Lisa M. Baker, HEORpubs, USA; Tina K. Schlafly, Corcept Therapeutics, USA; Meredith Whitaker, Alphabet Health, USA
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An Overview for New and Transitioning Professionals
Medical communications (medcomms) is a fast-evolving field that blends science, strategy, and communication, all in service of a higher goal: improving health outcomes through the ethical, accurate, and timely dissemination of medical information. One of the most visible, important, but niched elements of medcomms is publications. For professionals new to the discipline, or those considering a transition into it, understanding the career paths available is key to finding a meaningful role. This article outlines three core paths within the field in industry, agency, and freelance. Each path offers unique opportunities and challenges, along with considerations, to help professionals align their strengths and goals with the right career fit (Table 1).
Table 1. Career Paths at a Glance*
| Career Path | Common Roles/Job Titles* | Typical Employers | Ideal for Professionals Who…† |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Publications Manager, Medical/Scientific Communications Manager, Publications Lead | Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Medical Device companies | Enjoy cross-functional collaboration‡, strategic oversight, and structured environments |
| Agency | Medical Writer, Account Lead, Medical Editor, Scientific Director, Strategist | Medcomms agencies | Thrive in a fast-paced setting with variety, client interaction, and teamwork |
| Freelance | Independent Medical Writer, Consultant | Self-employed, working with agencies or small companies | Value autonomy, decision-making power, and control over their schedule, clients, and focus areas; already have experience in medical communications |
*There is variety in roles and job titles across industries/career paths, and this list is non-exhaustive.
†There is variety within both industry and agency roles for remote, hybrid, or on-site job requirements; freelance roles are typically remote.
‡Cross-functional collaboration refers to working between different job functions within a pharma/biotech/device company. For example, medical publications roles in industry can be a crucial bridge between clinical development, field medical, medical information, and other functions.
Industry Perspective: Publications Roles in Pharma/Biotech/Device Companies
Medical publication professionals play a key role in how scientific and clinical data are shared with the broader medical community. In pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies, this often means translating complex study results into clear, accurate publications that inform healthcare decisions. These roles blend science, communication, and project coordination, offering opportunities to contribute directly to the planning and development of medical information that can improve patient outcomes.
What the Industry Roles Involve:
- Leading or supporting publication planning aligned to product and organizational strategy
- Managing development of manuscripts, abstracts, posters, presentations, and associated publication extenders (eg, graphical abstracts, plain language summaries)
- Collaborating with internal stakeholders (eg, medical affairs, research & development [R&D], regulatory, legal) and external partners (eg, authors, agencies, publishers)
- Navigating internal company review processes and stakeholder timelines
- Ensuring compliance with industry guidelines (eg, Good Publication Practice [GPP], International Committee of Medical Journal Editors [ICMJE], company standard operating procedures [SOPs])
- Supporting product launches and data communication strategies
- Ensuring tactics remain within budget
In smaller companies, publication professionals may wear multiple hats, contributing to congress planning, scientific platforms, medical writing, and/or internal company training. In larger companies, roles may be more specialized, with defined teams for operations, medical writing, and publication strategy.
Why it’s appealing: Industry roles provide direct visibility into the product pipeline and offer opportunities to communicate the scientific narrative of a therapy across its development lifecycle. These roles are especially well-suited to individuals who enjoy long-term planning, cross-functional collaboration, and scientific rigor.
Professionals often have direct involvement in product strategy and enjoy the stability of working with an established team and clear career progression (especially in larger organizations). Many also work closely with clinical development teams and thought leaders.
Common challenges: Stakeholder alignment, internal company resource limitations, and managing review cycles were among the most frequently reported difficulties in recent ISMPP survey results (ISMPP Small Companies & New Professionals Education Needs Survey, Jan 2024 – internal data). Time/project workload and access to training were also cited as key hurdles for those in smaller companies. Publication managers, in particular, often report intense, fast-paced workloads in the lead-up to key data releases or congress deadlines.
How to get started: Many individuals in industry publication roles begin their careers at medcomms agencies, which offer a strong foundation in scientific writing, data interpretation, and publication planning. The agency roles provide hands-on experience with industry standards, collaborative project work, and exposure to multiple therapeutic areas, all valuable preparation for transitioning to a role in industry. However, it’s also possible to start directly in an industry role, especially for those with transferable skills from academia, publishing, healthcare (eg, pharmacy, nursing, clinical roles), or related functions like regulatory or medical affairs.
Agency Perspective: Medical Writer, Account Lead, and Other Key Roles
Medcomms agencies are contracted for work with pharma/biotech/device companies. Working at a medcomms agency provides exposure to diverse projects, clients, and therapy areas, as well as fast-paced timelines, and a collaborative, client-focused environment. There are many different roles available within medcomms agencies (Table 2).
