Writing for Impact: Enhancing Medical Communication in the Digital Age

Module 1: Essential Skills for Medical Writing
Session 1: Introduction to Medical Writing as a Profession

• Overview of medical writing career opportunities and industry trends
• Roles and responsibilities of a medical writer in different sectors (pharmaceutical, CROs, medical communication agencies)
• Key skills and competencies required for success in medical writing jobs

Session 2: Drug development and key deliverable documents in Medical Writing

• Introduction to drug development (from Basic Research to FDA Approved Post-Marketing Surveillance)
• Drug regulation
• Key deliverables in medical communications (Literature Search, Abstracts, Manuscripts, Slide decks, Infographics, Plain language summaries)
• Role of Medical Writers in Medical Congress
• Publication ethics and guidelines to follow (ICMJEE, COPE, ISMPP, GPP 2022, CRediT)
• The EQUATOR network

Session 3: Mastering Scientific Literature Review

• Efficient searching and retrieval of scientific literature using databases and search strategies
• Critical appraisal of scientific papers for relevance and quality
• Extracting and summarizing key information for medical writing projects
• Probable Interview Questions

Module 2: Advanced Medical Writing Skills

Session 1: Stages of a document development including publication planning

• Kick-off meeting preparation
• The art of writing a crisp MOM
• Authorship compliance according to ICMJE guidelines
• Draft development through processes of reviewing, QC checks, CE and graphic design (based on requirement)
• Global Approval and Document submission (to either journal, Congress site or Stakeholder based on target audience)
• Datavision overview in publication planning

Session2: Writing Clear and Concise Scientific Documents

• Structure and organization of medical documents for different audiences (Journal, non-medical professionals, health-care professionals, Congress)
• Techniques for clear and coherent scientific writing
• Best practices for improving readability and ensuring logical flow

Session 3: Crafting Research Articles for Publication

• In-depth understanding of research article components (IMRAD format)
• Strategies for writing compelling titles and abstracts
• Effective presentation of methods, results, and discussions
• Probable Interview Questions

Module 3: Enhancing Medical Writing Expertise

Session 1: Writing Comprehensive Review Articles

• Planning and organizing review articles to provide a comprehensive overview of a specific topic
• Techniques for synthesizing and analyzing complex scientific information
• Integrating critical analysis and drawing evidence-based conclusions

Session 2: Data Presentation and Visualization

• Techniques for presenting numerical data effectively using tables, graphs, and figures
• Interpreting and summarizing data for different audiences
• Design principles for creating visually appealing and informative visuals

Session 3: Writing for Lay Audiences and Patient Education

• Adapting complex scientific information for non-experts
• Plain language writing techniques for patient education materials and informed consent documents
• Incorporating patient-centered language and ensuring accessibility

Session 4: Other Deliverables

• Preparing effective slide decks (Congress, MSLs, HCPs, Patients)
• Using infographics and creating a compelling story through an interactive deck (patient journey, HEOR etc)
• Publication notifications
• Probable Interview Questions

Module 4: Miscellaneous

Session 1: Real-World Evidence and its importance in Medical Communications

• Introduction to RWE and its significance
• Difference between Clinical Trial and RWE or PMS
• Introduction to HEOR and its importance in Medical Communications
• How does writing documents for RWE and HEOR studies differ from traditional clinical trial articles

Session 2: Medical Writing Project Management

• Effective project planning and organization for medical writing assignments
• Collaboration and communication strategies with cross-functional teams
• Time management, prioritization, and meeting project deadlines

Session 3: Sample writing test!

Q&A session, Probable Interview Questions

• Undergraduate degree in Life Sciences, Medical Studies, Pharmacy, or related fields.
• Healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.
• Individuals with a background in journalism or communications focusing on healthcare.