specific roles of account managers or project managers in MedComms agencies can vary, but effective account management is always critical. This new guide helps explain how that happens in practice and provides you with an understanding of both the challenges and the rewards that come from a career in MedComms. We believe reading this guide will give you the edge to getting that first job.

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

FirstMedCommsJob: LINK 360 – launch your MedComms Career at LINK Health Group

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In this webinar, we’re joined by Eve Guichard (LINK Medical General Manger), Eleanor Steele (MedComms Mentor), Susan Cravero (LINK Medical Scientific Services) and Hannah Greetham (LINK Medical Client Services). You’ll hear about LINK 360 – a 6-month training program for people new to MedComms, across medical writing, client services and editorial. During the program, selected individuals will have a hybrid role immersed in an account and take on work from all three perspectives, giving them a 360° view of what life in MedComms is like. Alongside this, they will go through a structured training program as a cohort, with lots of support and networking opportunities across the wider LINK Health Group to give them a holistic overview of the broader aspects of healthcare communications. After 6 months, they will specialize into one of the three career pathways within LINK Health Group. We’ll answer questions from the audience, and you’ll also hear about the panellists’ journeys into MedComms and what they actually spend their time doing!

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 13 December 2021 as a MedComms Networking webinar. Produced by NetworkPharma.tv

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Working as a medical publications professional

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In this webinar, we’re joined by Kathryn Gray (Division Head), Kate Stafford (Creative Lead), Simon Stones (Medical Writer) and Juliet West (Senior Editor) from Envision Pharma Group, sponsors of our annual FirstMedCommsJob careers guide, “Ensuring timely dissemination of research: A guide to working as a medical publications professional“. We talk about the roles involved in the publications management team and discuss the ethical and regulatory environment within which medical publications professionals work. 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 17 November 2021 as a MedComms Networking webinar. Produced by NetworkPharma.tv

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