Alternative Careers in Science and Medicine:
Scientific/Medical Writing
Carl Clay, PhD Senior Medical Writer
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC www.CHCinc.com
Who am I and how did I get here?
Who am I and how did I get here?
Undergraduate– University of
Colorado, Boulder, CO
BA, Kinesiology/Biology
Graduate– Wake
Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC PhD, Molecular Medicine/Biochemistry– Oncology
Postdoctorate– Washington
University School of Medicine,
St. Louis, MO Cardiovascular Medicine
Postdoctorate– University
of Maryland School of Medicine,
Baltimore, MD Diabetes
Careers in Science and Medical Writing
Careers in Science and Medical Writing
Science Journalism
Technical Writing/Editing
Marketing Other Careers Medical Writing
Careers in Science and Medical Writing
Science Journalism
Science, health, or medical beat reporters for a newspaper
Staff writers for magazines (eg Newsweek) Freelance writers specializing in science topics
Freelance pay might range from 25¢ to $1.50 per word
Careers in Science and Medical Writing
Technical Writing
and Editing
Generally work for pharmaceutical or biotech
NDA/IND filing Computer Electronics
Protocol development for Scientists/Physicians
Technical guides/instructions Product specifications
Journal/textbook editing
Careers in Science and Medical Writing
Marketing
Most pharmaceutical and biotech companies have marketing departments
Press releases Web site content
Advertisements Catalogs Other marketing materials Generally not freelance
Careers in Science and Medical Writing
Other Careers
Patent law/intellectual property Technology transfer Medical business administration Public policy/advocacy
Teaching
Careers in Science and Medical Writing
Medical Writing
Pharmaceutical companies Government agencies Hospitals Medical schools
Nonprofit organizations Publishing houses On contract through consulting firms
Freelance
Who/What is COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC?
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Who we are:
80+ Experienced In-House Staff
Pharmaceutical industry, healthcare practice, academics, institutions, research, agencies, and associations Medical Writing/Editorial (PhDs, MDs, PharmDs, RPhs, PAs) Project Management/Account Management Meeting Planning Graphics/Design Database Design/Population Web Design/Multimedia
10th Years in Business
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Key offerings:
CHC is CONTENT driven Effectively communicating to…
Key opinion and thought leaders Allied health professionals Sales teams Specialty Primary care Payors Internal customers Managed care market decision-makers
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Partial Client List:
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP Aventis Pharmaceuticals Cephalon, Inc.
Endo Pharmaceuticals Genentech, Inc. GlaxoSmithKline Janssen Pharmaceutica MedImmune Ortho Biotech Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical Pfizer Inc Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals Wyeth
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Proven Performance:
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Key Therapeutic Areas of Expertise:
Allergy/Asthma
Musculoskeletal
Anti-infectives Cardiology Diabetes Endocrinology Female Health
Gastroenterology Immunology
Oncology Pain/Inflammation Psychiatry/CNS Respiratory Rheumatology
Sexual Health Urology
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Dedicated Team:
Account Director Senior Medical Writer(s)
Medical Director
Client Team
Project Coordinator Pooled Services
Writing Editing Design Library Programming Meeting Planning
Project Manager
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Medical Writing Products (deliverables):
Abstracts
51%
Posters Slide Presentations Primary Study Manuscripts Review Articles Case Reports
Letters to the Editor Brief Communications
Client and Healthcare professionals directed educational materials (CME) Product monographs Sales aids
Text for electronic media Slide kits Strategic publication plans Proposal development
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Manuscript Development Timeline:
Incorporation of client comments Client Review of Outline Research & Outline Written
Client & Author review of first draft
First draft developed Subsequent drafts & reviews (if necessary)
Final draft development
Submission package development Client & Author review of final draft
Author review of Outline
Incorporation of client & author comments
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
Total weeks = 28
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Manuscripts:
With the highest quality workforce in the industry,
CHC, Inc has submitted more than 400 manuscripts with an acceptance rate exceeding 80%.
