Have you ever had the sneaking suspicion that you were heading down the wrong path? So often, in the medical field, we suppress the signs that we are unhappy and just keep powering through. In this episode, we talk to Dr. Mandy Armitage, who pivoted from PMNR to medical writing.
Dr. Armitage shares the story of how she found the strength to follow her heart’s desires and take a different path in life.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How to recognize and trust that sneaking suspicion that you are in the wrong career
- The importance of slowing down and doing the inner work when making a career transition.
- How to get started with a career in medical writing.
Get ready to learn from Dr. Armitage as she shares her advice and experiences on making a career change.
Use the audio player above to listen, or tune in on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
How to Transition to Medical Writing
Are you feeling unfulfilled in your clinical career? Have you ever considered transitioning to medical writing? Dr. Mandy Armitage, a physician turned medical writer, shared her insights on how to make the transition.
Finding Your Path
According to Dr. Armitage, the first step to transitioning to medical writing is to identify what you want to write. Do you want to write for patients and consumers or keep it more on the scientific end of things? Once you identify what you want to write, you can start looking for opportunities.
As a career coach, I often encourage clients to start by identifying their values and what they want out of their careers. Once you have a clear picture of what you want, you can start looking for opportunities that align with your interests and goals. This is also a great way to prevent burnout and ensure you’re pursuing a career that fulfills you.
Develop Your Skills
After identifying what you want to write, it’s important to develop your skills. Dr. Armitage recommends taking courses and building your portfolio. Try to find courses that are specific to your interests and consider joining professional organizations, such as the American Medical Writers Association.
Investing in your skills is essential for any career transition. Consider taking courses to build your writing skills and expand your knowledge of different areas of medical writing. Joining professional organizations is another great way to connect with others in the field and stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices.
Building Your Portfolio
Once you’ve developed your skills, you can start building your portfolio. Dr. Armitage recommends starting with subcontracting work for other freelance writers or medical communications agencies. Another good option is writing needs assessments for continuing medical education (CME) companies.
Building a portfolio is an important step in any creative field, and medical writing is no exception. Consider starting with smaller projects or subcontracting work to build your portfolio and gain experience. Needs assessments are a great place to start, as they’re a common type of project in medical writing and can help you build a solid foundation of work.
Getting Paid
When it comes to compensation, Dr. Armitage recommends looking at the American Medical Writers Association’s salary survey. The survey provides a range of compensation for different areas of writing, such as regulatory writing and patient education. It’s also helpful to look at job postings on LinkedIn, as many companies are now disclosing salary ranges.
Compensation is an important consideration in any career transition. Researching salary ranges and compensation packages can help you make informed decisions about your career. Don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary or ask for what you’re worth, especially as you gain more experience and build your portfolio.
Final Thoughts
In summary, transitioning to medical writing requires identifying what you want to write, developing your skills, building your portfolio, and finding opportunities for paid work. It’s important to take the time to do the inner work and ask yourself what you want out of your next position. With dedication and persistence, anyone can transition to medical writing and find a fulfilling career outside of clinical medicine.
If you’re feeling unfulfilled in your clinical career, consider exploring medical writing as a potential career path. With the right skills, portfolio, and persistence, you can successfully transition to a career that aligns with your interests and values.
“Take the time to slow down and ask your whys.”
Dr. Mandy Armitage
