Who is Hiring in Medical Communications?
There are plenty of job openings for medical writers. The following section breaks down the various institutions that need the skills of qualified medical writers – and check out the medical-communications specific job board MedComJobBoard.com for more opportunities.
Pharmaceutical Companies and Manufacturers
From the largest to the smallest, pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers need publications to disseminate their clinical trial data and support their products, services, or devices.
Scientific and Medical Communication Agencies
MedCom agencies are often hired by pharmaceutical companies to provide the experience and manpower to develop and execute a publication plan in support of a product, service, or device. There are several members of the International Society of Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP), and I have posted links in the left-hand column under Medical Communication Agencies.
Medical Education and Communications Companies
MECCs are funded by pharmaceutical companies, universities, and societies to help educate healthcare providers about the newest technologies, treatment algorithms, and advances in medicine. Here are the MECCCs that are members of the North American Association of Medical Education and Communication Companies.
Clinical Research Organizations (CRO)
CROs provide support to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industy. A few of the services they provide include product development, formulation and manufacturing, clinical trial management (preclinical through phase IV), clinical, medical and safety monitoring, preclinical, toxicology, and clinical laboratory services for processing trial samples, data management, biostatistics and medical writing services for preparation of an FDA New Drug Applications (NDA), Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA), or Biologics License Application (BLA), and regulatory affairs support. A small list of such organizations can be found on Wikipedia, but there are many others that are part of the Association of Clinical Research Organizations.
Universities and Medical Schools
Most medical universities and colleges have a medical and/or scientific communications department, and many have an office of medical education. These departments are designed to disseminate data about scientific discoveries or medical breakthroughs. There are way too many to list here, so look up your local – or favorite – medical school and contact their communications department for information on job openings.
Hospitals and Clinics
Similarly to medical school, hospitals and clinics often have a department devoted to communicating their capabilities, successes, and other information to the scientific community as well as to the public. Check out your local hospital and ask if they have a communications department. If they do not, tell them that they need one and you are the man or woman for the job!
Associations/Publishers/Journals
Just about every major conference or meeting is paired with an association, which is often paired with a publisher or specific journal. For example, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) publishes in the American Journal of Psychiatry. Associations and journal have a need to disseminate the data presented at the national meetings and can be a great place for medical editors.
And of course – Freelance – be your own boss!
There are myriad opportunities for medical writers. If you are still a bit unsure of how to proceed, or just have a question, post a comment. I will get back to you as soon as I can. You will have a job in no time.
Cheers,
Carl