There is high demand for professionals who can interpret and translate complex data into impactful communication tools that are used to improve decision-making and health outcomes.
Overview
Whether you are a medical writer seeking expertise in pharmaceutical value, health economics, or outcomes research or a scientist who desires to improve your value and evidence-based communication skills to payer, provider and regulatory audiences, the career outlook is strong.
Training in Value communications
82%
of pharmaceutical communications professionals agree that more training in Value Communications is needed*
*Value Communication in Pharma HEOR, RWE & Market Access: 2019 Insight Survey, White Paper by HealthEconomics.Com, ©2019
Trends driving the need for professionals with value assessment and communication skills include*:
- Elevated importance of evidence-based health care and quality
- Increased focus on health care costs and affordability
- Heightened attention to patient outcomes
- Greater consideration of cost-effectiveness data to determine market access, reimbursement and pricing
- Expanded use of real-world evidence by regulatory agencies, payers and health care providers
Student Testimonial
Medical Communications Professional, Biotech Company
“Having strong communication abilities is becoming increasingly important in today’s healthcare environment. My coursework at the University of Florida was a unique opportunity to develop a specialized skill set to evaluate evidence and communicate value. In addition to having adequate efficacy, safety, and quality, the cost-effectiveness of a pharmaceutical product is becoming more relevant for health care decision-making. Mastery of medical communications will open many doors; being able to both thoroughly understand the science and coherently articulate the information is invaluable.”
Expert Testimonial
From Dr. Rob Matheis, President and CEO of ISMPP
The International Society for Medical Publication Professionals™, ISMPP has partnered with the UF College of Pharmacy online graduate program to broaden our Society’s ability to address the educational needs of medical publication and Communications professionals in the areas of pharmaceutical value assessment and Communications, health economics and outcomes research, managed care, regulatory science and patient safety, providing access to online graduate-level education in high-demand sectors of the health care and pharmaceutical industry
Industry Testimonial
CEO, Rx Communications
“Medical writers who make an effort to understand the field of health economics can reap a number of rewards. Apart from being constantly in demand as one of the elite, you will also be privy to some of the most interesting, provoking, frustrating, complex, and challenging projects a medical writer has to face.”
Examples of jobs after graduation include:
- Value Demonstration Communications Writer
- HEOR Director, Medical Affairs Publications, Pharmaceutical Company
- Principal Medical Writer and Engagement Lead, Scientific Communications Firm
- Senior Scientific Writer, Publications, Medical Communications Agency
- Managed Care Communications Strategist, Advertising Agency
- Global Director, Medical Information, Medical Technology Company
- Systematic Review Developer, Healthcare Consulting Group
- Clinical Communications Writer, Biotechnology Company
- Scientific Director, Medical Education Company
- Associate Editor, Medical Journal
- Drug Information Associate, Health System
- Evidence Assessment Manager, Health Technology Assessment Agency
- Director of Value Evidence, Managed Care Organization
Companies that hire graduates include:
- Pharmaceutical & biotech companies
- Medical communication agencies
- Advertising agencies
- Health care research consultancies
- Clinical trial research organizations
- Journals and publication companies
- Medical education agencies
- Managed care organizations
- Professional and trade associations
- Health systems
- Freelance opportunities
Pharmacy Times® | Feb. 24, 2023
How a career in medical writing provide you with work-life balance.
Check out Pharmacy Times article "Expert: Medical Writing Is a Career Path Available to Pharmacists That Can Offer Work-Life Balance Opportunities" to hear the full interview on how medical writing as a career path can provide work-life balance. Our online graduate program in Pharmaceutical Value Assessment and Communications can help train you to become a medical writer.
Resources
Associations
- International Society of Medical Publications Professionals
- ISPOR: the professional society for health economics and outcomes research
- American Medical Writers Association
- Medical Affairs Professional Society
- Society for Health Communication
- Institute for Healthcare Communication
- Coalition for Healthcare Communication
- National Association of Science Writers
- Society for Technical Communications
- The International Publication Planners Association
Books, Articles and White Papers
- A Guide to Getting Started in HEOR/Market Access Medical Writing
- A Field Guide for Science Writers, edited by Deborah Blum, Mary Knudson, and Robin Marantz Henig
- The Science Writers’ Handbook, edited by Thomas Hayden and Michelle Nijhuis
- What is Health Economics and Outcomes Research? A Primer for Medical Writers. By Caitlin Rothermel