Online Training for the Medical Writing Field?
STC-Montreal Article | Posted September 18th, 2008
Reader Leanne Tonkin has asked a question that we’d like to put the technical writing community at large:
“I am a MA graduate in English Lit and creative writing, and I want to be a technical and medical writer. I would be grateful if you would help me find reputable online technical and medical writing courses.”
What are your experiences with available training for medical writing, both in Montreal and online? How much training is necessary to be an attractive potential employee? And how to get experience?
Please leave your suggestions in the comments on this article.
September 18th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Posted by Leanne Tonkin.
I appreciate this article, Jim.
Thank you to all who can help me!
September 18th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Posted by Poppy Quintal.
Hi Leanne,
Concordia University is offering online medical writing courses in 2009.
http://fcms.concordia.ca/conted/departments/course.aspx?crsname=CEJN&crsno=132N&DeptCode=CA
September 18th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Posted by Poppy Quintal.
They are also offering an introductory techncial writing course online.
http://fcms.concordia.ca/conted/departments/course.aspx?crsname=CEJN&crsno=210N&DeptCode=CA
September 20th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Posted by Leanne Tonkin.
Thank you, Poppy.
If anyone knows of anything offered sooner, I would be grateful to learn about it.
September 20th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Posted by Robert Gorman.
Hi. More about medical writing.
Most medical writers in Montreal seem to be working either on contract (freelance) or full-time with pharmaceutical or Continuous Medical Education (CME) companies such as MedPlan Communications, http://www.medplan.ca/Medplanen.html; MediResource, http://www.mediresource.com/; and Taimma Communications, http://www.taimma.com/.
I hate to say it but, unless you have considerable experience, getting involved with these companies is not an easy matter. Trainind an on-line courses, such as those offered by the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA), is a great place to start, http://www.amwa-canada.ca/. The Montreal chapter has regular get-togethers and is a great place to meet other writers and obtain information.
My success, and thus my suggestion, is to specialize in a niche market, e.g., grant submissions. ALL university and hospital-based medical researchers and scientists are constantly submitting grant applications to Canadian and American government grant organisations. This is their bread and butter.
Another niche is retired researchers wanting to write and publish medical books or chapters. Most medical research “institutes” are listed on provincial websites, as well as contact info for the researchers. This is a start.
Most important is obtaining the appropriate experience (sometimes volunteering works), taking courses, and doing the leg work (contacting researchers, going to AMWA meetings, etc.).
I hope this helps.
Robert
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Posted by Leanne Tonkin.
Thank you, Robert.
Very practical and useful advice.
Leanne