Journals include: AJC, JAMA, NEJM, JCI, JBC, Neurology, Urology, Lancet…
Authors in: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Colombia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UK…
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Abstracts, Posters, Slides:
With the highest quality workforce in the industry,
CHC, Inc has presented Abstracts, Slides and Posters at ACC, AHA, APA, ARVO, ATS, BAUS, BCOG, CINP, EASD, EAU, ESC, ESIR, IASR, ICAAC, ICED, IMSOP, ISH, ISIR, JSIR, MCU, PAUSA, RCP, SGIM, SIU, SLAI, WCAM, WCN, WONCA, WPA…
What Employers Look For
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
What Employers Look For:
Experience Ability to do the Job Initiative Job Growth Self-Confidence Leadership
Compatibility
Attitude
Social Skills Involvement Integrity Communication Skills
What Employees Look For
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
What Employees Look For:
1. Proud of what I produce
2. Team works well together
3. Colleagues do a professional job
4. Company has ethical standards
5. Promises made are kept
6. Improvements are recognized
7. Team gives me satisfaction
8. Company provides equipment and services I need
The Best Places to Work in Industry
The Scientist June 21, 2004: 18(12); pg. 49
9. Company allows flex time 10. Company provides adequate health care
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Best Large Companies:
The Best Places to Work in Industry
The Scientist June 21, 2004: 18(12); pg. 49
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Best Small Companies:
The Best Places to Work in Industry
The Scientist June 21, 2004: 18(12); pg. 49
What Kind of Salary can I Expect?
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
What Kind of Salary can I Expect?
Medical Writer, Somerville, NJ, $45K-$65K
Medical Copywriter, Manhattan, NY, Princeton, NJ, $85K-$130K Senior Copywriter, Morristown, NJ, $95K-$100K Medical Writer, Sr. Medical Writer - Medical Education, Princeton, NJ $60K-$100K
Medical Writer - Clinical & Regulatory, Morristown, NJ, $75K-$95K
Editor, New York, NY $75K-$120K Medical Writer - Manuscripts, Morristown, NJ, $75K-$95K
Sr. or Staff Medical Writer, Hackensack, NJ, $80K-$100K Technical Writer, Flanders, NJ, $50K-$65K
www.HotJobs.com
Accessed September 22, 2004
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
The 5 Highest-paying Metropolitan Areas:
Wilmington,
DE MA
$92,000 $90,698 $88,000 $85,000 $85,000
Middlesex-Essex, Long
Beach, CA NY
Westchester, San
Jose, CA
www.Abbott-Langer.com
Accessed September 22, 2004
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
The 5 Lowest-paying Metropolitan Areas:
Jacksonville, FL Tucson, AZ Austin TX Virginia Beach, VA Portland, OR
$48,215 $51,000 $51,176 $51,900 $53,000
www.Abbott-Langer.com
Accessed September 22, 2004
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
The 5 Highest-paying Scientific Fields:
Consultant (independent) Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Consultant (firm) Lab/Medical Supplies Manufacturing Chemical Manufacturing
$106,500 $93,150 $90,000 $85,000 $84,000
Tendency for life scientists to make more in larger organizations and less in smaller ones
www.Abbott-Langer.com
Accessed September 22, 2004
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Overall Income Growth:
$120,000 $100,000 $80,000 $60,000 $40,000 $20,000 $0 <1 year $34,000
$103,000
>30 years
www.Abbott-Langer.com
Accessed September 22, 2004
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
The 5 Highest-paying Degrees:
MD DDS VMD PharmD PhD Non-science PhD
$138,500 $91,943 $64,000 $82,688 $74,700
$71,500
The difference between a science PhD and MS = $21,354/year
www.Abbott-Langer.com
Accessed September 22, 2004
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
The 5 Lowest-paying Degrees:
No
degree BA/BS
$40,000 $44,400 $46,500 $48,600 $50,606
Two
AA/AS BS Non-science BS MS Non-science MS
$53,346 $60,000
www.Abbott-Langer.com
Accessed September 22, 2004
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Summary:
The
difference between a science PhD and MS is $21,354/year – stay in school.
Almost
all holders of multiple doctorates made less than if they did not have a second degree
Likely
due to less experience since their highest level degree
www.Abbott-Langer.com
Accessed September 22, 2004
Writing and Job Search Resources
Writing Resources:
American
Medical Writers Association Science Editors
(AMWA.org) (EMWA.org)
European Medical Writers Association Council of
(CouncilScienceEditors.org)
(BCA.org) (NASW.org)
Health Sciences
Communications Association (HESCA.org) Science Writers
Biocommunications Association National Association of
Job Listing Services:
ScienceJobs.com HotJobs.com MonsterJobs.com SciJobs.org ScienceCareers.org
WriteJobs.com
WritersWrite.com FreelanceWriting.com NewsJobs.net
WritersWeekly.com
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
For more information:
Rich Baldino
Director, Human Resources
Sandra Teichman
Recruiter
Carl Clay, PhD
Senior Medical Writer
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC www.CHCinc.com
10 years
Thank You