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The AMWA Journal is the official publication of the American Medical Writers Association. Delivered quarterly to AMWA members and Journal subscribers, the AMWA Journal aims to be an authoritative, comprehensive source of information about the knowledge, skills, and opportunities in the field of biomedical communication worldwide.
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Toolkit for New Medical Writers
Medical writing is a great career! The work is interesting and often lucrative, and the demand for medical writers is high. Few people start out to be medical writers; most of us fall into it. Some of us have scientific or medical degrees (e.g., MD, PharmD, PhD in a scientific field) and have worked in the field (e.g., as an academic, bench scientist, physician, pharmacist) or in administration and somehow find ourselves doing medical communications work. Some of us have Journalism or English degrees, work in communications, and end up writing about health and medicine. There are two basic types of medical writer: scientific and non-scientific or marketing. In general, scientific medical writers have advanced science-based degrees (science, medicine, pharmacy, etc.) and often learn about writing by becoming a medical writer. Marketing medical writers have a journalism or English degree and often learn about medicine by becoming a medical writer. Scientific medical writers generally do more scientific/technical writing for professional audiences. Marketing medical writers do marketing-oriented writing, often for consumers or lay audiences.
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Medical writing requires a combination of technical skills in medical sciences and rhetorical skills in language arts.
Early, Debbie. AMWA (2005). Presentations>Writing>Technical Writing>Biomedical
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What Employers Look For in Medical Writers 
What Qualities Do We Look For? Enthusiasm for writing -willingness to go the extra mile. Ability to gather, synthesize and critically analyze large amounts of data. Express ideas succinctly –not “academic” documents.
Gurr, Jim and Victoria Seidenberger. AMWA (2005). Careers>Writing>Technical Writing>Biomedical
#34055
The most important skills or previous experience in securing present job: medical/scientific knowledge/understanding; writing skills/experience; ability to meet deadlines.
DeMilto, Lori. AMWA (2004). Careers>Writing>Technical Writing>Biomedical
#34056
Toolkit for New Medical Writers
Medical writing is a great career! The work is interesting and often lucrative, and the demand for medical writers is high. Few people start out to be medical writers; most of us fall into it. Some of us have scientific or medical degrees (e.g., MD, PharmD, PhD in a scientific field) and have worked in the field (e.g., as an academic, bench scientist, physician, pharmacist) or in administration and somehow find ourselves doing medical communications work. Some of us have Journalism or English degrees, work in communications, and end up writing about health and medicine.
De Milto, Lori. AMWA (2004). Resources>Writing>Technical Writing>Biomedical
