Category: Home working

An exciting outlook for Medical Communications globally

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Thank you to the many who joined us for today’s #MedComms webinar. The recording is now freely available below – or you can catch up at NetworkPharma.tv or the MedComms YouTube channel, along with much, much more.. Enjoy!

The MedComms sector is thriving. If anything the COVID-19 pandemic has shone a bright spotlight on the need for accurate, timely scientific exchange and how MedComms specialists can play a pivotal role in facilitating that activity. In this webinar we are joined by representatives from McCann Health Medical Communications. Charlie Buckwell (Global President), Faye Daley (HR Coordinator and Lead for their Mental Health First Aiders programme), Folabomi (Bomi) Oladosu (Medical Writer and Member of their D&I Council) and Michael Stevinson (Global Head of Caudex) will reflect on the journey that MedComms has taken to where we are today and discuss current priorities and ponder future opportunities. And we answer questions from the audience.

 

An early start in Sweden

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Freelance MedComms specialist, Kris Rydholm Överby, is starting her day in the garden.

Good morning!
 
I am celebrating #MedComms Day by enjoying the roses that have started to bloom in my garden as I work on my laptop. My assignments today include editing and translating a series of educational videos and guides.
 
After work I look forward to participating in the many online events that #MedComms day will be offering.
 
Cheers everyone!
 
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MedComms Day reflections

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David Jenkins has shared some end-of-day thoughts from the AXON team

At AXON, we find that MedComms day is a good time to reflect on the industry and the people we work with; a couple of our recent starters shared their experience so far, and some of the team offered their thoughts on the value medical communications brings to the healthcare community. The MedComms team got together for the obligatory Zoom lunch! #LifeAtAXON

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Wrapping up in New Zealand

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Freelance medical writer Sheridan Henness together with Toby were online with us earlier at our meeting of the New Zealand Medical Writers, and has just wrapped up her working day.

MedComms Day 2020 is coming to a close in New Zealand. It’s hard to believe we’re at MedComms Day already, with all that’s been going on this year, but here we are. New Zealand is lucky enough to be free of all lockdown restrictions except for closed borders now, so our lives can return to some normality. Of course, in MedComms every day is different, so even in lockdown there’s some variety. Today I’ve been working on checking some data, writing a review and taking in some client comments across a broad range of therapy areas – cluster headache, influenza, and rare genetic diseases – so lots of variety. Of course now that we’re completely free to go outside and do whatever we want, some fresh air is a requirement as well, so my Chief Furry Officer Toby and I made it out for a run around the dog park, which has a great view of Auckland’s city centre and the Sky Tower. Now my CFO and I are just settling in for the night, but I hope everyone who’s just starting their MedComms Day has a good one!

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The freelance cobbler’s children don’t go barefoot

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swainger_01This just in from Corinne Swainger, Freelance Medical Writer based in London

It’s been a somewhat soggy but busy MedComms Day here in London. Over the past few days, I’ve received some enquiries from potential new clients in Poland, Germany and the UK about crafting content for various projects. So this morning I spent time reviewing those enquires to decide whether I could accommodate their specific needs.

These projects included the writing of press releases based on recent neurology conference abstracts, drafting new e-learning modules for pharmacists, crafting a promotional advertorial, and ghost-writing a series of nursing articles for a registered nurse. I referred one enquiry onto another medical writer I know from the MedComms Workbook, who would be more suitable than me for that project.

The cobbler’s children have no shoes. And my freelance medical copywriter’s website doesn’t really present my current services. Like the cobbler, (and many other medcomms freelancers), I’m too busy focusing on my client’s needs. So I haven’t found the time to fix my own web content yet. But I’m delighted that I managed to squeeze in some time to brief my web designer about updating my website at lunch time.

Since I mainly work from home, this often allows me to be in the right place at the right time for my family. So I was able to greet my son today when he arrived home after sitting his first A-level. (Don’t worry, even though I’m a busy cobbler, he doesn’t go barefoot.) For him, taking that A-level has required many weeks of intensive studying. It makes me appreciate that medcomms freelance writing isn’t always that extreme and can involve a lot of fun. Now where did that anvil go?

What are you doing on MedComms Day?

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charlesworth_01Julie Charlesworth, Founder and Director of A Tree of Life Sciences Ltd, is working on her publications.

In answer to the question ‘What are you doing on MedComms Day?’: I am posting an initial blog on my website www.atreeoflifesciences.com about a recent publication (Springer Nature Trials journal) on Population Health Intervention Research (PHIR) of which I am a co-author. I am also drafting more communications to augment this post. This is the culmination of significant involvement in international collaborative, transdisciplinary work, and across new fields; contributing writing, editing non-native English, consultancy, and Intellectual input. Exciting times!

