Medical training may not have taught you how to write for the public—but it did teach you how to think in a way that good medical writing requires. As a physician, you learn to evaluate evidence, communicate clearly, and make complex information understandable in high-pressure situations.
Many physicians find that medical writing provides intellectual variety, flexibility, and an additional stream of income without stepping away from medicine entirely. In a Sermo poll, members’ top motivations for pursuing medical writing were financial diversification and extra income (36%), intellectual stimulation (34%) and the ability to work from anywhere (14%).
The timeline to becoming a medical writer varies based on your goals, but since you already possess the foundational medical knowledge, you can often secure your first freelance projects within a few months of building a portfolio.
If you’re a physician interested in medical writing and want to learn how to get started, keep reading.
What is medical writing?
Medical writing involves communicating clinical and scientific data to a variety of audiences, ranging from regulatory bodies to the general public. For a practicing physician, it means translating complex healthcare concepts into clear documents. In a Sermo poll, 9% of respondents said they currently do medical writing regularly, while 22% do it occasionally on a project basis. Another 15% have never done it but are actively looking for opportunities, and 35% are interested but do not know where to start.
Physicians hold varying opinions on which formats best suit their clinical backgrounds. When asked which type of medical writing is most suited to the expertise of a practicing physician, 34% favored Continuing Medical Education (CME) or Med-Ed content, 23% pointed to regulatory writing, 17% chose medico-legal consultative writing, 17% selected AI training and validation, and 5% preferred promotional marketing copy.
There are several main categories of medical writing that exist:
Medical journalism
This category includes newspaper and magazine articles. These pieces are mostly for the general public and laypeople, meaning they need simple, non-technical language. “I’m definitely interested in medical writing, especially for the general public,” one psychiatrist on Sermo shares. “I think communicating complex topics in a more simple way can improve health literacy.” A family medicine doctor detailed their wealth of experience: “years ago,l when I had time to ‘pitch,’ wrote articles for Medical Economics (not on economics, though), wrote for a friend’s website, wrote and was editor for our local medical society,” they shared.
Medical education
Educational writing is split into two main audiences. For physicians, it includes textbooks, Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs, slide decks and e-learning modules. A psychiatrist on Sermo favors this. “Personally, I believe accredited educational content (CME/Med-Ed) is the most suitable way to leverage my clinical experience, as it allows me to share evidence-based knowledge with other healthcare professionals while providing an intellectual challenge distinct from my daily work,” they explain.
Other physicians write patient education materials. “I used to write monthly newsletters for my patients,” a pediatrician on Sermo shares. “I was not paid for this but enjoyed doing this for my patients.”
Medical marketing of healthcare products
This involves creating promotional literature targeted at healthcare professionals, such as product monographs, brochures and handouts. It also includes generating internet content designed for both physicians and consumers to explain new medical technologies or treatments.
Publication/presentation
This is the traditional academic route and overlaps with medical writing skills, though it is typically considered scholarly authorship rather than freelance or industry medical writing. It includes journal articles and manuscripts (research articles, case reports, review articles), abstracts and posters and presentations for scientific meetings and conferences.
Research documents
Clinical trials require extensive documentation. Medical writers in this niche may produce clinical trial protocols, investigators′ brochures, informed consent documents, study reports and detailed research proposals.
Regulatory documents
Writing for regulatory agencies is highly technical. It includes package inserts (prescribing information), patient information leaflets, clinical study reports, and web synopses. It also involves subject narratives and complex regulatory submission documents like Common Technical Document (CTD) modules (nonclinical and clinical overviews, expert reports, safety and efficacy summaries). Aggregate safety reports such as Periodic Safety Update Reports (PSURs) in the EU and bridging reports also fall into this category.
How much can physicians earn from medical writing?
Physicians can earn a substantial side income through medical writing, though rates vary based on the complexity of the work and the writer’s experience. Some doctors negotiate flat fees per project, while others prefer hourly compensation. General medical writers in the U.S. make an average of $39 per hour, according to ZipRecruiter data, although physicians often command higher rates.
When establishing your rates, it is helpful to calculate an hourly baseline that reflects the value of your medical license and clinical experience. To calculate your hourly rate, consider your current clinical hourly wage as a starting point. Factor in the time required for research, drafting, editing and client meetings. Since as a freelancer you are responsible for your own taxes and benefits, you will typically need to charge a premium over a standard salaried rate to make the work financially viable.
The Sermo community has chimed in on what they believe constitutes a fair hourly rate. In a poll, 32% said they believe $151-200 per hour is appropriate, 26% said $210-300, 16% chose $100-150, 16% felt $300+ is justified and 11% prefer project-based “flat fee” pricing rather than hourly rates.
“…I believe a fair hourly rate for specialized work should be between $201 and $300, reflecting the value of the expertise and the responsibility involved,” writes one psychiatrist member.
One pediatric endocrinologist on Sermo suggests a compensation model that supplements hourly pay: “Medical writing should be paid royalties in addition to the actual work done when it’s used for things like CME. If the vendor gets paid continuously for reusing the work, the person who generated the work should get a percent of the proceeds as well.”
