NICOLA WESTWOOD - Freelance medical writer
Salary range
GBP£25,000 - 40,000 p.a.
AUD$63,000 - 100,000 p.a.
What I studied
Bachelor of Science (Honours) Pharmacology 1989
Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) Pharmacology 1994
Career Path
Associate Lecturer - Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, The University of Queensland
Researcher - Independent market research specialising in pharmaceuticals and health care, UK and Hong Kong
Medical writer - Medical publishing company, Hong Kong
Medical Writer - Freelance, London UK
After completing a research degree gaining a PhD in pharmacology (the link between medicine and pharmacy) and then lecturing at university Nicola travelled to the UK and took up work in the business side of science.
This change in career path, firstly to market research and then medical writing, was prompted by a desire to live and work in different countries. Nicola has worked in both London and Hong Kong and has now found her “niche” in medical writing.
“I had been thinking of medical writing for a while as it seemed to me to be a job that would have me dealing with new information all the time, always looking into different therapy areas and it also seemed that it was a completely transportable skill. As a freelance writer I could be anywhere in the world (even a beach in the Caribbean!) and, as long as I had a computer and an internet link, I could work.
“As a medical writer, I research, write, edit and proof materials written about the latest developments in healthcare. My writing is used in printed form and on the web. The materials are generally used as educational resources for healthcare professionals or lay persons.
Working as a freelancer allows for great flexibility, however Nicola emphasises that it is not for everyone. “Working from home requires a lot of willpower and does not provide the companionship and support that office colleagues offer. But, for me, it means that I have completely flexible working hours, I set my own timelines and I am solely responsible for the quality of my ‘product’.”
My advice for students
“Science degrees are great as they are very flexible and they do not railroad you into a set career path. Don’t be daunted if you can’t see exactly what your first job might be at the end of your degree; be thrilled that there are so many possibilities.”