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Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Medical Writer

Medical writing is an esteemed profession. Every day, medical writers are detailing, documenting, and sharing news and research that is improving health outcomes and saving lives. Their roles and opportunities are always evolving, whether they’re crafting peer-reviewed articles reporting on clinical trials, marketing cutting-edge devices, educating health care professionals or even the general public about new treatments, or writing grant proposals to fund innovative research.

This guide provides information and resources on what medical writers do, the companies they work for, and what you need to know to embark on this growing, rewarding—and lucrative—career.

What Is Medical Writing?

Medical writing involves the development and production of print or digital documents that deal specifically with medicine or health care. The profession of medical writing calls for knowledge in both writing and science, combining a writer’s creative talent with the rigor and detail of research and the scientific process. 

With the constant advancement and innovation in medicine and health care, the need to communicate about research findings, products, devices, and services is growing. Medical writers are increasingly in demand to convey new information to health care professionals as well as the general public.

Depending on their position and the scope of their duties, medical writers are involved in communicating scientific and clinical data to many audiences, from doctors and nurses to insurance adjusters and patients. They work in a variety of formats, including traditional print publications to electronic publications, multimedia presentations, videos, podcasts, website content, and social media sites.

Medical writers often work with doctors, scientists, and other subject matter experts (SMEs) to create documents that describe research results, product use, and other medical information. They also ensure that documents comply with regulatory, publication, or other guidelines in terms of content, format, and structure. 

Medical writers are also key players in developing applications for mobile devices that are used in multiple ways, such as

• Disease management
• Continuing education and training
• Medical reference and information-gathering
• Practice management and monitoring

Medical communicators may be writers, editors , health care journalists, supervisors, project managers, media relations specialists, educators, and more. At their core, they are exceptionally skilled at gathering, organizing, interpreting, evaluating, and presenting often complex information to health care professionals, a public audience, or industry professionals such as hospital purchasers, manufacturers and users of medical devices, pharmaceutical sales representatives, members of the insurance industry, and public policy officials. For each of these audiences, the language, documents, and deliverables are distinct.  For beginning to mid-level medical communicators who want to enhance and fine-tune their medical editing skills, AMWA provides a Certificate in Medical Editing .  

What Are Examples of Medical Communication Jobs?

Medical communication positions in writing and editing vary greatly across industries, companies, organizations, and other entities. 

In addition to the title of medical writer, medical communicators may be known as scientific writers, technical writers, regulatory writers , promotional writers, health care marketers, health care journalists, or communication specialists. Both medical writers and medical editors may work for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, medical communication agencies, medical education companies, health care professionals associations, academic institutions, medical and health care book publishers, trade publications, and more. 

What Do Medical Writers Write?

The expertise and contributions of medical writers and editors can be found throughout the medical community. Examples of their work include

• Abstracts for medical journals and medical conferences
• Advertisements for pharmaceuticals, devices, and other products
• Advisory board summaries
• Continuing medical education materials
• Decision aids for patients
• Grant proposals
• Health care policy documents
• Health education materials
• Magazine and newspaper articles
• Medical and health care books
• Medical and scientific journal articles
• Marketing materials
• Poster presentations for medical conferences
• Regulatory documents, including FDA submissions
• Sales training
• Slide presentations for medical conferences
• White papers

Who Hires Medical Writers?

Right now, there is tremendous growth in the medical industry. Pharmaceutical companies are developing drugs more quickly, and new medical devices and diagnostic tools are being released every day. With this comes the increased need to meet regulatory and insurance requirements and to relay medical and consumer information. All of this results in greater opportunities for medical writers and communicators. 

Medical writers can find positions with a variety of employers, reaching a multitude of audiences with different communication needs and styles. These may include

• Associations and professional health care societies
• Authors or investigators
• Biotechnology companies
• Clinical or contract research organizations   (CROs)
• Communications, marketing, or advertising agencies
• Government agencies
• Health care organizations or providers
• Medical book publishers
• Medical device companies
• Medical education companies
• Medical schools or universities
• News outlets   for health/medical news
• Peer-reviewed medical journals
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Trade journals   for health care professionals

AMWA members can access a current list of available openings on   AMWA Jobs Online . (Not a member?   Join here. )

How Much Do Medical Writers Make?

Medical writer salaries vary from city to city and region to region. Compensation also depends on the writer’s experience, the type of employer, and the type of work.

Sites such as Salary.com , PayScale.com , and Glassdoor.com indicate that a salary range for a junior-level or beginning medical writer is $52,000 to $80,000 annually and a salary range for a junior-level or beginning medical editor as $57,000 to $75,000 annually.

The AMWA Medical Communication Compensation Report provides an in-depth analysis of medical communication salary data by experience level, degree, industry categories, and much more.

Join our professional community of skilled medical communicators.

What Does It Take to Be a Medical Writer?

While medical writers come from all educational and professional backgrounds, they do share some traits.  Medical writers have an interest and flair for both science and writing. They also have a clear understanding of medical concepts and ideas and are able to present data and its interpretation in a way the target audience will understand.

Although it’s not required, many medical communicators hold an advanced degree. Some have a medical or science degree (eg, PhD, PharmD, MD) or experience in academic settings or as bench scientists, pharmacists, physicians, or other health care professionals. Others have an MFA or a PhD in communications or English.

Certificates and certifications are additional credentials that demonstrate your knowledge and proficiency in the medical communication field. Many are described in this guide.

How Do I Become a Medical Writer?

Medical communication can be a flexible, rewarding, and well-paying career in a growing field of both full-time and freelance opportunities. To get started, follow these steps. 

1. Determine a focus

Based on the wide range of companies and organizations that employ medical communicators, the field is generally divided into different writing settings and specializations, each requiring specific technical writing skills or knowledge of medical terminology and practices. In this step, it’s important to focus on an area you’re most interested in and that best matches your skill set.

• Continuing education for healthcare professionals
• Health communication
• Marketing/Advertising/PR
• Patient education
• Publications for professional audiences (non-peer reviewed)
• Regulatory writing
• Sales training (biotech or pharma industry)
• Scientific publications (peer-reviewed journals)

2. Assess your knowledge and skills

Medical communicators come to the field from a variety of different disciplines. Those with a medical or science background commonly need refreshers in writing and editing mechanics, whereas medical terminology and statistics are typically more difficult for those with a writing or communications background. No matter what your training has been, you should take an inventory of your essential skills .

Basic Grammar and Usage

• Parts of speech and grammatical principles form the foundation of writing in every discipline. Can you identify a dangling modifier or notice the lack of a pronoun referent?

Sentence Structure

• Even if you know grammar, you may need a refresher on achieving emphasis and organizing your sentences for clarity. Do you know the difference between an independent and a dependent clause? Do you understand parallel structure?

Punctuation

• A single misplaced comma can create a very different meaning, which can have serious implications in medical writing. Are all your commas in the right places? What about your semicolons?

Medical Terminology

• It’s not enough to know medical terms. You gain more insight into medical vocabulary by learning about the prefixes, combining forms, and suffixes that make up all your favorite medical words. Do you know the rules for eponyms? Do you know the difference between an acronym and an initialism?

Professional Ethics

• Every profession has a code of ethics, and medical communication is no different. Make sure you know the steps to ethical decision-making and the ethical principles to uphold.
• If you’re working with medical research, it’s essential to have a basic understanding of statistics. Can you describe the difference between mean, median, and mode? Can you define a hazard ratio?

Tables and Graphs

• Tables and graphs are essential tools for communicating complex information. Do you know what kind of graph to use for continuous data? Are your table column headings doing their job?

If you need to fill gaps in your knowledge, AMWA offers a variety of educational activities , including the AMWA Essential Skills Certificate Program , which addresses all of these topics.

3. Explore resources

As you explore the medical writing profession, the next step is to become aware of the resources available to you. AMWA offers many opportunities to support new medical communicators and a wealth of professional development resources to help throughout an evolving career. The following are some examples.

• AMWA Online Learning activity: A Career in Medical Communication: Steps to Success
• AMWA Career Services : Jobs Online ,  Freelance Directory
• Live   webinars
• AMWA Essential Skills Certificate Program
• Comprehensive Guide to Medical Editing
• Medical Editing Checklist
• How to Identify Predatory Publishers eBook

Other resources include a number of recommended books on medical writing , listed in the "Medical Writer Resources" section below.

Although there are plenty of opportunities in medical communication, it is important to recognize that it can be a difficult field to break into.   Networking   is a crucial part of gaining success as a medical writer.

Throughout your career, but especially at the start, it’s important to connect with other medical communicators in your local area as well as   across the country .

Networking   is an excellent way to connect with other medical communicators. Not only does it provide informal learning opportunities, but some experts say that 70% to 80% of people found their current position through networking.   Others say it’s closer to 85%. Whether you are using LinkedIn ,   Facebook ,   Twitter , community boards, or conference attendance , it is important to seek out ways to stay connected.

Take the leap!

New and experienced medical writers are finding ways to advance in a solid career and contribute to positive health outcomes through the power of communication. With a greater understanding of the role of the medical communicator and the available opportunities, people with a passion for writing and science can excel in this interesting and ever-changing field.

Medical Writer Resources

Books about medical writing.

