How to Become a Medical Writer in the Competitive Pharmaceutical Industry

The field of medicine is always expanding. With each new research study, an article communicating the usefulness of its findings is submitted to leading medical journals and other outlets. Submit, review, and publish is the process by which the scientific community and the public at large remain informed about recent developments, driving new research and shaping public policy.

In the era of COVID-19, effective communication is in higher demand than ever before. With health and safety at the forefront of public consciousness, information must be relayed to a number of different audiences—from drug regulators and healthcare professionals to consumers—with promptness, clarity, and, above all, accuracy.

Trained medical writers—and quality medical writing—are paramount to scientific research, knowledge translation, and public guidance, especially during states of emergency. 



Are you wondering about how to become a medical writer? Let’s take a look at what steps you can take on your path to publication. 

First, let’s examine the types of materials medical writers are responsible for outputting. These include a wide range of scientific documents such as:

• Regulatory documents
• Grant proposals 
• Journal manuscripts 
• Educational resources 
• Promotional content 
• News articles 

In other words, medical writing is an umbrella term for any science-related writing, from abstracts to advertisements. Types of publishers vary as much as content type, including but not limited to:

• Universities 
• Peer-reviewed journals 
• Government agencies
• Biotechnology companies 
• Pharmaceutical companies 
• News outlets 
  

Not sure which type of medical writing is right for you? The field can be roughly broken down into the following categories (although other types of medical writing do exist):

• Regulatory writing. This is the branch of medical writing that deals directly with relevant governing bodies. Regulatory writing also includes clinical trial documentation. 
• Biomedical journalism. These medical writers communicate to the public in the form of blog and magazine articles, press releases, and more. 
• Manuscript writing. This category of medical writing involves writing, editing, and submitting to peer-reviewed medical journals. 
• Patient education. These medical writers develop patient-facing content that appears at the doctor’s office, in hospitals, or online. Their focus is helping patients understand and navigate their condition. 
• Medical marketing. These are copywriters whose objective is to promote awareness about a drug, medical device, or other health-related product. 

As a medical writer, you have the option of going down any of these routes, from consumer-friendly magazines and news outlets to esteemed medical journals. While the publishers of medical journals tend to pay less, pharmaceutical companies are well-known in the industry for high budgets.

High-quality medical writing conveys information to its intended audience in a way that permits immediate understanding. This audience can range between physicians, medical researchers, and the general public. 

Regardless of the outlet, medical writing is usually linked to disease or its treatment. Given its subject matter, content must be fully compliant with regulatory bodies such as the FDA. 

According to a survey by the American Medical Writers Association, the salaries for those with a relevant bachelor’s degree working full-time was between $73,522 and $90,640. 

Those with advanced degrees earned on average between $91,797 and $101,872. 

Informed medical writing lies at the heart of medical research and public health. What qualities must medical writers possess to perform their job? 

• Superior writing skills 
• Strong grasp of medical concepts and terminology 
• Familiarity with editing and publishing 
• Intimate understanding of the research process 
• Ability to interpret statistical data 
• Dedication to ethical reporting 
• Keen understanding of regulatory guidelines