Scientific writing and communication is always a popular iJOBS event topic. In choosing this path, our love of science and extensive schooling is used in a meaningful and fulfilling way with a broader focus and increased flexibility compared to “traditional” science careers. This career path is often not discovered until late in a graduate career when some of us realize bench science just isn’t for 
us. For others like Dr. Jillian Whidby, the love of writing and communication of science was rediscovered in graduate school. Jillian Whidby, Ph.D. received her Bachelor of Science degree from Rowan University in 2004 and continued on to Rutgers University for a doctorate in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics which she received in 2012. Currently a medical writer at Integrium, LLC. Dr. Whidby shares with us her journey to medical writing, gives some insight into the day-to-
day life of a medical writer, and advises those wanting to transition into this career. Read on to find out more and see if this career path is for you!
Dr. Whidby, tell us a little bit about your background. What was your path like leading up to now?
I have always been passionate about writing, since middle school in fact. I used to write short stories and poems at leisure. By the time I reached high school, I had hopes of someday writing for National Geographic or Scientific American. I tutored family members in essay writing. I applied to colleges as a Journalism major. But by the time the first semester began, I thought it would be a better idea to get a science education first. I changed majors, fell in love with bench research through a couple of excellent professors, and OOPS! I had a Ph.D. When it was time to graduate, our economy had collapsed and the biotech/pharma industry was not hiring a soul. The positive reinforcement of my writing skills which I had received throughout grad school led me back to writing. One of my committee members, Dr. Ann Stock, wrote a note on the cover of my thesis about the great “story” I’d written and how enjoyable it was to read. I kept that note! Dr. Aaron Shatkin gave similar comments when I was working on our first manuscript. I also enjoyed editing manuscripts, grant applications, and thesis work for friends who did not use English as a first language. It was a great way to challenge my command of grammar, sentence structure, and organization.
Why did you choose to transition away from bench science to the communications field?
In graduate school, structural biology really pushed me to my limit psychologically. I was ready for a change. I was not up for the stress of “round 2”— the post-doctoral fellowship. I also wanted to start a family without that pressure. I felt confident in my ability to write and communicate. It comes naturally to me and I knew I had a competitive edge over others with a similar education and technical skillset.
What does your position at Integrium entail? Describe your typical day.
Integrium manages clinical trials. I write the protocols that instruct doctors and clinical research associates how to treat study subjects. I also write informed consents and the clinical study reports that explain the results of the trials. I communicate with doctors, project managers, and statisticians within our own organization, and directly with clients all over the world.
How much different is your current job from working in the lab? How much did you have to adjust mentally/technically?
I still haven’t adjusted! Working in the lab requires a level of endurance— coping with failure daily— that I do not miss. I work from home, so I very much miss having a “lab family”. I have also become hypersensitive to the level of dust on my furniture, which is not a good thing! I miss the science, access to PubMed, the challenge of tackling an enormous problem that affects a global population, but my job is challenging in new ways. I am always learning about new therapies and designing unique studies: smaller scale challenges, easier problems to solve. I’m still involved with healing people on the sidelines, but from a different perspective.
How much opportunity for advancement is there in your field?
Medical writing can be lucrative. Depending on the size of the company, you can certainly work your way into senior level positions that pay very well. With experience in FDA and ICH regulations, you can also work your way toward Project Management or Quality Assurance. I think the experience can open doors to other related careers.
What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction?
When we receive a synopsis, or an abbreviated study outline from a client, the first thing I do is try to create a defined schedule of events for the entire study in table form. It becomes the foundation upon which the entire study is built. Sometimes these tables get very complicated with extensive footnotes and span multiple pages. But when I get it right and the plan is crystal clear, it feels like a work of art. Once, a client told me I had generated the most clear and comprehensible table she had ever seen. (Nailed it!)
What do you think are the advantages or disadvantages to working in communications versus academia or bench science?
The greatest advantage is the flexibility. I don’t know of many jobs you can have with a Ph.D. and work from home. I cherish every extra minute it has allowed me to spend with my daughter. It has also allowed me to take better care of my health. Instead of sitting in traffic, I go to a gym now! The greatest disadvantage is that I don’t feel the same sense of global impact. Although this work has great value and can result in new treatments for people suffering from various diseases, I don’t get to be the one developing the cure.
Where do you see your career heading in the future?
I’m not sure. I have a very open mind about what I might do next and when. I have already proven to myself that I can turn 180 degrees, do something completely different, and do it well. So why not try something else? I want to keep learning and growing.
How was your job search experience?
Long and tough. The economy has improved, but graduates should mentally prepare themselves for a long haul and remember not to take rejection personally.
What websites or resources did you find most helpful in your search?
Indeed and LinkedIn. I really liked the search algorithm and filtering options on Indeed. LinkedIn provided a personal connection. If I saw a job I was interested in, I could reach out directly to a hiring manager. Now I get calls from recruiters constantly via LinkedIn.
What do you think is the number one reason why you were chosen by Integrium over others who applied?
Networking! I met one of their project managers at an Association for Women in Science event. Told her I was interested in medical writing. She said her company was looking for a medical writer, so I sent my resume directly to her. They respected her opinion as an employee of theirs. I never thought it would work out. I had no background in cardiometabolic disease, which is Integrium’s expertise, and I told them I could only work from home because their NJ office was not a commutable distance for me. I was very candid with them during interviews. I was honest about my strengths and weaknesses. In the end, I feel that they hired me not for what I knew but for what I had the capacity to learn— quickly, independently and confidently.
How much leverage does your graduate school background give you when applying for a job in your field?
I don’t think there are many medical writers with Ph.D.s. My degree is not my greatest asset, but it certainly brings credibility to my company when they can tell clients that their medical writer has a Ph.D. Many scientists with Ph.D.s are awful writers. You have to be able to demonstrate WHY you spent all this time earning a prestigious degree and now want to write in the medical field.
Was the writing you did during your graduate school enough to be considered “writing experience”?
Not really. Medical writing is completely different. My first six months was spent reading pharmacology books and researching medical acronyms and terms that meant nothing to me before. But I would say graduate school in general helped me get used to criticism and feedback on something that I find to be very personal.
Would a writing internship or working as a freelance writer boost your chances of getting hired?
Yes. There is so much to learn about how medical documents are regulated. There are also ways to use Adobe Pro and Microsoft Word that you can’t even believe exist. Having even a bit of background will make the learning curve less steep.
What do you wish you had more experience in before transitioning to communications and writing?
For my particular job, medical background or even basic anatomy would have been helpful. So would a more recent class in statistics. I am constantly researching acronyms, diseases, pharmaceuticals, and beyond. When I first started, I also read a very basic pharmacology book to acclimate myself to the new jargon.
What advice do you have for students coming out of graduate school who want to transition to a communications field?
1) NETWORK. People want to help other people and companies appreciate, and often reward, referrals from their own trusted employees. 2) Nail your cover letter. As much as we feel trapped on an academic research runaway train, the world outside of academia equally expects us to stay on it. If you want to get out of research, be prepared to explain why.
I’d like to thank Dr. Whidby for taking the time to answer the questions presented here by myself and fellow iJOBS bloggers. Readers, I hope this interview has given you some insight into the opportunities in the field of medical writing as well as the challenges we may face getting there.