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Day in the life of a Principal Medical Writer
Written on Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Want to know what does a medical writer do? We spoke to Charles Geary, Principal Writer at OPEN Health, to learn about his role and see real medical writing examples in action.
Understanding the Role of a Medical Writer
Q: Can you tell me a little bit about your role as a health writer?
A: My primary role as a principal medical writer is to lead the team in creating high-quality scientific content that aligns with our clients’ strategic needs, which can vary based on their products, therapy areas, and target audiences. A large part of what a medical writer does involves ensuring teams are appropriately supported throughout the content delivery process – whether this requires content development, strategic insight, or review to ensure our high-quality standards are maintained.
I consider myself fortunate to have a network of highly knowledgeable and skilled colleagues that adopt a collaborative approach, enhancing our work and contributing to a better understanding of complex therapy areas. There are numerous facets to consider, but our ultimate goal is to benefit the scientific community, whether through engaging key stakeholders or helping to meet the educational needs of patients and clinicians.
Medical Writing Examples from Real Projects
Q: Can you share some examples of medical writing you work on?
A: As an OPEN Health medical writer, I’ve been involved in several intriguing projects lately. Here are some medical writer examples of our work:
- Building an internal training academy to upskill teams on product communication
- Creating animations featuring key opinion leaders discussing patient cases
- Producing medical podcasts where clinicians share insights on clinical practices
These medical writing examples showcase the variety in our work. For instance, our training academy project involves distilling complex scientific content into engaging workshops and case-led sessions. We partner with key opinion leaders to share their clinical insights, demonstrating how a senior medical writer can bridge the gap between scientific expertise and practical application.
Q: What part or aspect of your role do you enjoy the most?
A: I thoroughly enjoy my job because it allows us to interact with and gain insights from clinicians who are devoted to enhancing patient outcomes through their contributions to managing clinics, publishing research, and leading clinical trials. It’s a genuine privilege to hear them discuss the future of treatments and how these will address the existing unmet needs of patients.
I also greatly appreciate the chance to both share my knowledge with fellow team members and learn from them as well. OPEN Health provides a level playing field where we can all freely exchange knowledge regardless of seniority, creating a truly collaborative dynamic that allows us to learn valuable insights from each other.
Growing as a Principal Medical Writer
Q: What training and development opportunities help you excel as a health writer at OPEN Health?
A: OPEN Health offers comprehensive development paths for medical writers at all levels. For example:
- Associate medical writers receive core skills training
- Senior medical writer training focuses on interactive, discussion-based learning
- Weekly therapy area updates provide continuous learning opportunities
The Collaborative Culture of Medical Writing
Q: How would you describe the culture at OPEN Health?
A: I think the culture is a massive part of why I enjoy my job. The nature of our work can be quite demanding, which we tackle by building a sense of shared ownership. This helps us to band together effectively, especially during busy periods of tight deadlines and heavy workloads. I appreciate the sense of community that OPEN Health fosters within its teams; we prioritize working together, and this approach leads to better outcomes. Regardless of one’s role, everyone contributes to share any burdens, instead of leaving individuals to struggle alone.
We’re a sociable bunch, organizing regular activities that provide an excellent opportunity for teams to relax. These events serve as a valuable outlet for unwinding after putting in hard work together.
What sets our team apart is the strong sense of camaraderie. While we are dedicated and work diligently, it’s the close-knit relationships with our colleagues that truly make the difference.
CAN WE HELP?
For information about OPEN Health’s services and how we could support you, please get in touch.
JOIN US
Want to learn more about becoming an OPEN Health medical writer? Visit our careers page to view opportunities at OPEN Health.