What does a medical writer do?

A medical writer is like a translator, turning complicated medical stuff into simple stories everyone can understand. I tell stories about new medicine and treatments, making sure it's not just facts but something that connects with you. My job is to make you feel what doctors are doing and why it matters, creating a friendly space to talk about health.

To sell health or medical products, some writers may tell stories that go against the health marketing rules. This is because they are not medical copywriters. Another type of medical writing is medical copywriting. We write evidence-based persuasive and high-converting copy and stories that obey medical marketing rules. Health or medical brands that go against these rules will always have legal issues. Medical writers do not only help brands to grow but also save them from jail.

In the world of medical communication, firstly, it's essential to differentiate between medical writers and medical authors. A medical writer specializes in crafting clear, accurate, and engaging content for various healthcare purposes, collaborating closely with professionals to convey complex information effectively. Meanwhile, a medical author typically refers to someone who contributes significantly to original research articles or scholarly works, advancing medical knowledge through their research contributions. Both play critical roles but operate in distinct capacities within the field.

A medical writer is responsible for producing clear, accurate, and concise written content related to healthcare and medical topics. This includes creating regulatory documents, clinical trial protocols, manuscripts for publication, educational materials for healthcare professionals, and patient-oriented materials. Medical writers play a critical role in translating complex scientific information into understandable and accessible formats, ensuring adherence to regulatory guidelines and ethical standards. Their work contributes to the dissemination of medical knowledge, supports drug development processes, and facilitates effective communication among healthcare professionals, researchers, and the general public.

In addition to the qualities and responsibilities mentioned earlier, medical writers must possess a range of refined skills. These include the ability to generate ideas from different viewpoints, adapt their writing style to suit different audiences and organize their language in a structured manner. Developing a strategic approach is also crucial for writers, especially those who are new to the field. This ensures that their work maintains coherence and clarity for the intended audience. Ultimately, the key focus of medical writing is to tailor the content to the reader's preferences.

Based on my personal experience, medical writing may appear to be a simple task. However, as previously stated, it requires a wide range of essential hard and soft skills that are crucial for achieving successful outcomes. Skillful medical writers develop a strong proficiency in combining these skills effectively. Ultimately, the ability to brainstorm, utilize comprehensive lexical resources, and work diligently without distractions are key factors in producing valuable content.

Master a specific medical niche, beyond basic understanding, through advanced degrees like PhD, clinical experience, or dedicated research, for confident content expertise. Medical writing demands Jargon Free communication, translating complex medical information into clear, concise, and engaging content for your target audience, whether it's healthcare professionals, patients, or regulatory bodies. Impeccable writing skills are essential, with a focus on strong grammar, sentence structure, and word choice. You should be able to tailor your writing style to different audiences and formats, ensuring accuracy and scientific integrity.

I believe the most important skill is the ability to read quickly and write well. Having a background in medicine or healthcare is greatly beneficial. I don't think any specific certification is necessary. The key is to write consistently; the more you write, the better. Volunteering, building a portfolio, and showcasing your work are crucial steps. Recently, the ability to use Generative AI (GenAI) has become increasingly helpful for medical writers. Therefore, learning how to effectively prompt may be a skill that enables faster and more efficient writing.

In as much as writing can be a natural skill, it is imperative to get formal training to maximise your skill. This will give you the confidence and background to express yourself without fear of feeling like an imposter.

One major project up and coming writers should embark on is having their own private platforms. Using your social media to create awareness can open up opportunities for you and basically be an audition for you.

In my experience, writers are lowly paid. People don’t talk enough about how low paid writers are. I remember writing my heart out for a website. Spent weeks writing more than 200 articles. At the end of the day I was paid N30k. That was when I decided to take this doctor work seriously. Writers would do a great story and be paid peanuts compared to the actors on the screen. Writers deserve more to be honest.

Securing a paid role as a medical writer is extremely challenging, even for those with a PhD, native language proficiency, and a background as a medical doctor or in healthcare. It's important to continually build your portfolio, start early, and consistently showcase your writing. If you don't enjoy reading and staying updated with the latest developments in various medical fields, or lack the ability to quickly and systematically delve into topics, you might find working as a medical writer challenging. Most of the time, this work is solitary, so enjoying your own company is also necessary. However, it is rewarding, as you are always learning. Also, you usually have control over your schedule and can often work remotely.

Medical writing can be a challenge for those in non-medical field. For example, writers who are not physicians do not contribute medical opinion but try to persuade and change negative health behaviours. They may sometimes face gatekeeping by medical professionals. There needs to be a balanced approach to this, and educational efforts need to be encouraged unless medical ethics are violated.

The medical world is full of jargon. A common man cannot understand it unless it is simplified. A medical writer acts as a bridge between complex medical knowledge and layman. He simplifies the complexity of medical terms and crafts an easy to understand content for the general public.

A medical writer uses expertise to translate complex scientific information into clear, concise, and accessible content. They craft a variety of materials, including research papers, regulatory documents, educational materials, and marketing collateral. These professionals collaborate with healthcare professionals, researchers, and pharmaceutical companies to ensure accuracy and relevance in conveying medical information. Their role extends to reviewing data, conducting literature reviews, and staying abreast of advancements in medical science. Ultimately, medical writers disseminate crucial medical knowledge to diverse audiences, contributing to informed decision-making and advancing healthcare initiatives.

From my perspective, an effective approach and outlook for aspiring medical writers would involve adopting a T-shaped profile. This entails possessing broad knowledge across multiple disciplines and honing expertise in a select few. Such a strategy would prove advantageous.

One thing I have found is helpful to become a medical writer is bachelor or masters degree in life sciences but that is not mandatory. Even highly qualified medical doctors are opting for medical writer and content writers job as the overseas doctors so not have to clear USMLE to become Medical writers and researchers in the United States. The Medical writers are in great demand and the market is booming. Also,AI will have supportive role to play in medical writing for example data analysis and facilitation of automation of repetitive tasks.