The Benefits of Joining Professional Associations

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One topic bandied about in the field is if it’s worth joining professional associations and, if yes, which ones. The sticky part of that discussion is defining our field. The medical communication field includes writers and editors, of course, but also graphic artists and illustrators. In some industries, project managers, managing editors, and professionals in similar fields may also benefit from the networking and learning available from a medical communication association.

The other part of that question is if it is worth joining professional associations and, if so, how many to join. Membership costs money, and the benefits from joining a professional association mostly accrue through participation, which requires time and usually also involves spending more money. Each person asking this question has their own budget for time and money.

This week, we explore the question, Is it worth joining professional associations?

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Medical Communication Careers

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Did you know that a career in medical communications can take different paths?  

You may be interested in becoming a medical or life science writer or editor, but you are not quite sure where you’d like to work and what type of documents you want to focus on.  Today we describe some of the common careers in medical communications below. 

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What Medical Communication Specialty Is for You?

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Medical communications is a large field with many subfields and specialties, and it’s worth taking some time to explore which one is right for you! The medical communication fields fall, roughly, into 3 categories: medical writing, editing, and health writing. Figuring out which of these fields likely suits your preferences, experience, expertise, and education best is a great first step in narrowing your search for a fit. The matrix below helps you reflect on these facets and determine which of the 3 categories is likely to suit you best. 

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