Life as a Medical Copywriter

What prompted you to pursue an opportunity in medical copywriting?

I always wanted to pair my continuing education in biosciences with creating a direct impact on improving people’s lives. As part of my PhD program, I entered an internship that was outside of our area of expertise, beyond the lab. That’s when I first came across healthcare communications as an industry. I worked as a junior consultant and got involved in congress organization and document creation, as well as media and public relations with direct client contact. My experiences in disseminating information to doctors, patients, journalists, and the public cemented the idea for me that this was the field I wanted to work in.

What does it take to be a great medical copywriter?

As I grew my experience, I learnt about the roles of the accurate and meticulous medical writer, the strategic and conceptual creative copywriter, and their intersection—the medical copywriter. Medical copywriting allows you to be creative while maintaining that scientific rigor. I love this combination because I can focus on the precise details as well as the bigger picture, and be able to explore the project creatively to deliver on both. As a result, I’ve been able to expand both the breadth and depth of the disease areas I’m involved in, and simultaneously develop my strategic thinking. But the best part is knowing that I work on materials that will help healthcare professionals make treatment decisions that benefit patients’ lives.

What are the key highlights of your week at Avalere Health?

Collaboration is a core part of working at Avalere Health. On a day-to-day basis, I work with designers, account managers, project managers, and a strategy team. Everyone is so friendly and willing to share their perspectives, which creates an environment that allows me to produce the best work possible. I feel like I can speak to anyone in any department; elsewhere, I might not have access to their knowledge and expertise.

With copywriting specifically, there’s a degree of considering what’s the most you can get out of a phrase—by crafting a sentence that can almost change someone’s behavior. Having informal conversations with colleagues in other departments can stir a new idea that I might not have considered before, and in turn, that idea evolves into something tangible that drives change. I love these informal conversations because they allow me to simultaneously maximize what the brand wants to achieve and what we, as a company, want to achieve which creates this fulfilling alignment of goals.

How would you describe the working environment at Avalere Health?

There’s a huge emphasis on empowering employees to succeed in what they are interested in. That’s one of the main reasons I wanted to work for Avalere Health. It’s reassuring to see that the company’s vision and values are embedded in our working environment. For example, our career experience platform Fuel 50 allows me to pursue the right career path for me, even if that is parallel to my current role and one that I may not have considered before. Personalized career mapping is a great opportunity that very few companies provide!

Do you have any advice for maintaining mental wellbeing whilst working from home?

Whilst working from home, it is very important for me to optimize the space around me. Having walls and a window to divide up my workspace and having room for a decent-sized desk is key. It’s also the simple things like going for a walk to break up your day that are truly necessary. I currently work on a hybrid working schedule, so its important that I continue to set time aside to go outside for walks—ideally on my lunch break to catch those rays while I can!

After a busy work week, how do you unwind?

I’m a big fan of in-door bouldering, and I’m looking forward to getting back into it after a long hiatus. Another way I relax is by putting on some music at the end of the day—loudly! I find I can really switch off when I’m surrounded by music. I generally listen to a mix of genres, but recently I’ve been enjoying some funk and jazz tunes. I’ve also been getting back into drumming. I used to play as a teenager and I’m wondering why I ever stopped—there’s nothing like a good jam session with friends in an open studio space.