• The Accidental Medical Writer . Brian G. Bass and Cynthia L. Kryder. Booklocker.com, Inc, 2008.
• Essentials of Writing Biomedical Research Papers . 2nd ed. Mimi Zeiger. McGraw-Hill, 2000.
• Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message . Helen Osborne. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2005.
• How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, 8th ed .   Barbara Gastel and Robert A. Day. Greenwood, 2016.
• Targeted Regulatory Writing Techniques: Clinical Documents for Drugs and Biologics . Linda Fossati Wood and MaryAnn Foote, eds. Birkhauser, 2009.

Style Guides

• AMA Manual of Style
• Associated Press Stylebook 
• Chicago Manual of Style
• American Psychological Association Style
• Scientific Style and Format: The CSE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers

Publication Ethics

• Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors   (Committee on Publication Ethics)
• White Paper on Publication Ethics  (Council of Science Editors)
• Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals   (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors)
• Good Publication Practice Guidelines - GPP3   (International Society for Medical Publication Professionals)

Professional Associations & Societies

• American Medical Writers Association
• Association of Health Care Journalists
• Board of Editors in the Life Sciences
• Council of Science Editors
• Drug Information Association
• Editorial Freelancers Association
• International Society for Medical Publication Professionals
• National Association of Science Writers
• Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society
• Society for Health Communication
• Society for Technical Communication

Medical Communication Programs – Universities, Colleges, Associations

This list is not comprehensive and was last updated on 11/23/2022.

Graduate Programs in Medical/Health Communication/Writing/Journalism

• Master of Science in Health Communication (Online)
• Master of Science: Science & Medical Journalism
• Carnegie Mellon University  - Master of Arts: Professional Writing
• Johns Hopkins University  - Master of Arts: Science-Medical Writing
• New York University  - Master of Arts / Master of Science: Health and Environmental Reporting
• Texas A&M University  - Master of Science: Science and Technology Journalism
• Towson University  - Master of Science: Professional Writing
• University of Houston-Downtown  - Master of Science: Technical Communication
• University of Illinois  - Master of Science: Health Communication
• University of Minnesota  - Professional Master of Arts: Health Communication
• University of North Carolina  - Master of Arts: Medical Science & Journalism

Undergraduate Programs in Medical/Health Communication/Writing/Journalism

• Juniata College  - Degree in Health Communication
• Missouri State University  - Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science: Science/Professional Writing
• University of Minnesota   - Bachelor of Arts: Technical Writing and Communication 

Tracks or Minors in Medical Communication

• Ferris State University  - Bachelor of Science: Journalism and Technical Communication
• University of Tennessee at Knoxville  - Science Communication Program  

Degree Programs in Regulatory Affairs

• George Washington University -  Dual Degree: BSHS/MSHS in Clinical Operations & Healthcare Management
• University of Washington School of Pharmacy -  Master of Science in Biomedical Regulatory Affair s  

University Certificate Programs

• Harvard Medical School - Effective Writing for Health Care
• UC San Diego Extension - Medical Writing Certificate
• University of Chicago Graham School of General Studies -  Medical Writing and Editing Certificate

AMWA acknowledges the contributions of Lori Alexander, MPTW, ELS, MWC, Lori De Milto, MJ, and Cyndy Kryder, MS, MWC in the development of this AMWA resource. 

WANT A PORTABLE VERSION OF THIS ARTICLE?  DOWNLOAD IT HERE.

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The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Medical Research Writer

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Key Learnings contained in this article:

Medical research writing is a highly specialized field that requires a unique set of skills and knowledge. Whether you are a seasoned healthcare professional looking to transition into a new career or a student interested in pursuing medical research writing, this ultimate guide will provide you with the essential information to embark on this rewarding journey. From understanding the role of a medical research writer to exploring different fields in the industry, we will cover all aspects of this profession and guide you towards building a successful career.

Understanding the Role of a Medical Research Writer

Medical research writers play a crucial role in the dissemination of scientific information. They are responsible for translating complex research findings into clear and concise language that can be easily understood by both healthcare professionals and the general public. These writers compile research data, analyze scientific literature, and create documents such as research papers, clinical study reports, and regulatory submissions.

Medical research writers are the unsung heroes behind the scenes, working diligently to ensure that groundbreaking scientific discoveries reach the wider world. Their work involves more than just putting words on paper; it requires a deep understanding of the subject matter and the ability to convey complex ideas in a way that is accessible to a broad audience.

One of the key responsibilities of a medical research writer is reviewing and synthesizing scientific literature. This involves delving into a vast sea of research papers, studies, and articles to extract the most relevant information. It requires a keen eye for detail and the ability to critically evaluate the quality and validity of the research. By carefully analyzing the existing body of knowledge, medical research writers can identify gaps in the literature and contribute to the advancement of medical science.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

As a medical research writer, you will be responsible for various tasks. These include:

• Reviewing and synthesizing scientific literature
• Writing research manuscripts and grant proposals
• Creating documents for regulatory submissions
• Collaborating with subject matter experts and researchers
• Ensuring adherence to ethical guidelines and regulations

Collaboration is a vital aspect of a medical research writer's role. They work closely with subject matter experts and researchers to gather insights and ensure the accuracy of the information being presented. This collaborative approach not only helps in producing high-quality documents but also fosters a sense of teamwork and shared purpose.

Required Skills and Knowledge

To succeed as a medical research writer, you need to possess a diverse skill set and in-depth knowledge of the healthcare industry. Some key skills and knowledge areas include:

• Strong writing skills with attention to detail and grammar
• Ability to comprehend complex scientific concepts
• Proficiency in research methodology and statistical analysis
• Knowledge of medical terminology and pharmacology
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements and guidelines

Being a medical research writer requires more than just being a good writer. It demands a deep understanding of scientific concepts and the ability to effectively communicate them. A strong foundation in research methodology and statistical analysis is essential for critically evaluating data and drawing meaningful conclusions. Additionally, a solid grasp of medical terminology and pharmacology enables medical research writers to accurately convey complex ideas without losing their scientific integrity.

In conclusion, medical research writers are the bridge between the scientific community and the wider world. Their role is vital in ensuring that scientific advancements are communicated effectively and accurately. By combining their writing skills with a deep understanding of the healthcare industry, medical research writers contribute to the progress of medical science and the improvement of patient care.

The Journey to Becoming a Medical Research Writer

If you are interested in pursuing a career as a medical research writer, the journey starts with acquiring the necessary educational qualifications and training .

Embarking on the path to becoming a proficient medical research writer is a rewarding and intellectually stimulating endeavour. The role requires a unique blend of scientific acumen and writing prowess, making it a challenging yet fulfilling career choice for those passionate about both healthcare and communication.

Educational Qualifications and Training

A bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific field such as biology, pharmacology, or healthcare is typically a minimum requirement for entry into this profession. However, many employers prefer candidates with advanced degrees such as a master's or doctoral degree in a specialized area of research. Additionally, obtaining certifications in medical writing can enhance your credibility and job prospects.

Delving deep into the realm of medical research writing demands a solid foundation in scientific principles and an aptitude for translating complex data into clear, concise narratives. Acquiring a comprehensive understanding of research methodologies, data analysis techniques, and ethical considerations in healthcare research is paramount for excelling in this field.

Gaining Relevant Experience

While formal education is important, gaining practical experience is equally crucial. Internships, research projects, or working in a healthcare setting can provide valuable exposure and help you develop the necessary skills required for medical research writing. This hands-on experience will allow you to understand the intricacies of scientific research and hone your writing abilities.

Furthermore, immersing yourself in the dynamic landscape of medical research will expose you to the latest advancements in healthcare technology, innovative treatment modalities, and emerging trends in scientific literature. Staying abreast of developments in the medical field is essential for producing compelling and informative content that resonates with both professionals and the general public.

Exploring the Different Fields in Medical Research Writing

Medical research writing encompasses various fields, each with its unique challenges and opportunities. Here are two prominent areas:

Clinical Research Writing

Clinical research writing focuses on creating documents related to clinical trials and studies. This includes protocols, case report forms, informed consent documents, and clinical study reports. In this field, you collaborate closely with clinical investigators, statisticians, and regulatory professionals to compile data and present it in a concise and understandable manner.

Working in clinical research writing requires a deep understanding of medical terminology, regulatory guidelines, and the ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to a diverse audience. As a clinical research writer, you play a crucial role in ensuring that research findings are accurately documented and reported, ultimately contributing to advancements in medical knowledge and patient care.

Scientific Research Writing

Scientific research writing involves writing research manuscripts, literature reviews, and grant proposals. In this field, you have the opportunity to contribute to the scientific community by summarizing research findings and presenting new insights. Attention to detail, impeccable research skills, and the ability to organize complex information are essential in scientific research writing.

Within scientific research writing, there is a growing emphasis on open access publishing, reproducibility of results, and transparent reporting of research methods. Researchers and writers in this field are constantly adapting to new publishing trends and evolving standards to ensure that scientific research remains accessible and reliable for future generations of scholars and practitioners.

The Importance of Ethics in Medical Research Writing

In any field of writing, ethical considerations are paramount, and medical research writing is no exception.

Medical research writing plays a crucial role in advancing scientific knowledge and improving healthcare practices. Researchers and writers in this field have a responsibility to uphold the highest ethical standards to ensure the credibility and integrity of their work. Ethical considerations in medical research encompass a wide range of issues, including plagiarism, data integrity, patient confidentiality, and conflicts of interest.

