Introduction To Medical Writing Field, Roles & Expectations

What you'll learn
Clearly define what medical writing is and is not
Understand how medical writing fits into Drug development, Medical device development, Regulatory and non-regulatory contexts
Distinguish between regulatory and non-regulatory medical writing
Recognize the role of evidence, documentation, and regulatory context
Identify where medical writers work and how roles are structured
Understand core knowledge areas, soft skills, and expectations at entry level
Use this course as a map to decide what to learn next
Requirements
A basic background or interest in life sciences, healthcare, or medicine
No prior medical writing experience required
No regulatory knowledge required
No writing samples or tools needed
This course assumes curiosity, not expertise.
Description
Welcome to the Introduction to Medical Writing Course!Medical writing is often misunderstood, loosely defined, and frequently confused with general scientific or technical writing. This course is designed to bring clarity before complexity.In this foundational course, you will explore what medical writing actually involves, how it fits into drug and medical device development, and how regulatory and non-regulatory writing differ in purpose, structure, and expectations.Rather than teaching you how to write specific documents, this course focuses on understanding the ecosystem:Where medical writers fitWhat knowledge areas matterHow evidence and regulations shape writingHow roles evolve from entry-level to senior positionsYou will also learn what this course intentionally does not cover, so you can make informed decisions about deeper, more focused learning paths.This course is ideal if you are at the exploration or decision-making stage of your medical writing journey and want a structured, realistic overview before committing time, money, or effort to advanced training.By the end of this course, you should be able to recognize whether medical writing is the right field for you, identify which sub-areas align with your background and interests, and approach future training, mentorship, or job conversations with greater clarity and confidence.
Life science graduates (biotechnology, pharmacy, medicine, biology, chemistry),Researchers, PhDs, and postdocs exploring non-bench careers,Professionals considering a transition into medical or regulatory writing,Entry-level aspiring medical writers seeking clarity before deeper training,Clinicians or healthcare professionals curious about medical writing roles,Anyone confused by the different terms, roles, and expectations in medical writing
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