Core / Technical / Scientific Skills
1. Scientific / medical knowledge
To write with authority, you really need a strong foundation in medical concepts, terminology, physiology, anatomy, diseases, treatments, and so on. The deeper your understanding of the subject, the more reliable and trustworthy your writing will be.
2. Research skills
You should be able to navigate literature sources like PubMed, clinical trial registries, and other peer-reviewed journals. It’s crucial to evaluate these sources, pull out the relevant information, and stay updated with the latest findings. Being able to assess the quality of studies—considering study design, bias, and statistics—is essential.
3. Statistics & data interpretation
Even when writing blog posts or health content, you’ll often need to reference study results, percentages, and risk factors. It’s important to interpret data accurately (and understand its limitations) and present it in a way that’s easy for non-experts to grasp.
4. Regulatory / guidelines / ethical knowledge
Depending on your writing focus, you might need to be aware of ethical considerations (like patient confidentiality, authorship, and conflicts of interest) and regulatory guidelines (such as those from the FDA, ICH, or publication standards like CONSORT and ICMJE). Even in non-academic or blog posts, understanding ethical norms can boost your credibility.
5. Medical / scientific terminology
It’s vital to know how to use medical terms correctly, when to simplify them, and when to define them for a general audience. A good grasp of the jargon helps avoid miscommunication.
Soft Skills / Communication & Process Skills
1. Clarity & Conciseness
Medical topics can be pretty intricate. It’s essential to break down complex ideas into simple terms, steer clear of unnecessary jargon, and ensure your writing is easy to read for your audience.
2. Attention to Detail
Precision is key when it comes to data, names, dosages, references, spelling, and grammar. Even tiny errors in medical writing can lead to misinformation.
3. Adaptability
Your approach should shift based on your audience—whether they’re health professionals or the general public—as well as the format you’re using, like blog posts, patient information sheets, or regulatory documents. The tone can vary too, from formal to informal or narrative to informative. Plus, medical knowledge is always evolving, so staying current is part of the job.
4. Project and Time Management
You might juggle several projects at once, each with its own deadlines, revisions, and reviews. Being organized, prioritizing tasks, and meeting deadlines are absolutely crucial.
5. Communication & Interpersonal Skills
You’ll be collaborating with subject matter experts, reviewers, and editors; clarifying any uncertainties; gathering feedback; and ensuring you fully grasp what’s expected. This also includes working alongside designers, publishers, and others.
6. Ethical Integrity
It’s vital to maintain honesty and transparency, acknowledge uncertainties, disclose any conflicts of interest, and avoid plagiarism. The stakes are high when it comes to medical content.
7. Literature Search & Reference Management
Proper citation is a must, along with keeping track of your sources and using reference managers. Staying organized with your literature helps you quickly find what you need.
Here’s a list of free courses for medical writing skills in clear points:
1. Introduction to Medical Writing (Alison) – Basics of medical writing, types of documents, plain language, referencing.
Alison – https://alison.com/course/
2. Free AI Course for Health & Medical Writers (Health Writer Hub) – Using AI responsibly in health/medical writing.
Health Writer Hub – Free AI Coursehttps://www.healthwriterhub.
3. Biostatistics Introduction (EMBL-EBI) – Fundamentals of statistics, probability, hypothesis testing, data visualization.
EMBL-EBI – Biostatistics Introduction
https://www.ebi.ac.uk/
4. Free Training & Masterclasses (Redwood Ink) – Writing clarity, active vs passive voice, inclusive language, scientific style tips.
Redwood Ink – Free Training
https://www.redwoodink.com/
5. Biostatistics Courses (Alison) – Multiple modules on stats for biology and public health.
Alison – Biostatistics
https://alison.com/tag/
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