Message from the Biomedical Writing Director

Susanna J. Dodgson, PhD
Graduate Program Director for Biomedical Writing

The primary function of a medical writer is to create, check or analyze data, and convert these into forms that can be understood by professional or general audiences. The online Biomedical Writing Programs at USP instruct medical writers to handle data in industry-specific documents. We will teach you content, documentation, writing and editing for the pharmaceutical industry: in pharmaceutical companies, contract research associations, advertising agencies, clinical sites, professional societies.

The need for medical writers in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry is greater than the number of medical writers. Since 1997 we have educated over 500 professionals who have taken one or more of our courses. We have more than 50 graduates with the Master of Science in Biomedical Writing who are working in management in the pharmaceutical industry or running small and large freelance medical writing businesses. We want you to succeed: we start with your resume and encourage you in every way we can from landing your first job through to running your own business or senior management.

Who are our other students? Some are pursuing their first graduate degree; others are professionals with advanced degrees in science, healthcare and journalism who want or need to change careers. USP graduate students in other majors are also encouraged to take our courses.

You are welcome to our Third Thursday seminars. Once a month, on the third Thursday at 6:30pm, local students, faculty, graduates and friends meet at USP in the Science and Technology Center for a casual meal and talk. Remote students join us online and by telephone from 7 to 8pm. We would love to see you, or hear you!