Transcript Alternative Careers in Science and Medicine: Carl Clay, PhD Senior Medical Writer

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
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Technical Writing/Editing
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Marketing
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Other Careers
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Medical Writing
Careers in Science and Medical Writing
 Science
Journalism
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Science, health, or medical beat
reporters for a newspaper
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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
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NDA/IND filing
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Computer
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Electronics
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Protocol development for
Scientists/Physicians
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Technical guides/instructions

Product specifications
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Journal/textbook editing
Careers in Science and Medical Writing
 Marketing
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Most pharmaceutical and biotech
companies have marketing
departments
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Press releases
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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
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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
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Medical Writing/Editorial
(PhDs, MDs, PharmDs, RPhs, PAs)
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Project Management/Account Management
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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…
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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:
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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:
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Allergy/Asthma
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Musculoskeletal
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Anti-infectives
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Oncology
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Cardiology
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Pain/Inflammation
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Diabetes
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Psychiatry/CNS
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Endocrinology
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Respiratory
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Female Health
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Rheumatology
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Gastroenterology
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Sexual Health
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Immunology
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Urology
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Dedicated Team:
Account Director
Senior Medical
Writer(s)
Medical Director
Client Team
Project
Coordinator
Project Manager
Pooled Services
Writing
Editing
Design
Library
Programming
Meeting Planning
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Medical Writing Products (deliverables):
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Abstracts
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Posters
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Slide Presentations
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Primary Study Manuscripts
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Review Articles
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Case Reports
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Letters to the Editor
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Brief Communications
51%
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Client and Healthcare
professionals directed
educational materials (CME)
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Product monographs
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Sales aids
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Text for electronic media
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Slide kits
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Strategic publication plans
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Proposal development
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Manuscript Development Timeline:
Client &
Author
review of
first draft
Incorporation
of client
comments
Client
Review
of
Outline
0
2
4
6
Submission
package
development
Subsequent drafts
& reviews
(if necessary)
First draft
developed
Author
review
of
Outline
Research
&
Outline
Written
Final draft
development
Client
&
Author
review
of
final
draft
Incorporation
of client
& author
comments
8
10
12
14
16
18
Total weeks = 28
20
22
24
26
28
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Manuscripts:
With the highest quality workforce in the industry,
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CHC, Inc has submitted more than 400
manuscripts with an acceptance rate
exceeding 80%.
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Journals include: AJC, JAMA, NEJM, JCI,
JBC, Neurology, Urology, Lancet…
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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,
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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:
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Experience
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Compatibility
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Ability to do the Job
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Attitude
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Initiative
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Social Skills
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Job Growth
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Involvement
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Self-Confidence
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Integrity
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Leadership
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Communication Skills
What Employees Look For
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
What Employees Look For:
1. Proud of what
I produce
5. Promises made
are kept
2. Team works well
together
6. Improvements
are recognized
3. Colleagues do a
professional
job
7. Team gives me
satisfaction
4. Company has
ethical standards
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?
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Medical Writer, Somerville, NJ, $45K-$65K
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Medical Copywriter, Manhattan, NY, Princeton, NJ, $85K-$130K
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Senior Copywriter, Morristown, NJ, $95K-$100K
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Medical Writer, Sr. Medical Writer - Medical Education, Princeton,
NJ $60K-$100K
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Medical Writer - Clinical & Regulatory, Morristown, NJ,
$75K-$95K
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Editor, New York, NY $75K-$120K
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Medical Writer - Manuscripts, Morristown, NJ, $75K-$95K
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Sr. or Staff Medical Writer, Hackensack, NJ, $80K-$100K
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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
Middlesex-Essex,
Long
MA
Beach, CA
Westchester,
San
$92,000
NY
Jose, CA
www.Abbott-Langer.com
Accessed September 22, 2004
$90,698
$88,000
$85,000
$85,000
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
The 5 Lowest-paying Metropolitan Areas:
Jacksonville,
FL
$48,215
Tucson, AZ
$51,000
Austin
$51,176
TX
Virginia
Beach, VA
Portland,
OR
www.Abbott-Langer.com
Accessed September 22, 2004
$51,900
$53,000
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
The 5 Highest-paying Scientific Fields:
Consultant
(independent)
Pharmaceutical
Consultant
(firm)
Lab/Medical
Chemical
Manufacturing
$106,500
$93,150
$90,000
Supplies Manufacturing $85,000
Manufacturing
$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:
$103,000
$120,000
$100,000
$80,000
$60,000
$34,000
$40,000
$20,000
$0
<1 year
www.Abbott-Langer.com
Accessed September 22, 2004
>30 years
COMPLETE HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
The 5 Highest-paying Degrees:
MD
$138,500
DDS
$91,943
VMD
$64,000
PharmD
$82,688
PhD
$74,700
Non-science
PhD
$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
Two
$40,000
BA/BS
$44,400
AA/AS
$46,500
BS
$48,600
Non-science
BS
MS
Non-science
$50,606
$53,346
MS
www.Abbott-Langer.com
Accessed September 22, 2004
$60,000
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
(AMWA.org)
European
Medical Writers Association
(EMWA.org)
Council
Health
of Science Editors
(CouncilScienceEditors.org)
Sciences Communications Association (HESCA.org)
Biocommunications Association
(BCA.org)
National Association
(NASW.org)
of Science Writers
Job Listing Services:
ScienceJobs.com
WriteJobs.com
HotJobs.com
WritersWrite.com
MonsterJobs.com
FreelanceWriting.com
SciJobs.org
NewsJobs.net
ScienceCareers.org
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