Understanding Plagiarism and Copyright

Plagiarism, the act of using another person's work without proper attribution, is a serious offense in the world of medical research. As a medical research writer, it is crucial to properly cite all sources and give credit to the original authors. Additionally, knowledge of copyright laws and permissions is vital when using copyrighted material.

Proper citation not only acknowledges the contributions of other researchers but also allows readers to trace the sources of information and verify the accuracy of the data presented. Failure to cite sources appropriately can lead to accusations of academic dishonesty and undermine the credibility of the research findings.

Upholding Data Integrity and Confidentiality

When working with research data, you must prioritize data integrity and confidentiality. It is essential to handle and present data accurately, ensuring that there is no manipulation or misinterpretation. Furthermore, respecting patient confidentiality and adhering to ethical guidelines and regulations is of utmost importance.

Researchers must take steps to protect the privacy of individuals involved in studies and ensure that their data is handled securely. This includes obtaining informed consent from participants, anonymising data to prevent identification, and storing information in compliance with data protection laws. By upholding data integrity and confidentiality, researchers demonstrate their commitment to ethical research practices and safeguard the rights and well-being of research participants.

Building a Successful Career as a Medical Research Writer

Once you have acquired the necessary qualifications and skills, it's time to focus on building a successful career.

Embarking on a career as a medical research writer is a journey filled with exciting challenges and opportunities. Apart from the essential qualifications and skills, it is vital to understand the intricate world of medical research and the critical role that writers play in disseminating valuable information to a wider audience.

Networking and Professional Development

Networking with professionals in the field of medical research writing can open doors to new opportunities. Attend conferences, join professional associations, and engage with industry experts to expand your network. Continuous professional development through workshops and training programs will keep you updated with the latest advancements in medical research writing.

Furthermore, establishing strong relationships within the medical research community can lead to collaborations on groundbreaking projects and provide insights into emerging trends in the industry. By actively participating in discussions and sharing knowledge with peers, you can enhance your expertise and broaden your professional horizons.

Staying Updated with Medical Advancements

As a medical research writer, it is crucial to stay updated with the latest developments in the medical field. Regularly reading scientific literature, following industry publications, and keeping abreast of new technologies will enhance your credibility and help you produce high-quality content.

Moreover, delving into specialised areas of medical research and exploring interdisciplinary connections can enrich your writing and offer unique perspectives on complex healthcare issues. By immersing yourself in diverse topics and engaging with leading researchers, you can cultivate a deep understanding of the dynamic landscape of medical science.

In conclusion, becoming a medical research writer is a fulfilling and intellectually stimulating career path. By understanding the role, acquiring the necessary qualifications, exploring different fields, upholding ethics, and continuously developing your skills, you can build a successful and rewarding career in medical research writing.

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The Ultimate Guide for Medical Manuscript Writing

Medical Manuscript writing can be overwhelming, but there are some tried-and-true techniques and creative tips that can dramatically simplify the process.

We mined the literature for strategies plus revealed some tricks from our seasoned writers to help you get your manuscript written and published.

In this document, we focused our attention on manuscripts since they are one of the most common types of medical writing . However, these are techniques that can be useful for any medical writing project.

What is good medical manuscript writing?

When you’re writing for a scientific audience it’s important to write with three C’s in mind:

• Clear: Don’t be ambiguous or leave anything to the imagination.
• Concise: Use brief, simple language and avoid repetition/redundancy.
• Correct: Be accurate, and don’t overstate the significance of your results.

Good medical writing is never more complicated than it needs to be.

Make it easy for your audience by keeping your language clear and simple.

How is medical writing different?

Many people want to know how writing healthcare blog topics is different from other types of writing. The answer is simple: it isn’t.

Good writing has a goal and a target audience and they will influence how you write, regardless of what you’re writing. A good manuscript is rooted in a good story.

Even data-driven medical texts can be delivered in an engaging way. Most of us can think of examples of stand-out papers in our field of expertise.

At their best these papers are entertaining and thought-provoking even while they deliver complicated, data-heavy material.

Make an Outline for your Manuscript

Before you start writing you need to have a clear understanding of the type and scope of your writing.

For example, consider exactly what you are writing. Is it a case study, textbook chapter , or literature review? These distinctions have important implications for how you craft and present your material.

An outline should be an obvious place to start, but you’d be surprised at how often this step is skipped.

How to structure your medial manuscript outline

When possible, before you start your outline you should understand the formatting requirements for your targeted publisher.

Many publishers specify abstract headings and have specific requirements for what can (and can’t) be included in the body of your text.

Use the outline as a way to narrow down the research you’ll need to do as you write.

It is an unfortunate fact of life: the abstract is often the only portion of a paper that ever gets read. For this reason, your abstract needs to convey the most important points from your paper in 300 words or less. Note what these points are in your abstract.

Make sure you know what your publisher expects from your abstract. Some journals limit you to 150 words or require that you arrange your abstract using specific headers.

You may need to include an objective or a statement of impact as well.

Most publishers ask authors to provide some keywords. Think about the keywords you’d use to search for your paper and write them down.

Keywords that are more general will increase the number of search results your paper will appear in. For example, use “spinal cord stimulation” instead of “neuromodulation.”

Define your goal

Is your goal to present new research data or to provide a meta-analysis of existing data? By clarifying the goal of your manuscript you can streamline preparation and writing.

Defining the goal is one of the secrets of successful grants and manuscripts of top biomedical PIs . Having a well-defined goal will also help you find the most appropriate publisher.

Keep your target audience in mind as you define your goal.

Introduction/background

The outline for your intro should note the current state of the field and identify knowledge gaps.

A good way to understand how to arrange your intro is by looking at similar papers that have been published by your target journal.

A standard approach to an intro can be broken down as follows:

• First paragraph: Current knowledge and foundational referencesYou’re paving the way for your readers to understand your objective
• Second paragraph: Introduce your specific topic and identify knowledge gaps
• Third paragraph: Clearly identify your aim

Key references and identifying your hypothesis and aim(s).

Methods Briefly list your methods and timeframe, but don’t get too detailed. This is just an outline.

Results The results section can be the most challenging to organize.

To simplify the writing process, state your overall question and create subsections for each dataset.

List the experiments you did and your results.

In your outline, identify data that should be presented in a figure or table. Save any subjective interpretations for the discussion section.

Discussion Your outline for the discussion should pick up where the introduction left off.

For example, if your intro ends with an aim, your discussion should start by restating your aim and reminding your readers of the knowledge gap(s) that you are addressing.

Your discussion needs to address each set of experiments and your interpretation, but don’t simply restate your results section.

Timeline Make a timeline for your manuscript and specify a submission date to help keep you on track.

Questions to consider when making your discussion outline include:

• How do your data relate to your original question?
• Do they support your hypothesis?
• Are your results consistent with what other researchers have found?
• If you had unexpected results, is there an explanation for them?
• Consider your data from the perspective of a competitor. Can you punch holes in your argument?
• Address potential concerns about your data head on. Don’t try to hide them or gloss over them.
• If you weren’t able to fully address your question(s) or aim(s), what else do you need to do?
• How do your data fit into the big picture?

Include a discussion subsection for each of your results subsections where you can subjectively interpret your data. Your outline should include the points you want to make in each subsection as well as your overall goal.

Conclude your discussion with a one sentence summary of your conclusion and its relevance to the field.

Again, don’t forget to write to your target audience!

Additional Resources for Medical Writing

Templates for Building a Perfect Writing Plan:

• Scope of work guide
• 30 Scope of work templates
• Medical cover letter + Templates
• Detailed guide of medical manuscript Scope of Work
• Short guide of scope of work for a medical journal

Know the Literature Before You Write Anything

An effective medical or scientific manuscript provides compelling information that builds on the existing literature and advances what is currently known.

This means you need to have a thorough understanding of the relevant literature!

Your goal is to collect all relevant references into a structured document. Make note of the aim and conclusion of each reference. Use this as a foundation to refer back to when you’re writing your paper.

Organize your research into buckets.

When you find a relevant source, ask yourself:

• Are the data consistent with what’s already known?
• If not: why are they different and how do they affect what’s known?
• Do your data support or refute the data presented in the source?
• You’ll need to explicitly address inconsistencies and identify potential resolutions.

Find Scholarly Sources

If you are writing an original research article , how do your data fit into the broader topic?

Google searches don’t usually produce scholarly resources unless you know where to look.

There are numerous FREE and Paid online resources available to find the right sources.

Top Scholarly Databases for journals, news, and articles

These tools can be used to find all the reputable sources needed to flesh out quality medical writing.

PubMed (MEDLINE):

PUBMED is an extremely popular and free search engine hosted by the NIH (National institutes of Health and U.S. National Library of Medicine. It can be used to access a vast index of peer-reviewed biological and medical research.

EMBASE is a database of literature intended to aid in organizational adherence to prescription drug regulations. Whereas it does contain some references that are not returned by PUBMED, there is a subscription fee associated with EMBASE.

Cochrane Library

The Cochrane Library is a curated database of medical research reviews, protocols, and editorials. While a subscription is required, the Cochrane is a critical resource for evidence-based medicine.

Web of Science

The Web of Science is another subscription service similar to those that have already been mentioned, albeit with an expanded range of academic disciplines including the arts, social sciences, and others.