I am also monitoring the progress of another publication. Watch this space….

I continue to work on career mentoring, other support for PhD students, supporting the freelance cause, and more.

Closing down in New Zealand

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And an end-of-the-working-day message from Sheridan Henness, Freelance medical writer. And another example of how the #MedCommsPets can help us through the day.

MedComms Day is drawing to a close here in New Zealand, but it’s been a good one. My day started with packing off my CFO (Chief Furry Officer) Toby to doggie daycare, and then getting stuck into some work before the New Zealand Medical Writers Zoom call, specially organized for today by Peter. The call was great; I think working as a freelancer in New Zealand comes with some unique challenges, so it was good to talk about those things and put some faces to names. After that it was back into work. Today I was working on some manuscripts on ulcerative colitis and migraine, but tomorrow I’ll move on to some oncology work. Diversity in therapeutic areas is the name of the game around here, and that’s one of the many things I love about this job. But right now me and the CFO are settling in for some relaxation time before it all starts again tomorrow. I hope everyone who is just starting their MedComms Day has a great one!

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Working with toddlers and kittens

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Blair Hesp, Managing Director of Kainic Medical Communications was also on our Zoom meeting of the New Zealand Medical writers, today, having started the day like many of us do. Juggling kids, animals and emails.

As usual, we had an early start picking up and responding to emails from our overseas clients to kick off the morning, while simultaneously wrangling breakfast for a 1-year-old and a 4-year-old (and a kitten). This was followed by the traditional MedComms Day coffee on the boss at Kainic before jumping on a video call with some of our colleagues from around New Zealand (thanks for facilitating Peter!), while some of the more camera-shy team were working on a manuscript for a US-based client. We’ve also been working on a document for a client in Hong Kong today, in addition to working on plans for the International Society of Medical Publications Professionals (ISMPP) Asia-Pacific conference to be held in Tokyo in September. We’re also prepping for a new starter on Monday who will be joining our expanding team.

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Dreaming about Rarotonga

Peter LlewellynLeave a comment
ryan_01Followng our Zoom meeting of the New Zealand medical writers, independent Medical Communications Specialist Nicola Ryan turns back to her work….

The photo is of my little corner of the world at home. Of course I’d rather be in Rarotonga (as pictured on the computer desktop), but happy not to have to go outside to commute on colder winter days!

#MedComms day for me started, as always, with checking e-mail. With nearly all my clients coming from the other side of the world, the first venture into e-mail each morning can be either a relief (no unexpected/urgent work) or a bit stressful (too many new projects, not enough time?!). I’m juggling the final stages of a few projects (journal page proofs, submissions, final author comments) with three manuscripts (two ORAs, one large review) that need to be completed by the end of the month – all fitted around the other smaller bits and pieces that come up on a day-to-day basis. Most of my work is direct with KOLs, or sometimes pharma or device companies, so I don’t always know how each day will pan out, but that’s what keeps things interesting – right? The zoom meeting with other NZ medical writers was a welcome interlude in my day. Great to see some new faces and some old ones too. It helps to feel less isolated. Very grateful to Peter Llewellyn for staying up well after the witching hour to make it all happen. Have a great day everyone.

Good morning from sunny Napier, New Zealand

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staples_01Lyndal Staples, Freelance Medical Writer, has sent the kids off to school and is now getting down to work…

Like all my previous posts to the #MedComms Day page, I’ll start my contribution with a good morning from sunny Napier, New Zealand. It’s shaping up to be another gorgeous, albeit chilly, day here.

My day as a freelance medical writer has started like most others. The kids are up, dressed and off to school and I’m just about to get stuck into today’s work. I’m currently working on some materials for an agency in the United Kingdom. I started my most recent contract with them last month, and it’s great to be back on board working with some familiar faces.

Later this morning I’ll be joining the Zoom video meeting of New Zealand medical writers organised by Peter. It will be great to catch up with those folks that I know, as well as a few new ones.

I’ll be following this year’s MedComms Day feed with interest. It’s easy to feel a little out of touch being a freelancer (especially one who lives at the bottom of the world…), but days like these remind me that I’m part of a big global community.

 

Kia ora world! MedComms day – Dunedin, New Zealand

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Here we go. Every year the same. More stunning photos arrive from New Zealand making me wish I had moved there when I was younger! Mark Caswell, Medical Writer at BPAC, has just been for a run…

Here is the start of MedComms day in Dunedin as seen on my morning run. I’m not going into the office today as I am solo parenting our two year old and the day will be spent at home. My parents normally look after her on a Wednesday, but they are overseas… Anyways, I probably will miss the zoom meeting later this morning, but we’ll see what happens. I hope you have a great day and good on you for organising.

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