Table 2. What Agency Roles Involve:
| Role | Responsibilities* |
|---|---|
| Medical Writer | Develops manuscripts, abstracts, congress presentations, slide decks, publication extenders (eg, videos, plain language summaries, animations), and other materials that align with the sponsor pharma/biotech/device company’s strategic objectives and reflect the clinical trial data. Frequently partners with graphic design and digital specialists to provide the medical content and/or review needed for educational materials, such as one-page overviews, infographics, and more. |
| Medical Editor | Reviews content developed by medical writers for language (lexicon/terminology, spelling, grammar, geography), consistency, format, output style (journal/congress), and data accuracy. |
| Scientific Director | Leads scientific content and strategy, ensures alignment with client goals, and provides mentorship to writers. Often supports publication planning, congress strategy, and client engagement. |
| Account Lead/Manager | Oversees client relationships, client strategy, internal business strategy, project timelines, budgets, and cross-functional teams. |
| Strategist | Plays a key role in developing the sponsor company’s publication strategy—identifying the most effective avenues for disseminating clinical trial data, defining the scientific narrative, and conducting gap analyses or competitive intelligence. Strategists may also support authors with data interpretation and alignment with scientific objectives. In many agencies, senior medical writers gradually take on these strategic responsibilities as their careers progress, but the pathway is also open to account managers. |
*Representative of most common responsibilities but not all-inclusive.
Why it’s appealing: Agency work is ideal for those who thrive in dynamic, team-based settings. Writers gain broad exposure to therapeutic areas and publication types, while developing valuable skills in data interpretation, audience-focused communication, and publication standards. Agencies often provide structured onboarding, mentorship, and opportunities to develop rapidly in both scientific and client-facing directions. It can be rewarding to grow into a position of being an extension of each client team, functioning as strategic partners on multiple different therapies across clients.
Common challenges: Time pressures, managing multiple clients, maintaining a high level of attention to detail, and managing concurrent projects are common challenges in agency settings.
How to get started: Many professionals enter agency roles after graduate school or postdoc training, especially those with a passion for writing, presenting, and synthesizing data. A PhD, PharmD, or similar scientific background is commonly required for medical writing roles. Candidates typically complete a writing test and interview process before hiring. Individuals with communication or project management backgrounds may be well-suited for account lead/manager roles, where most often a bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for entry, and tests/interview will focus on organization skills.
Freelance Perspective: Medical Writers and Consultants
Freelancing in medical publications offers a level of freedom and flexibility, and the opportunity to tailor a career around personal strengths and interests. Many medical writers are drawn to the freelance path for its lifestyle—setting individual hours, choosing clients, and focusing on the types of projects they enjoy most. For experienced professionals, freelancing can be both fulfilling and financially rewarding.
What freelance roles involve: Freelance medical writers often support medcomms agencies or work directly with small-to-midsize pharma and biotech companies. More experienced professionals may serve as contractor publication managers, providing part-time or project-based leadership to establish or oversee publication functions, especially in companies without in-house expertise. Similarly, freelance consultants may offer strategic support, such as publication planning, SOP development, or broader scientific communications guidance. Across all of these roles, success depends on strong writing skills, strategic insight, and a thorough understanding of the publication landscape.
Why it’s appealing: Freelancing demands a high level of self-motivation, resilience, and the ability to manage multiple responsibilities beyond writing, including marketing, client communication, and business operations. For those with the right experience and mindset, freelancing offers flexibility, autonomy, and control over their professional path.
Common challenges: While freelance life offers flexibility, it also comes with entrepreneurial responsibilities. This involves not just writing—it includes running a business: managing invoices, contracts, taxes, and deadlines, often without the structure or support of a traditional team (eg, lack of formal editor, graphic designer, etc.). There is a need to be organized, responsive, and proactive in managing client relationships. Freelancing can also be isolating, particularly for those who thrive on collaboration or feedback from colleagues.
How to get started: Freelancing is best suited for professionals who already have experience in industry-sponsored publications, typically gained through previous roles at medcomms agencies or within pharma companies. Clients hire freelancers to deliver high-quality work independently, not to train them. For those just entering the field, a few years at an agency will help build the knowledge, credibility, and network needed to succeed as a freelancer. Consider retaining samples for which personal writing contribution has been acknowledged, to attract future clients. Becoming active in professional organizations like ISMPP and the American Medical Writers Association, European Medical Writers Association, or Australasian Medical Writers Association is another great way to build professional networks.
Reputation is everything. Most freelancers find that repeat business and referrals become the cornerstone of a sustainable workload. Certification (like ISMPP’s Certified Medical Publication Professional™ [CMPP™]) can also strengthen credibility with new clients.
Final Thoughts
ISMPP provides foundational resources, including webinars, toolkits, and primers, to help newcomers understand ethics, processes, and best practices in medcomms. The CMPP™ credential and ISMPP meetings also offer pathways for growth and networking. As the field continues to evolve, professionals who stay adaptable, embrace emerging technologies, build strong networks, and continuously develop their skills will find fulfilling and impactful careers in medical publications and communications.
This article was developed under the auspices of the ISMPP Small Companies & New Professionals Outreach Committee. Portions were developed with the assistance of ChatGPT, using insights from ISMPP resources. The content reflects the authors’ interpretations and has been reviewed for accuracy.