Google Scholar

Google Scholar leverages Google’s powerful search engine to retrieve published literature from the whole internet (rather than just biomedical journals). This means you’ll get textbooks, theses, conference proceedings, and other publications that won’t show up in PubMed or EMBASE searches. Google Scholar is a powerful tool but it lacks the curation of other search tools, so a careful vetting of any information from this source is important.

Other databases:

Faculty of 1000 (F1000) offers Faculty Opinions and F1000Research. Faculty Opinions are links to recommended life-science articles, while F1000Research is a database of open-source research papers and results.

EBSCO is an online library providing a wide range of services, including its research databases that allow powerful searches of journals in a variety of academic disciplines.

iSEEK Education:

iSeek Education is a search engine geared specifically for academics. The resources from iSeek are meant to be dependable and from reliable sources, such as government agencies and universities.

RefSeek is another popular option for academically oriented search engines. RefSeek is designed to pull results from a large number of sources but not commercial links. 

Virtual LRC:

The Virtual Learning Resources Center is a modified Google search of academic information websites. Its index of websites has been chosen by qualified curators.

More journal databases for medical research

• 100+ journal databases
• Top Academic Search Engines
• 101 Free Journal and Research Databases
• List of Global scholarly sources 

Organize Your References:

One other point on knowing the literature: find a strategy that helps you keep references organized. 

If you’ve ever written a paper and couldn’t remember where on earth you saw that one, perfect reference you know how important this is! 

Rather than putting things into a long word document start with a research template.

RESOURCE: Use our FREE research template to collect sources for your manuscript

You can also download free basic software to organize references.

5 Reference Organization Tools and Software

EndNote is the most popular reference organization tool for medical writers. 

A basic version of EndNote is available for free, but paid subscriptions offer more options.

EndNote features include:

• Import, annotate, and search PDFs
• Ability to store reference libraries online, so you can access them from anywhere
• Collaboration is easy with shared libraries
• EndNote provides the most comprehensive citation style database, or you can create custom citation styles
• Easy to import/export references from databases using RIS, BibTex, and many other standard data schemes 

One potential drawback of EndNote is that it’s not compatible with Linux.

Zotero Zotero is a free, open-source reference management and citation tool. 

Features of Zotero include:

• Save screenshots and annotate them within your citation library
• Import and export references in many formats, including RIS, BibTeX and BibLateX, EndNote, RefWorks, and more
• Supports over 30 languages
• Zotero’s online bibliography tool ZoteroBib lets you generate bibliographies without installing Zotero or creating an account
• Drag-and-drop interface
• Linux compatible

Mendeley Mendeley is Elsevier’s “freemium” referencing software, meaning the basic package is available for free but more sophisticated versions require a paid subscription. 

Features of Mendeley include:

• Extract metadata from PDFs
• Create private, shareable libraries

A free online reference tool, Citefast allows users to quickly generate a library in APA 6 or 7, MLA 7 or 8, or Chicago styles. 

Citefast doesn’t require you to make an account, but if you don’t create one your references will be lost after 4 days of inactivity.

Another free online resource, BibMe lets you import references and offers MLA, APA, Chicago, and Turabian formatting styles.

BibMe can also check your spelling and grammar, as well as look for plagiarism.

List of MORE Online Software Tools for Academic and Medical Research

30+ research tools to make your life easier

5 best tools for academic research

31 Best Online Tools for Research

10 great tools for online research

Know your audience

It’s important to know your audience before you start writing. This will help you define your goals and create an outline.  

For example, if you’re preparing a case study for specialists your manuscript will be different than one for a multidisciplinary audience. 

Ask yourself what your message is and find out how it aligns with the goals of your readers to maximize your paper’s impact.

Formatting requirements

Whenever possible, find out the formatting requirements you’ll need to follow before you start writing. They will explicitly state the layout, word limits, figure/table formatting, use of abbreviations, and which reference style to use.

If you’re writing for a journal their website will have a Guide for Authors that specifies formatting. If you’re not sure what the requirements are, you should contact the editor or publisher and ask them. 

Types of medical manuscripts

Knowing what kind of manuscript you’re writing will help you organize your material and identify which information you should present. In addition, many publishers have different formatting requirements for different types of articles.

Although each publisher has their own guidelines for authors, many journals encourage authors to follow reporting guidelines from the EQUATOR Network (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research). 

Original research

The goal of an original research article is to convey your research findings to an audience. These articles typically follow the same structure:

• Introduction 

Methods & Materials

Examples of great original medical research manuscripts:

• Nowacki J, Wingenfeld K, Kaczmarczyk M, et al. Steroid hormone secretion after stimulation of mineralocorticoid and NMDA receptors and cardiovascular risk in patients with depression . Transl Psychiatry . 2020 Apr 20;10(1):109.
• Pfitzer A, Maly C, Tappis H, et al. Characteristics of successful integrated family planning and maternal and child health services: Findings from a mixed-method, descriptive evaluation . F1000Res . 2019 Feb 28;8:229. 
• Yi X, Liu M, Luo Q, et al. Toxic effects of dimethyl sulfoxide on red blood cells, platelets, and vascular endothelial cells in vitro . FEBS Open Bio . 2017 Feb 20;7(4):485-494. 
• Karsan N, Goadsby PJ. Imaging the Premonitory Phase of Migraine . Front Neurol . 2020 Mar 25;11:140. 
• Chan SS, Chappel AR, Maddox KEJ, et al. Pre-exposure prophylaxis for preventing acquisition of HIV: A cross-sectional study of patients, prescribers, uptake, and spending in the United States, 2015-2016 . PLoS Med . 2020 Apr 10;17(4):e1003072.

Examples of great medical journal publications from The Med Writers :

Rapid communications

Rapid (or brief) communications are aimed at publishing highly impactful preliminary findings. 

They are shorter than original research articles and focus on one specific result. 

Many journals prioritize rapid communications, since they can provide paradigm-shifts in how we understand a particular topic.

5 Examples of Rapid Communications

• Rose D, Ashwood P. Plasma Interleukin-35 in Children with Autism . Brain Sci . 2019 Jun 27;9(7).
• Nash K, Johansson A, Yogeeswaran K. Social Media Approval Reduces Emotional Arousal for People High in Narcissism: Electrophysiological Evidence . Front Hum Neurosci . 2019 Sep 20;13:292.
• Su Q, Bouteau A, Cardenas J, et al. Long-term absence of Langerhans cells alters the gene expression profile of keratinocytes and dendritic epidermal T cells . PLoS One . 2020 Jan 10;15(1):e0223397.
• Nilsson I, Palmer J, Apostolou E, et al. Metabolic Dysfunction in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Not Due to Anti-mitochondrial Antibodies . Front Med . 2020 Mar 31;7:108.
• Rabiei S, Sedaghat F, Rastmanesh R. Is the hedonic hunger score associated with obesity in women? A brief communication . BMC Res Notes. 2019 Jun 10;12(1):330. 

Case reports

Case reports detail interesting clinical cases that provide new insight into an area of research. 

These are brief reports that chronicle a case, from initial presentation to prognosis (if known). 

Importantly, when writing a case report, you need to clearly identify what makes your case unique and why it’s important. 5 Examples of Great Case Studies

• Scoles D, Ammar MJ, Carroll SE, et al. Cytomegalovirus retinitis in an immunocompetent host after complicated cataract surgery . Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep . 2020 Apr 6;18:100702.
• Yanagimoto Y, Ishizaki Y, Kaneko K. Iron deficiency anemia, stunted growth, and developmental delay due to avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder by restricted eating in autism spectrum disorder . Biopsychosoc Med . 2020 Apr 10;14:8.
• Pringle S, van der Vegt B, Wang X, et al. Lack of Conventional Acinar Cells in Parotid Salivary Gland of Patient Taking an Anti-PD-L1 Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor . Front Oncol . 2020 Apr 2;10:420.
• Crivelli P, Ledda RE, Carboni M, et al. Erdheim-Chester disease presenting with cough, abdominal pain, and headache . Radiol Case Rep . 2020 Apr 10;15(6):745-748.
• Tsai AL, Agustines D. The Coexistence of Oculocutaneous Albinism with Schizophrenia . Cureus . 2020 Jan 9;12(1):e6617.

Literature review

A good literature review provides a comprehensive overview of current literature in a new way. There are four basic types of literature review:

Traditional: Also known as narrative reviews, these reviews deliver a thorough synopsis of a body of literature. They may be used to highlight unanswered questions or knowledge gaps.

Li X, Geng M, Peng Y, Meng L, Lu S. Molecular immune pathogenesis and diagnosis of COVID-19 . J Pharm Anal . 2020 Mar 5. 

Wardhan R, Kantamneni S. The Challenges of Ultrasound-guided Thoracic Paravertebral Blocks in Rib Fracture Patients . Cureus . 2020 Apr 10;12(4):e7626.

Lakhan, S.E., Vieira, K.F. Nutritional therapies for mental disorders . Nutr J 7, 2 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-7-2

A minireview is similar to a review, but confines itself to a specific subtopic:

Marra A, Viale G, Curigliano G. Recent advances in triple negative breast cancer: the immunotherapy era . BMC Med . 2019 May 9;17(1):90.

