A medical writer is a professional who translates medical research data into various documents with specific requirements, including publications, regulatory documents, and other formats as needed. Medical writers are often used by pharmaceutical companies to develop scientific content, freeing up time for research personnel to perform their functions without having to also develop written content. With regard to scientific publications, the medical writer's job is to clearly and effectively communicate data and the perspectives of the authors in a cohesive voice, while also adhering to best publication practices.

I have extensive experience with publications, including scientific manuscripts and congress materials (abstracts, posters, and oral presentations), from both my time as a researcher and as a formal medical communications professional. I also have more than 3 years experience with other types of content, including scientific communication platforms and publication planning processes. See a summary of my experience with various types of content below.

The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) have defined authorship of medical publications based on 4 criteria, as described in the ICMJE recommendations here:

• Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; AND
• Drafting the work or reviewing it critically for important intellectual content; AND
• Final approval of the version to be published; AND
• Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved

A medical writer may be an author if they meet the above criteria; however, medical writers are typically working under the direction of the authors and are acknowledged for their contributions in the Acknowledgements section of publications. If you hire me to support your projects, I will include this acknowledgement in any publications I help develop and I will not be considered an author unless I meet the above ICMJE criteria.

The Certified Medical Publication Professional™(CMPP™) credential is a voluntary program administered by the International Society for Medical Publication Professionals and certifies that recipients have expertise and proficiency in medical publications and good publication practices. In addition to providing writing support and content development, I am also qualified to advise on ethical standards and best practices to help ensure the integrity of your publications.