MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC WRITER
Medical and scientific writers are professionals who are trained to write technical reports. They draft and edit clinical research reports for publication, special technical reports, monographs, marketing materials, and presentations for scientific meetings. They often interact with biostatisticians and clinical data analysts to prepare tables from raw data and statistical analysis.
HOW DO I BECOME A MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC WRITER?
High school course-work in English, communications, social science, human anatomy and physiology physics, chemistry, and statistics is recommended.
You will need a high school diploma or its equivalent (GED) to pursue a college degree program that leads to employment as a medical writer. Medical writers have a varied educational background and hold degrees ranging from engineering, biology, English, psychology to journalism. Some colleges and universities offer technical communications programs that are useful in this field. In addition, the American Medical Writer’s Association offers continuing education course work that helps to improve the technical writing skills following college graduation.
WHAT WILL I LEARN IN SCHOOL?
Most undergraduate programs are based on a strong liberal arts foundation, including course work in English, history, science, economics, foreign language, speech and mathematics. Programs specifically designed to train students for technical writing include upper-level course work in office and computer information systems, technical business or science communications, and data collection and research analysis.
LIFE AFTER GRADUATION
The employment outlook for medical and scientific writers is good through the next decade. Medical and scientific writers work in an office setting, usually located in a large medical teaching hospital, publishing company or educational institution. Most salaried employees work 40 hours a week and have normal office hours.
PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION SOURCES:
Health & Science Communication Association
39 Wedgewood Drive; Ste A
Jewett City, CT 06351
(860) 376- 5915
www.hesca.org