  Systematic : These are rigorous, highly structured reviews that are often used to shed light on a specific research question. They are often combined with a meta-analysis or meta-synthesis. 

Asadi-Pooya AA, Simani L. Central nervous system manifestations of COVID-19: A systematic review . J Neurol Sci . 2020 Apr 11;413:116832.

Katsanos K, Spiliopoulos S, Kitrou P, Krokidis M, Karnabatidis D. Risk of Death Following Application of Paclitaxel-Coated Balloons and Stents in the Femoropopliteal Artery of the Leg: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials . J Am Heart Assoc . 2018 Dec 18;7(24):e011245.

Meta-analysis: A meta-analysis analyzes data from multiple published studies using a standardized statistical approach. These reviews can help identify trends, patterns, and new conclusions.

Zhang J, Zhang X, Meng Y, Chen Y. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound for the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules: An updated meta-analysis with comprehensive heterogeneity analysis . PLoS One . 2020 Apr 20;15(4):e0231775.  

  Meta-synthesis: A meta-synthesis is a qualitative (non-statistical) way to evaluate and analyze findings from several published studies.

Stuart R, Akther SF, Machin K, et al. Carers’ experiences of involuntary admission under mental health legislation: systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis . BJPsych Open . 2020 Feb 11;6(2):e19. 

At this point you’ve established three things for your manuscript:

• Your goal : Is your goal to convey the latest research? You should find a way to describe what you want to accomplish with this article. 
• Your target audience : The most effective medical writing is done with a specific audience in mind. 
• Type of manuscript : The type of article you’re writing will influence the format of the document you are writing.

You probably have a target journal or publisher in mind and you should have checked out their formatting requirements. Now it’s time to start writing!

Notably, many seasoned authors don’t write their articles from beginning to end. For example, if you’re preparing an original research manuscript they suggest writing the methods section first, followed by the results, discussion, introduction, and, lastly, the abstract. This will help you stay within the scope of the article.

Generally, the title for a medical document should be as succinct as possible while conveying the purpose of the article. 

If you’re writing an original research article your title should convey your main finding as simply as possible. 

Avoid using unnecessary jargon and ambiguity.

Some authors recommend including keywords that will help people find your writing in the title.

Your publisher may have a specific abstract format for you to follow. There are three general types of abstract:

• Indicative (descriptive) abstracts provide a clear overview of the topics covered. They are common in review articles and conference reports.
• Informative abstracts summarize the article based on structure (e.g. problem, methods, case studies/results, conclusions) but without headings.
• Structured abstracts use headings as specified by the publisher.

Good abstracts are clear, honest, brief, and specific. They also need to hook readers or your article will never be read (no pressure!).

Many publishers will ask you to come up with some keywords for your article. Make sure they’re specific and clearly represent the topic of your article. 

If you’re not sure about your keywords the National Library of Medicine’s Medical Subject Headings ( MeSH ) website can help. Just type in a term and it will bring up associated subject headings and definitions.

Introduction

The goal of the introduction is to briefly provide context for your work and convince readers that it’s important. It is not a history lesson or a place to wax poetic about your love of medicine (unless you’re writing about history or your love of medicine). Everything in your introduction needs to be directly relevant to the overall goal of your manuscript.

Introductions vary in length and style between the different types of manuscript. The best way to understand what your publisher is looking for in an introduction is to read several examples from articles that are stylistically similar to yours.

Broadly speaking, an introduction needs to clearly identify the topic and the scope of the article. For an original research article this means you explicitly state the question you’re addressing and your proposed solution. For a literature review, the topic and its parameters should be stated.

Importantly, don’t mix the introduction with other sections. Methods and results don’t belong in the introduction.

Abbreviations

If you use terms that are abbreviated, some journals will ask you to include a section after the introduction where you define them. Consult the authors guide to learn how you should handle abbreviations. Also check to see if they have standard abbreviations that you don’t need to define in your manuscript.

A couple of tips for abbreviations:

·        Terms that are only used once or twice should be spelled out, not abbreviated

·        Don’t capitalize each word in an acronym unless it’s a proper noun (e.g. ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS), not Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS))

A good methods section will contain enough information that another researcher could reproduce the work. Clearly state your experimental design, what you did in chronological order, including equipment model numbers and specific settings you used. Make sure to include all equipment, materials, and products you used as they could account for future variability. Describe any statistical analyses.

The methods section should describe the following:

·        Population and sampling methods

·        Equipment and materials

·        Procedures

·        Time frame (if relevant)

·        Analysis plan

·        Approaches to ensure reliability/validity

·        Any assumptions you used

·        Scope and limitations

If you are using methods that have been described before you can refer to that publication or include them in your supplementary material, rather than re-writing them in the body of your text.

The results section is where your findings are objectively presented (save your interpretation of the results for the discussion section). Figure out which data are important for your story before you write the results section. For each important data set provide the results (preferably in a table or graph) and include a sentence or two that summarizes the results.

It’s easy to lose sight of the goal of the paper when you’re relaying numbers through the lens of statistics. Make sure to tie your results back to the biological aspects of your paper.

The discussion section is where you sell your interpretation of the data. Your discussion section needs to tie your introduction and your results sections together. A common strategy for the discussion section is to reiterate your main findings in light of the knowledge gaps you outlined in your introduction. How do your findings move the field forward?

Consider each of your results with respect to your original question and hypothesis. If there are multiple ways to interpret your data, discuss each of them. If your findings were not in line with your hypothesis, state this and provide possible explanations.

If your data are inconsistent with other published literature it’s important to consider technical and experimental differences before concluding that you’ve stumbled onto a groundbreaking medical discovery. Discuss all potential reasons for the divergent data.

Key points to include in your discussion section:

·        What your results mean

·        Whether your methods were successful

·        How findings relate to other studies

·        Limitations of your study

·        How your work advances the field

·        Applications

·        Future directions

Don’t draw grand conclusions that aren’t supported by your data; some speculating is okay but don’t exaggerate the importance of your findings.

It’s important to remind your reader of your overall question and hypothesis throughout the discussion section, while you are providing your interpretation of the results. This will ensure that you stay on track while you’re writing and that your readers will understand exactly how your findings are relevant.

This is your final chance to convince your readers that your work is important. 

Start your conclusion by restating your question and identify whether your findings support (or fail to support) your hypothesis. 

Summarize your findings and discuss whether they agree with those of other researchers. 

Finally, identify how your data advances the field and propose new or expanded ways of thinking about the question.

It’s important to avoid making unsupported claims or over-emphasize the impact of your findings. Even if you think your findings will revolutionize medicine as we know it, refrain from making that claim until you have the evidence to back it up.

Figures/Tables

Many readers will get the bulk of their information from your figures so make sure they are clear and informative. Your readers should be able to identify your key findings from figures alone.

Tips for figures and tables:

·        Don’t repeat data in tables, figures and in the text

·        Captions should sufficiently describe the figure so the reader could understand it even if the figure was absent

·        Keep graphs simple! If a basic table will work there’s no need for a multi-colored graph

Acknowledgements

Use the acknowledgments section to identify people who made your manuscript possible. Include advisors, proofreaders, and financial backers. In addition, identify funding sources including grant or reference numbers.

Make sure to use the reference style specified by your target journal or publisher. Avoid too many references, redundant references, excessive self-referencing, and referencing for the sake of referencing. Personal communications, unpublished observations, and submitted, unaccepted manuscripts should generally be avoided.

It should go without saying that you need to be ethical when preparing medical manuscripts. Fabricating or falsifying data is never acceptable, and you put your career at risk. It’s not worth it.

Plagiarism is not a viable strategy for getting works published. Any indication that you’ve plagiarized will be investigated, and if you’re found to have plagiarized your career and scientific reputation are at stake. Any time you refer to published work you need to reference it, even if it was your own publication. Be very careful about self-plagiarizing!

To learn more about ethical writing take a look at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services guide: Avoiding Plagiarism, Self-plagiarism, and Other Questionable Writing Practices: A Guide to Ethical Writing , by Dr. Miguel Roig.

Ethics standards require that you submit your manuscript to only one publisher at a time. If you’re caught submitting to multiple editors none of them will publish your work.

Traps to avoid

Seasoned writers told us some of the pitfalls they’ve learned how to watch out for:

Writing versus editing

Writing and editing are not the same. Get comfortable writing , that is, pouring out all of your ideas without editing yourself. Then go back and edit.

Lack of editing

One of the toughest parts of writing is opening yourself up to critique. As hard as it can be, the best way to get a polished and meaningful manuscript is to have other people read it. As writers we can get attached to particular phrases or styles that may not read as well to other people.

Scientific manuscript editing is the toughest of any manuscript editing but if you keep patience and edit honestly it will get easier over time. Imagine that you’re editing someone else’s document to help give you fresh eyes. If possible give yourself a couple of days without looking at the manuscript, then go back and read it.

Being unfamiliar with the literature

It’s important to be familiar with the current literature on the topic you’re writing about. A fatal flaw of any research manuscript is proposing a hypothesis that has already been tested or posing questions that have already been answered.

Not formatting properly

If your manuscript is not formatted properly, it is less likely to be accepted. Make sure your font and line spacing are correct, that you’ve adhered to word and figure limits, and that your references are in the correct style.

