On November 9, 2016, the monthly STC San Diego Chapter meeting was held at the Hera Hub Sorrento Valley facility in San Diego. At this month’s meeting, STC San Diego members were joined by members of the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) – Pacific Southwest Chapter.
For the first hour and a half, in-person attendees enjoyed snacks, drinks, and informal networking. Following the networking session, STC San Diego President Alice Brzovic opened the business portion of the meeting, which included an opportunity for attendees to introduce themselves to the group. Many gave introductions, including medical writers and technical writers, some working as freelancers, others employed by companies full time or looking for work.
Next, Ajay Malik (AMWA) and Nancy Rhoads (STC) each gave a presentation on writing and editing for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies. Online attendees were able to view the presentations via Adobe Connect.
Ajay Malik, AMWA member and editor of Postscripts—the official newsletter of AMWA’s Pacific Southwest Chapter—gave the first presentation. Ajay provided overviews of the medical writing profession and AMWA. His talk included information useful to those interested in pursuing a career in medical writing, such as what skills are required to succeed, and what educational resources and certifications are available. See below for a link to Ajay’s presentation slides.
STC San Diego council member Nancy Rhoads gave the second presentation. Her presentation covered technical writing for the biotech and medical device industries. Nancy described her career path, and shared experiences she’s had as a technical writer in these industries. She also provided resources helpful to those in, or pursuing a similar career.
The meeting adjourned after the presentations, but many attendees lingered a bit to enjoy further networking and socializing.
Meeting Resources
Presentation slides (courtesy of Ajay K. Malik, AMWA Pacific Southwest Chapter)