How to become a medical writer in 5 steps
Medical writing doesn’t have to take up more than a few hours per week. In a Sermo poll, members shared how many hours per week they could (or do) commit to a writing side gig. Most (42%) said 2-5 hours, 22% said less than 2 hours, 16% could manage 5-10 hours, and 5% could dedicate 10+ hours. 15% preferred to work only on an “as needed” basis with no set weekly commitment. This shows that for most physicians, writing as a side gig can fit easily into just a few hours a week.
Once you’ve found time to get started, here is a step-by-step guide to launching your new side hustle:
1. Build a portfolio
Create sample documents to demonstrate your skills. You do not need a paying client to start writing; you can draft mock patient education materials, literature reviews or regulatory documents. Tailor your portfolio to the specific types of medical writing you want to pursue so agencies can see your capabilities.
2. Gain experience
Look for entry-level positions in medical communication agencies (MedComms). You might consider taking on small, pro-bono projects for local clinics or start by freelancing on broad platforms like Upwork to get your first official bylines and client testimonials.
3. Join professional associations
You can join professional associations like the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) or the European Medical Writers Association (EMWA). These bodies provide formal training, networking events and exclusive job boards tailored specifically to medical communicators.
4. Networking
Utilize digital networks like LinkedIn and Sermo to connect with other healthcare professionals who have writing experience. Your peers can advise you on where to find writing gigs, how to pitch clients or set your initial rates.
5. Learn tools and guidelines
Familiarize yourself with industry-standard style guides, such as the AMA Manual of Style. If you are aiming for regulatory roles, you’ll need to understand submission guidelines from agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Skills needed to become a successful medical writer
Medical writing requires clinical knowledge and writing skills. Sermo polled the physician community to identify the biggest barrier preventing them from taking on medical writing projects, and 19% said a lack of formal training in non-clinical writing styles was holding them back. Here’s what it takes to develop specific competencies that make a successful medical writer:
Medical education
As a physician with an MD or DO, you already hold premium qualifications that far exceed the typical entry-level standard of a bachelor’s degree in life sciences (such as biology, pharmacology, or nursing) paired with a medical license. This clinical training gives you an unbeatable edge for most medical writing roles, positioning you ahead of non-physician writers without needing additional advanced degrees like a Master’s or PhD.
Topical knowledge
Medical writers need to understand complex medical terminology, clinical research methodologies and drug development processes. Your clinical specialty gives you a massive advantage here, allowing you to easily comprehend and synthesize the specific medical topic being discussed in the text.
Writing skills
The ability to communicate technical or regulatory information clearly and concisely is essential. When you’re addressing a panel of specialist researchers, it requires a different tone from a brochure for patients in a waiting room. Knowing how and when to adapt your writing for the audience is key.
How to build medical writing portfolio from scratch
Physicians write constantly, and you likely already have a portfolio in your hard drive. Here are several documents you might already have written in the past that serve as a great foundation for your portfolio:
Clinical case study (repurposed)
Include a complex case managed by you in the clinic, or a previous Grand Rounds presentation.
All Protected Health Information (PHI) must be stripped entirely to maintain strict HIPAA compliance. Rewrite the content in a peer-reviewed journal format or frame it as a quick “clinical pearl” for a medical education platform.
Patient education guides
You can add common-question handouts you drafted for your clinic, or refined discharge instruction templates you use daily. Simplify any lingering medical jargon to a fifth-to-eighth-grade reading level, and focus heavily on actionable, easy-to-read “What you need to know” sections.
Evidence-based reviews
Consider adding deep literature searches performed to justify a new departmental protocol, or thorough summaries you wrote for a recent Journal Club. Structure the content as a “State of the Science” brief and utilize the most up-to-date data to clearly demonstrate how treatments, therapies or technologies are currently evolving.
Opinion/editorial pieces (Op-Ed)
Include perspectives you may have shared on professional forums (such as Sermo) or in physician blogs or articles published on your private practice’s website. Polish the tone so it sounds authoritative yet highly accessible. Focus on identifying systemic healthcare problems and proposing logical, clinical solutions.
Old presentations
Consider repurposing slide decks you previously used for resident teaching, or internal memos explaining regulatory changes to your practice partners. Convert your visual slides into a cohesive 500- to 800-word article. Use clear subheadings and bullet points to enhance the scannability of the text.
Paid medical surveys on Sermo
It takes time to build up a portfolio and secure your first writing gig. If you are looking to monetize your medical expertise more immediately, participating in paid medical surveys on Sermo is an option. These surveys can allow you to earn extra money on the side for personal projects, investments or to further your medical education.
Scale your clinical impact
While medicine is your chosen profession, medical writing can utilize the same skills you’ve worked hard to cultivate. It can let you scale your clinical impact from treating one patient at a time to educating thousands simultaneously. All the while, you are building a flexible, high-value income stream that fits around your life.
Some doctors are eager to start but need a little guidance. “It is something I would like to consider in the future to broaden my career, but I’m not sure how/where I would find the opportunities,” writes one general practitioner on Sermo.
That’s why peer networks are valuable. Join Sermo today to connect with more than one million verified physicians worldwide. You can find experienced mentors, uncover medical writing opportunities and earn extra cash through paid medical surveys.