Useful tips

Here are some helpful tips that you can use to improve your writing:

Framing your manuscript

A common trope in outlining manuscripts is the inverted triangle approach, which starts generally and ends specifically. A more useful method is to consider an hourglass-shaped outline, which starts generally, specifically addresses your contribution to the field, then ties your contribution back to current knowledge and unanswered questions.

Passive and active voice

Medical writing has long used passive voice to communicate and, while this is still the status quo for many journals, don’t be afraid to get out of that mire. As journals begin to recognize that active voice is not only more economical but can also be more readable they are becoming more comfortable publishing articles that include active voice.

Don’t edit while you write

Get a first draft onto paper as quickly as possible and then edit. Don’t waste time trying to get a paragraph perfect the first time you write it.

Ask someone else to edit

Medical writing does have some unique challenges associated with it. Your audience may not be experts on the material you are delivering, so an ability to communicate complicated information in an accessible manner is very helpful. Improve on your skills by asking people outside of your field to provide constructive criticism on writing samples.

It can be a very useful practice to edit some manuscripts that other people have written. This will help you understand what editors are paying attention to.

Keep track of references

Make sure to keep detailed notes of where you got your references so that you can easily and accurately cite the literature you used. There’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to remember where you saw a really great reference.

Before you submit your manuscript

Ideally, you’ve left yourself plenty of time to proofread and have other people edit your document. At the very least make sure you budget some hours to carefully proofread. Triple check that your paper adheres to formatting requirements. You can learn how to proofread scientific manuscripts before submitting them for publication.

Cover letters

If you’re submitting an article for consideration you’ll need to write a cover letter. Take the time to find out who the editor is and address your letter to him or her. This is your chance to communicate with the editor! A generic “To whom it may concern” won’t impress anyone.

Your cover letter should be brief, but it needs to convey the value of your paper to the journal. Describe your main findings and their significance and why they’re a great fit for your publication of interest. 

If you have conflicts of interest, disclose them in your cover letter. Also, if your paper has already been rejected, let them know. Include the reason (if known) and reviewer comments, as well as discussing changes you’ve made to improve the paper.

You can also suggest peer-reviewers or people who shouldn’t review your paper. Be cautious when suggesting reviewers! Some of the most critical reviews come from suggested reviewers.

Your cover letter is an excellent opportunity to prove that you know what the goals of the journal are and that your article furthers them. Don’t waste it!

Reviewer comments/Revisions

If the publisher asks you to address reviewer comments, take the time to do this seriously and thoughtfully. Understand reviewer comments and address them objectively and scientifically (be polite!). If you disagree with a comment, state why and include supporting references. When more experiments or computations are requested, do them. It will make your paper stronger.

When you resubmit your manuscript make sure to identify page/line numbers where changes were made.

What if you’re rejected?

Don’t despair! Rejection happens to every writer. Try to understand why your manuscript was rejected. Evaluate your manuscript honestly and take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes.

A rejected paper isn’t a dead paper. You’ll need to make some substantial revisions and may need to change your formatting before resubmitting to a new journal or publisher. In the cover letter to the new editor you’ll need to state that your manuscript was rejected. Include any information you got about why your manuscript was rejected and all reviewer comments. Identify changes you made to the paper and explain why you chose to submit to the new journal.

Medical writing can be very rewarding but it’s important that writers have a clear understanding of what publishers are looking for. High-quality, original works that advance the medical field are much more likely to be published than papers that are not original or that have little medical or scientific interest.

Quality medical writing should have clarity, economy of language, and a consistent theme. It’s important to always state the question or topic you’re addressing early and refer to it often. This will help you stay focused and within the scope of your article during the writing process and it will help your readers understand your intentions. Using an outline is a very helpful way to make sure your article is consistently on-topic.

Following the tips and techniques provided here will definitely improve your writing skills, but the most effective way to get better at medical writing is to do it. There is no single best way to prepare a medical manuscript and even professional writers are continuously tweaking their writing strategies.

Hopefully these tips have helped you create a great manuscript. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and want some help with your medical writing or editing, we at The Med Writers can help. Contact us to learn more about our writing and editing services. 

Trends in Medicine

A blueprint for writing effectively for the health care field.

As a professional working in the health care field, you have valuable information to share with your colleagues and patients—from reporting the latest scientific research and outcomes data, to developing compelling grant proposals, to promoting public health messages. But if your writing isn’t up to par, you could be missing out on important opportunities to convey your point successfully and move readers to action. 

The Importance of Strong Writing Skills  

Clinicians, researchers, and allied health care professionals need strong writing skills in order to communicate effectively with their target audiences. Yet, most medical schools and other health care training programs don’t delve into the fundamentals of good writing that is necessary for professional success in a variety of settings. And even science writers and others who have a stronger writing background may not be fully strategic with how they approach their efforts to write for technical and mainstream publications, funding organizations, and an array of different audiences. That’s why no matter what your role or your training level, if you communicate through the written word, it can be helpful to fill in the gaps in your knowledge so you can maximize your potential.  

To offer some guidance, Thomas Jehn, PhD, Sosland Director of the Harvard College Writing Program, recently led a Zoom session for Harvard Medical School’s Effective Writing for Health Care program, a one-year certificate program designed to help medical professionals develop and communicate clear written messages for research articles, news and opinion pieces, digital copy, and grant proposals.

Approaching Writing as a Process 

“Whenever I work with professionals on the writing they do in their fields, I stress the importance of viewing writing not as a finished product in which we create one gem of a sentence at a time. Instead, I urge people to think of writing as a process of moving from a stage of interior monologue to a stage of communicating with your readers,” Jehn explains, adding that this means going from writer-based prose to reader-based prose. Such a process involves taking both a macro level and a micro level view.  

“The macro level is a bird’s eye view of the big-picture elements of the article, report, proposal, or whatever we’re writing,” he says. “This should involve thinking about what you’re trying to communicate and why, as well what evidence you’re presenting, the analysis you present, how you’re sequencing the most important points, how you organize your paragraphs, and more.” 

The micro level comes only after all of these larger details are arranged. 

“The micro level requires paying close attention to word choices, cutting needless words, making a sentence clearer, and fixing grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors,” he says. 

Jehn also stresses that it’s important to leave these micro level issues until the later stage of your writing, since focusing on these details in the early drafting phase can block your creative flow. “Worrying about the micro level issues too early in the process can also be a thorough waste of time since it might well happen that we realize a chunk of what we’ve written needs to be cut because it wasn’t making sense or it all needed to be re-organized, at which point all that time spent on perfecting a sentence or finding the right word was a waste,” he adds. 

Other Writing Tips 

Jehn also shares the following valuable writing tips to help you create a compelling final product: 

Before you begin writing your first draft, try imagining your audience so you can determine what they care about and how to frame your information in a way that will resonate with them. 

“I imagine a worst-case scenario for my readers. I picture them as tired, demanding, irritated, and distracted,” Jehn says. “I also imagine that they’ll walk away from what I’ve written if I burden them with ineffective writing.” With all of this in mind, he tries to reduce the cognitive load by choosing words well and keeping his messages clear and concise so they won’t be too difficult to follow.  

Consider your readers’ level of knowledge so you can write in the style and tone that will resonate best with them. If you are writing for clinicians or scientists, you can talk in their language. But if you are writing for a general audience that has little or no medical knowledge, you’ll need to talk in layperson’s terms that they will understand and avoid using jargon. 

Think of your sentences as a way to tell stories to your readers. Even if you’re working with abstract ideas, think of how you can make them more concrete for your reader and engage the reader into the storyline. “For example, try whenever possible to make flesh-and-blood subjects do actions in your sentences rather than using needlessly impersonal and abstract constructions. Readers will be more easily able to visualize your ideas,” Jehn says. Also look through your work for nominalizations, which are verbs or action words that have been turned into nouns, such as turning “argue” into “argument.” Such constructions are passive and can weaken the impact for the reader. While sometimes a nominalization is necessary, whenever possible, try to write the sentence so you’ve changed the nominalization back into its verb.  

Pay attention to patterns in your sentences and paragraphs and make sure you are varying things. Including some shorter sentences and paragraphs within your text can help break up information into smaller chunks that will be easy for the reader to absorb. 

A Helpful Resource 

Jehn says he relies on a book called  Style: Toward Clarity and Grace  by Joseph Williams, which is a user-friendly writing handbook that is geared to professionals, to guide his efforts. The book can be a valuable resource as you tackle your writing projects and make strategic choices to help you make your work as powerful as possible.

Written by Lisa D. Ellis

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How to Write a Medical Research Paper

Last Updated: February 5, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by Chris M. Matsko, MD . Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 89% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 202,417 times.

Writing a medical research paper is similar to writing other research papers in that you want to use reliable sources, write in a clear and organized style, and offer a strong argument for all conclusions you present. In some cases the research you discuss will be data you have actually collected to answer your research questions. Understanding proper formatting, citations, and style will help you write and informative and respected paper.

Researching Your Paper

• Pick something that really interests you to make the research more fun.
• Choose a topic that has unanswered questions and propose solutions.

• Quantitative studies consist of original research performed by the writer. These research papers will need to include sections like Hypothesis (or Research Question), Previous Findings, Method, Limitations, Results, Discussion, and Application.
• Synthesis papers review the research already published and analyze it. They find weaknesses and strengths in the research, apply it to a specific situation, and then indicate a direction for future research.

