From Lab Rat to Medical Writer in Publication Planning

1. From Lab Rat to Medical Writer in Publication Planning Rebecca Fazio Goldstein, PhD Medical Writer StemScientific, a division of the KnowledgePoint 360 Group, LLC Secaucus, NJ Rebecca.Goldstein@StemScientific.com

2. My Story: From Lab Rat to Medical Writer Entered PhD program 2000 First co-authorship 2002 Completed PhD, started freelance writing 2007 First authorship 2005 Joined StemScientific 2008

3. The Roles of the Medical Writer • Write/prepare outlines, publications, posters, and slide presentations • Shepherd the manuscript development process • Direct the writing/preparation of the above items by other writers or sources • Communicate with clinician thought leaders and clients • Act as liaison between client and authors • Collect and collate input from multiple authors and clients • Educate and guide all parties through the manuscript development process • Provide onsite support at client meetings, national meetings, advisory boards, etc. • Contribute to the strategic direction and execution of the client’s publication plan • Contribute to bringing in new clients

4. Scientific Director VP, MSS President Senior Medical Writer Associate Medical Writer Medical Writer The Totem Pole: Medical and Scientific Services (MSS) Team • Other internal colleagues: • Account managers and directors • Program managers • Medical editors • Artists and graphic designers • Production managers • “Agency-centric” viewpoint; hierarchy may be different in the pharmaceutical world

5. Who Are My Colleagues in Publication Planning? • Specialized training in this specific field is just emerging • Significant diversity in background, experience, desires • Clinicians who grew into writing and/or pub planning • PharmD’s • MD’s • Nurses • Scientists who grew into writing and/or pub planning • PhD’s (with and without extensive research backgrounds) • MS/BS, sciences • Non-scientists who grew into writing and/or pub planning • PR/marketing backgrounds • Writing/editing backgrounds • Journalism backgrounds

6. Is Publications Planning Right for You?The Skillset You Need • As a PhD, you probably already have these skills …. • Broad medical and scientific knowledge base • Knowledge of nuts and bolts of a scientific manuscript • Process and collate scientific information from a variety of literature sources • Quickly become versed in an unfamiliar therapeutic area • Regularly cross-apply existing knowledge to think outside the box • … but you also need these skills • Organize and write well and quickly • Communicate effectively with a wide range people • Take ownership, but then let a project go • Manage your own time to maximize productivity • Constantly think strategically while doing all of the above! • Your audience(s) will have overarching educational needs • This is not marketing, but your client will have overarching strategic needs • Be equally comfortable working independently and as part of a team • Embrace a lifetime of learning something new

7. How Do You Get Started? • Seize every opportunity to write and be critically reviewed by other writers • Published pieces serve as examples of your ability • Most companies require a writing test as a part of the employment process • Highlight writing and communications experiences in your résumé/CV • Think small when starting out … • Consider freelance work • Consider a smaller company (agency or pharma) • Price yourself lower if you have little or no experience • … while thinking big for the future! • Don’t underestimate your skillset as a PhD – it is seen as valuable • Be willing to learn, work, and adapt, and advancement to the top tends to be relatively fast

8. Medical Communications Job Resources and Job Boards • General job resources (Monster, CareerBuilder, even Google) • American Medical Writers Association (www.amwa.org; membership required to access job board) • Council of Science Editors (www.cse.org) • Writer’s Write (www.writerswrite.com/medical) and The Write Jobs (www.writejobs.com) • Jobs for Drug Development (www.jobs4dd.com) • Hitt Medical Writing and the HittList (www.hittmedicalwriting.com/thehittlist.html) • MedHunters (www.medhunters.com) • AAAS (www.sciencecareers.sciencemag.org), Nature(www.nature.com/naturejobs) and other journal websites • Company-specific job boards • Recruiters specializing in medical communications

9. Questions? Rebecca Goldstein, PhD rebecca.goldstein@stemscientific.com 201-553-8826