Medical Writing

1. Medical Writing

2. Background • BS and MS from Bloomsburg University • PhD from University of Alabama at Birmingham • Postdoctoral Fellowship at Stanford University • Staff job at BD Biosciences Clontech • Staff job at LifeScan, Inc. • Self-employed medical writer and editor

3. Types of medical writing • Corporate/Industry/pharma • Marketing—Medical communications/CRO’s/HCO • Regulatory—Medical device, pharma • Technical—Biotech, Medical device, pharma • PR—Med com, pharma, Medical device, Biotech • Academic • Individual PI • Grants administration • Journalism • Newspaper • Trade Magazine • Online • Freelance/ Independent contractor/ self-employed • All of the above

4. Annual Income • Corporate/Industry/pharma • $60K to $87K (mode $57K, $75K, $85K) • Academic • $55K (mode $48K) • Journalism • $57K (mode $28K) • Freelance • Full-time writing $85/hr (mode $100/hr) • Full-time editing $66/hr (mode $50/hr)

5. Go fishing when the fish are biting Go to work in your slippers Write what you want—you can say no Lack of structure to work life Lack of water cooler interactions Lack of regular paycheck/health benefits/paid vacations/retirement account Benefits and Disadvantages of Self-employed Life

6. Personality of a freelancer • Can handle rejection • Can handle intermittent income • Able to sell yourself • Can handle working alone • Can manage your money

7. Science writing programs UC Santa Cruz Science Communications http://scicom.ucsc.edu/SciWriting.html University of the Sciences in Philadelphia http://www.usip.edu/graduate/biomedwriting/index.shtml Columbia School of Journalism http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/

8. Writing associations • American Medical Writers Association (www.amwa.org) • National Association of Science Writers (www.nasw.org) • Council of Science Editors (www.councilscienceeditors.org) • Board of Editors in the Life Sciences (www.bels.org)

9. Contact Information • Email kwblader@cox.net • Website www.kwb-writes.com