• Keep track of your sources. Write down all publication information necessary for citation: author, title of article, title of book or journal, publisher, edition, date published, volume number, issue number, page number, and anything else pertaining to your source. A program like Endnote can help you keep track of your sources.
• Take detailed notes as you read. Paraphrase information in your own words or if you copy directly from the article or book, indicate that these are direct quotes by using quotation marks to prevent plagiarism.
• Be sure to keep all of your notes with the correct source.
• Your professor and librarians can also help you find good resources.

• Keep all of your notes in a physical folder or in a digitized form on the computer.
• Start to form the basic outline of your paper using the notes you have collected.

Writing Your Paper

• Start with bullet points and then add in notes you've taken from references that support your ideas. [1] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
• A common way to format research papers is to follow the IMRAD format. This dictates the structure of your paper in the following order: I ntroduction, M ethods, R esults, a nd D iscussion. [2] X Research source
• The outline is just the basic structure of your paper. Don't worry if you have to rearrange a few times to get it right.
• Ask others to look over your outline and get feedback on the organization.
• Know the audience you are writing for and adjust your style accordingly. [3] X Research source

• Use a standard font type and size, such as Times New Roman 12 point font.
• Double-space your paper.
• If necessary, create a cover page. Most schools require a cover page of some sort. Include your main title, running title (often a shortened version of your main title), author's name, course name, and semester.

• Break up information into sections and subsections and address one main point per section.
• Include any figures or data tables that support your main ideas.
• For a quantitative study, state the methods used to obtain results.

• Clearly state and summarize the main points of your research paper.
• Discuss how this research contributes to the field and why it is important. [4] X Research source
• Highlight potential applications of the theory if appropriate.
• Propose future directions that build upon the research you have presented. [5] X Research source
• Keep the introduction and discussion short, and spend more time explaining the methods and results.

• State why the problem is important to address.
• Discuss what is currently known and what is lacking in the field.
• State the objective of your paper.
• Keep the introduction short.

• Highlight the purpose of the paper and the main conclusions.
• State why your conclusions are important.
• Be concise in your summary of the paper.
• Show that you have a solid study design and a high-quality data set.
• Abstracts are usually one paragraph and between 250 – 500 words.

• Unless otherwise directed, use the American Medical Association (AMA) style guide to properly format citations.
• Add citations at end of a sentence to indicate that you are using someone else's idea. Use these throughout your research paper as needed. They include the author's last name, year of publication, and page number.
• Compile your reference list and add it to the end of your paper.
• Use a citation program if you have access to one to simplify the process.

• Continually revise your paper to make sure it is structured in a logical way.
• Proofread your paper for spelling and grammatical errors.
• Make sure you are following the proper formatting guidelines provided for the paper.
• Have others read your paper to proofread and check for clarity. Revise as needed.

Expert Q&A

• Ask your professor for help if you are stuck or confused about any part of your research paper. They are familiar with the style and structure of papers and can provide you with more resources. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Refer to your professor's specific guidelines. Some instructors modify parts of a research paper to better fit their assignment. Others may request supplementary details, such as a synopsis for your research project . Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Set aside blocks of time specifically for writing each day. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Do not plagiarize. Plagiarism is using someone else's work, words, or ideas and presenting them as your own. It is important to cite all sources in your research paper, both through internal citations and on your reference page. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 2

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• ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3178846/
• ↑ http://owl.excelsior.edu/research-and-citations/outlining/outlining-imrad/
• ↑ http://china.elsevier.com/ElsevierDNN/Portals/7/How%20to%20write%20a%20world-class%20paper.pdf
• ↑ http://intqhc.oxfordjournals.org/content/16/3/191
• ↑ http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioslabs/tools/report/reportform.html#form

About This Article

To write a medical research paper, research your topic thoroughly and compile your data. Next, organize your notes and create a strong outline that breaks up the information into sections and subsections, addressing one main point per section. Write the results and discussion sections first to go over your findings, then write the introduction to state your objective and provide background information. Finally, write the abstract, which concisely summarizes the article by highlighting the main points. For tips on formatting and using citations, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Medical Writer CV example

If you’ve got a medical background and a keen eye for content, you can combine the two with a career as a medical writer.

The demand for medical writers is very high, which means with the right skills, you’ll be a highly sought-after professional and have the opportunity to earn an impressive salary.

So to help get your job search underway, we’ve put together an example of a medical writer CV with some of our top tips below.

Guide contents

Medical Writer CV example

• Structuring and formatting your CV
• Writing your CV profile
• Detailing work experience
• Your education
• Skills required for your Medical Writer CV

CV templates 

The above CV example demonstrates the type of info you should be including within your Medical Writer CV, as well as how to display this information in a way which looks professional and is easy for time-strapped recruiters to read.

This is the standard you should be aiming for, so remember to refer back to it throughout the CV writing process.

Medical Writer CV structure and format

The format and structure of your CV is important because it will determine how easy it is for recruiters and employers to read your CV.

If they can find the information they need quickly, they’ll be happy; but if they struggle, your application could be overlooked.

A simple and logical structure will always create a better reading experience than a complex structure, and with a few simple formatting tricks, you’ll be good to go.

Formatting Tips

• Length: Two sides of A4 makes for the perfect CV length , though one page is okay for less experienced applicants. This forces you to make sure that every single sentence adds value to your CV and ensures you avoid waffle.
• Readability : To help busy recruiters scan through your CV, make sure your section headings stand out – bold or coloured text works well. Additionally, try to use bullet points wherever you can, as they’re far easier to skim through than huge paragraphs. Lastly, don’t be afraid of white space on your CV – a little breathing space is great for readability.
• Design: While it’s okay to add your own spin to your CV, avoid overdoing the design. If you go for something elaborate, you might end up frustrating recruiters who, above anything, value simplicity and clarity.
• Avoid photos: Logos, profile photos or other images aren’t necessary and rarely add any value – save the space for written content, instead!

Structuring your CV

As you write your CV , divide and sub-head into the following sections:

• Name and contact details – Always start with these, so employers know exactly how to get in touch with you.
• CV profile – Add a short summary of your relevant experience, skills and achievements, which highlights your suitability.
• Core skills section – A 2-3 columned list of your key skills.
• Work experience – A detailed list of any relevant work experience, whether paid or voluntary.
• Education – An overview of your academic background and any training you may have completed.
• Hobbies and interests – A brief overview of your hobbies and interests, if they’re relevant (optional).

Now I’ll guide you through exactly what you should include in each CV section.

CV Contact Details

Start off your CV with a basic list of your contact details. Here’s what you should include:

• Mobile number
• Email address – It’s often helpful to make a new email address, specifically for your job applications.
• Location – Share your town or city; there’s no need for a full address.
• LinkedIn profile or portfolio URL – Make sure the information on them is coherent with your CV, and that they’re up-to-date

Quick tip: Delete excessive details, such as your date of birth or marital status. Recruiters don’t need to know this much about you, so it’s best to save the space for your other CV sections.

Medical Writer CV Profile

Your CV profile is basically a short introductory paragraph, which summarises your key selling points and highlights why you’d make a good hire.

So, write a well-rounded summary of what you do, what your key skills are, and what relevant experience you have.

It needs to be short, snappy and punchy and, ultimately, entice the reader to read the rest of your CV.

Tips for creating an impactful CV profile:

• Keep it brief: The best CV profiles are short, sharp and highly relevant to the target role. For this reason, it’s best to write 3-4 lines of high-level information, as anything over might be missed.
• Tailor it: No matter how much time you put into your CV profile, it won’t impress if it’s irrelevant to the role you’re applying for. Before you start writing, make a list of the skills, knowledge and experience your target employer is looking for. Then, make sure to mention them in your CV profile and throughout the rest of your application.
• Don’t add an objective: Career goals and objectives are best suited to your cover letter , so don’t waste space with them in your CV profile.
• Avoid cliches: If your CV is riddled with clichès like “Dynamic thought-leader”, hit that delete button. Phrases like these are like a broken record to recruiters, who read them countless times per day. Hard facts, skills, knowledge and results are sure to yield far better results.

What to include in your Medical Writer CV profile?

• Summary of experience: Start with a brief summary of your relevant experience so far. How many years experience do you have? What type of companies have you worked for? What industries/sectors have you worked in? What are your specialisms?
• Relevant skills: Make your most relevant Medical Writer key skills clear in your profile. These should be tailored to the specific role you’re applying for – so make sure to check the job description first, and aim to match their requirements as closely as you can.
• Essential qualifications: If you have any qualifications which are highly relevant to Medical Writer jobs, then highlight them in your profile so that employers do not miss them.

Quick tip: Your CV is your first impression on recruiters, so it’s vital to avoid spelling and grammar mistakes if you want to appear professional. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to add pre-written content that has been crafted by recruitment experts.

Core skills section

In addition to your CV profile, your core skills section provides an easily digestible snapshot of your skills – perfect for grabbing the attention of busy hiring managers.

As Medical Writer jobs might receive a huge pile of applications, this is a great way to stand out and show off your suitability for the role.

It should be made up of 2-3 columns of bullet points and be made up of skills that are highly relevant to the jobs you are targeting.

Work experience/Career history

By now, you’ll have hooked the reader’s attention and need to show them how you apply your skills and knowledge in the workplace, to benefit your employers.

