Starting medical communications

I started medical writing in 2009, after a medical communications agency in the UK took a chance on me.

I spent the previous 7 years as a PhD student and Postdoctoral Research Fellow, targeting growth factor receptors in colon, breast and prostate cancer with monoclonal antibodies and small molecule inhibitors.

I had published my own papers and written a thesis, but I’d never written commercially or worked under the pressure of an agency.

I also had to use my brain in a new way.

As a postdoctoral researcher I knew everything about a specific receptor or type of cancer (an ‘inward’ focus). As an agency-based medical writer I had to keep track of so many different medications, diseases, clients and document review stages (an ‘outward’ focus).

I wrote congress abstracts and posters, and helped many authors write their manuscripts.

I also developed materials for advisory board meetings.

The CONSORT checklist never left my side.

Good publication practice and compliance

At my second agency I learned the fine details of Good Publication Practice guidelines and the role of the professional medical writer (we are not ghostwriters).

I wrote my first conference meeting reports for different pharma clients and ran my own author kick-off meetings, which was a step-up for me at the time.

I wrote clinical study summaries, print-based training modules, a key message document, and slide decks for sales teams and key opinion leaders.

I supported a satellite symposium (I was already very good at placing pens on seats), started a Wikipedia page (then stopped it), and developed more posters and manuscripts.

I started to get requested by clients that I had worked with before, which I found very flattering.

Educational modules and apps

I worked with some great graphic designers at my next agency, developing iPad-based e-learning modules for sales forces.

This was pretty advanced at the time.

I also developed a great concept for an iPad-based objection handler, but the client turned it down after we went to their headquarters in Switzerland to showcase it (their loss!).

I learned to keep things simple, think of the end user, and to just scribble down a picture to help explain things if people are getting bogged down by the heavy science.

Medical writing in Australia

I went through many tough interviews to get my next job, for an agency in Sydney that would eventually bring me over here.

They liked my strong scientific background.

They also liked my experience writing e-learning modules, so I worked on a few more of those, developed some more manuscripts, and helped re-concept some case studies.

I also wrote-up a series of meeting reports, led my first symposium, assisted with a pharma launch meeting, and did some stakeholder mapping.

I used the acronym ‘CAB-TT’ to remind myself of Medicines Australia’s Code of Conduct and Good Publication Practice guidelines. It stands for ‘complete, accurate, balanced, timely and transparent’.

Writing for patients

At my most recent company I worked as a Medical Writer, Product Lead and Content Development Editor.

I developed an app (which was very well received), produced a series of podcasts, wrote materials for GP educational visiting programs, and wrote many news articles for the web.

I got the chance to write content for patients and help lead an online publication, for which I’m still very grateful.

Quality, integrity and accuracy

In my various roles, I’ve helped develop briefs, briefed work to other writers, and been responsible for ensuring the quality, integrity and accuracy of editorial materials.

I’m a medical writer by title, but see myself as a problem solver. I’m often given the messy, complicated or unfinished jobs, but I see this as a compliment.

I find a solution, get the jobs finished, and people who have worked with me know I will deliver.