So, starting with your most recent role and working backwards to your older roles, create a thorough summary of your career history to date.

If you’ve held several roles and are struggling for space, cut down the descriptions for your oldest jobs.

Structuring your roles

The structure of your work experience section can seriously affect its impact.

This is generally the biggest section of a CV, and with no thought to structure, it can look bulky and important information can get lost.

Use my 3-step structure below to allow for easy navigation, so employers can find what they are looking for:

Firstly, give the reader some context by creating a punchy summary of the job as a whole.

You should mention what the purpose or goal of your role was, what team you were part of and who you reported to.

Key responsibilities

Next, write up a punchy list of your daily duties and responsibilities, using bullet points.

Wherever you can, point out how you put your hard skills and knowledge to use – especially skills which are applicable to your target role.

Key achievements

To finish off each role and prove the impact you made, list 1-3 stand out achievements , results or accomplishments.

This could be anything which had a positive outcome for the company you worked for, or perhaps a client/customer. Where applicable, quantify your examples with facts and figures.

In your education section, make any degrees, qualifications or training which are relevant to Medical Writer roles a focal point.

As well as mentioning the name of the organisation, qualification titles and dates of study, you should showcase any particularly relevant modules, assignments or projects.

Interests and hobbies

Although this is an optional section, it can be useful if your hobbies and interests will add further depth to your CV.

Interests which are related to the sector you are applying to, or which show transferable skills like leadership or teamwork, can worth listing.

On the other hand, generic hobbies like “going out with friends” won’t add any value to your application, so are best left off your CV.

Essential skills for your Medical Writer CV

Tailoring your CV to the roles you are applying for is key to success, so make sure to read through the job descriptions and tailor your skills accordingly.

However, commonly desired Medical Writer skills include:

Medical knowledge: In order to be a medical writer , you need to have a background or strong knowledge of the medical industry

Writing skills: You’ll need strong writing skills, flawless grammar and the ability to explain complex topics coherently

Attention to detail: When proofreading your work, you need to make sure you pay strong attention to detail so you can spot any mistakes, spelling or grammatical errors

Time-management: You need to make sure that any projects or reports you’re working on are completed on time

Communication skills: As well as being able to write, you need to be able to listen to and follow briefs and liaise with clients, speakers and other writers

Writing your Medical Writer CV

A strong, compelling CV is essential to get noticed and land interviews with the best employers.

To ensure your CV stands out from the competition, make sure to tailor it to your target role and pack it with sector-specific skills and results.

Remember to triple-check for spelling and grammar errors before hitting send.

Good luck with the job search!

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UF Medicine graduate programs celebrate spring commencement

Graduates will pursue careers in medical research and other vocations to advance health

May 8, 2024 — With only about 14% of Americans holding a graduate or professional degree as of 2021, completing a graduate program is a significant accomplishment requiring diligence and determination.

At the University of Florida College of Medicine , 135 students who completed master’s degrees in medical sciences or doctoral degrees in spring 2024 represent a resilient group of future leaders in health and research.

David C. Bloom, Ph.D., director of the Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences and interim associate dean for graduate education at the College of Medicine, acknowledged the determination of these students to complete their degrees during spring commencement celebrations held May 2 on UF’s campus.

“Your accomplishments are a testament to the wonderful faculty here and the great students who take advantage of the opportunities our programs have to offer,” Bloom said. “We are very excited to see where your studies take you and congratulate you all.”

Phinally Done

The College of Medicine’s spring 2024 doctoral graduates celebrated their achievements in an intimate event at the George T. Harrell, M.D., Medical Education Building Thursday afternoon following the UF-wide commencement. The 25 members of the graduating class come from all over the world, having grown up in countries like Spain, Ecuador, Syria, and St. Lucia. The new Gator Ph.D.s will now be heading everywhere from Atlanta and Boston to China and New Zealand, where they will apply their research prowess to make an impact in medicine and biomedical science.

UF President Ben Sasse, Ph.D., visited the Harrell Medical Education Building to congratulate the graduates, noting that even though their time learning at the university may be over, the connections and communities they’ve built will have a lasting impact in Gainesville, the state of Florida, and beyond.

“You have big opportunities for service in health and AI that will help us advance the future,” he said. “You’ll forever be part of the Gator Nation.”

Jennifer Hunt, M.D., M.Ed., interim dean of the College of Medicine, spoke to the graduates shortly after commencement to recognize the dual nature of this exciting milestone and the bittersweet feelings of moving onto a new chapter of life.

“There’s a little twinge of sadness because it seems like there’s so much finality to it, and it is, after all, the end of your time as students,” she said. “When my students cross the stage, I catch myself with this little bit of anticipation, thinking about the last time I’ll see them at those desks. We know when you walked across the stage, you were filled with a different kind of anticipation, one of excitement about looking at an uncharted future and launching the next phase of your life.”

Sadeem Qdaisat, Ph.D. ’24, who completed his graduate studies in the genetics and genomics concentration under the mentorship of Elias Sayour, M.D., Ph.D., spent the past several years researching immunotherapy methods to treat pediatric brain cancer patients. He will soon begin a clinical fellowship with the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics at Harvard University, where he will build upon his studies at UF to continue research on the development of alternative cancer treatments to chemotherapy.

“What I love about UF is that I’ve been able to collaborate with people from all over the world while researching here, and from many disciplines, from vet medicine to aerospace engineering,” Qdaisat said.

Masters of their domain

During a recognition ceremony held Thursday evening at the UF/IFAS Extension Straughn Professional Development Center for the 135 members of the class of 2024 who earned master’s degrees from the College of Medicine this spring, graduates and their families celebrated years of hard work.

Many of the graduates aspire to become doctors, dentists and medical researchers, and several worked full time while pursuing their degrees. By completing a Master of Science in Medical Sciences degree in one of the College of Medicine’s 13 concentrations, they are setting themselves up with the medical and scientific knowledge needed for successful careers in their fields.

Skylar Scott, M.S. ’24, completed her studies in the medical physiology and pharmacology concentration this spring, attending classes online from her home state of Texas. After completing her undergraduate degree, she decided to enroll in a master’s program at the College of Medicine to build her skills and experience with medicine-related classes. Scott plans to apply to medical school, with hopes of specializing in neurosurgery and researching Parkinson’s disease.

“I wasn’t sure how effective an online program could be for me, but it really opened up doors and gave me experience with things I was missing from my undergrad studies,” she said.

Riley Yates, M.S. ’24, who completed her studies in the forensic medicine concentration, intends to put the skills she learned from her degree to work in the criminal justice field.

“The professors here have been really helpful and supportive, which was important to me since I was working full time while getting my degree,” Yates said.

Lerah Sutton, Ph.D., the program director for forensic medicine and a coordinator for the college’s graduation ceremonies, congratulated the spring graduates at a recognition ceremony ahead of commencement.

“The completion of your master’s degree is … a testimony to your hard work, your perseverance and your dedication to your goals,” she said. “Undoubtedly, you have faced challenges throughout the process. By overcoming those challenges, you’ve demonstrated your steadfastness and commitment to academic excellence. As you go forward in your futures and your careers, remember that every challenge you face is an opportunity for growth. Never give up your thirst for knowledge or your love for learning. It will bring you to great heights.”

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About the Author

Emily Mavrakis

Writer, uf college of medicine.

Emily Mavrakis is a writer for the UF College of Medicine’s communications team, where she strategizes and produces content including written articles, videos and photography to highlight the achievements and initiatives of college faculty, students, staff and alumni. She also serves as the assistant editor for the college’s print publications, Florida Physician magazine and the Dr. Gator newsletter. Prior to joining the UF Medicine staff in 2021, she served as the business reporter for the Gainesville Sun newspaper and interned as a science writer with the Florida Museum of Natural History. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from UF.

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• Provision of highly qualified medical care to patients with malignant neoplasms and precancerous pathology;
• Carrying out scientific research in the field of studying the biology of tumor cells, mechanisms of carcinogenesis and tumor progression (molecular, virological, chemical-physical, genetic, cellular, immunological aspects);
• Experimental and clinical development of new technologies in the field of surgical treatment of malignant tumors;
• Development of new means and methods of diagnostics, drug, radiation and combination therapy, as well as active prevention of tumors;
• Development of issues of diagnosis, treatment and prevention in the field of pediatric oncology;
• Studying the epidemiology of malignant tumors, improving the methods of oncological statistics;
• Development, together with preventive medicine specialists, of a national screening program in oncology;
• Organization and conduct of telemedicine consultations in the following areas: oncology, radiotherapy, radiology, pathological anatomy, cytology, immunology, pediatric oncology, etc .;
• Implementation of the methodological guidance of the oncological service of the Russian Federation, development, together with the professional community and the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, of clinical recommendations, procedures and standards for the provision of oncological care;
• The introduction of new devices and technologies in the treatment and diagnostic process and for the prevention of malignant neoplasms;
• Training of scientific and medical personnel through residency, postgraduate studies, doctoral studies and in the system of additional professional education.

Specialization

What diseases are treated, additional services and facilities, booking of online-consultation.

After submitting this form our manager will get in touch with you to inform cost of consultation of selected specialist and agree with you date-time slot for online-talk with doctor.

Submitting Request to N.N. Blokhin Russian Cancer Research Center

For reviewing your case by doctors you need to fill form below.