Foundations of Excellence

This training course is built on the unique 5 Pillars of Medical Writing. It doesn't just teach you how to write well. Medical writers of today need to use all of the 5 Pillars to thrive in medical communications. You'll gain confidence in your writing PLUS skills in strategic thinking, planning, and effective storytelling. This course is designed for aspiring medical writers and those with industry experience who are looking to hone their skills. Unlock medical writing mastery today!

  • Transform your medical writing career, and go from good to great. Master the core elements of medical writing to become a confident and compelling writer

  • Learn exactly what the med comms industry is looking for and how to meet high industry standards every time

  • Level up your skills with strategic insights and efficient workflows that will ensure success in every project!

Premium training, on your own schedule

  • Comprehensive training

    Everything you need to know about medical writing, delivered in convenient bite-sized recordings - you don't even need to leave your house!

  • Practical assignments

    Assignments that test your new knowledge and boost your confidence in the core competencies of medical writing

  • Direct mentorship from industry expert

    Thoughtful, honest feedback from Sarah, the leading medical writing mentor in med comms today

Learn all the key skills needed to become a successful medical writer in today's fast-paced med comms industry

After completing this course, you'll be able to:

  • Think strategically about client briefs, to ensure you deliver exactly what's needed - on time and on budget every time!

  • Start every project off right by conducting focussed and effective background reading (no more getting lost down those rabbit holes!)

  • Get to grips with compliance, so you can hone in on relevant industry guidelines with confidence

  • Communicate effectively, by selecting the right words, messages, and frameworks for each audience

  • Ensure accuracy, by supporting your work with appropriate references and data checking techniques

Previous students give this course 5-star reviews

5 star rating

Excellent course to lift the lid on medical writing

Matthew Williams

Sarah's course is the perfect way to lift the lid on writing in med comms, and to learn all about best practices and methods in the process. The course was great because it offered hands-on learning to deliver a range of typical medical communicat...

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Sarah's course is the perfect way to lift the lid on writing in med comms, and to learn all about best practices and methods in the process. The course was great because it offered hands-on learning to deliver a range of typical medical communications deliverables. My favourite part was the very useful guidance on how best to do background reading and preparation for a project without going down the research rabbit hole. Highly recommended course and an excellent tutor with all the right knowledge and experience to guide you.

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5 star rating

Must-do course for breaking into Medical Writing

Ellen Moran, PhD

I highly recommend Sarah Nelson's "Foundations of Excellence: The 5 Pillars of Medical Writing '' for anyone looking to transition to medical communications. I have found it invaluable as an experienced Research Programme Manager working in the n...

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I highly recommend Sarah Nelson's "Foundations of Excellence: The 5 Pillars of Medical Writing '' for anyone looking to transition to medical communications. I have found it invaluable as an experienced Research Programme Manager working in the non-profit sector seeking to refocus my career to roles with more of a focus in writing and communications. The course helped me compile and enhance my existing knowledge and skills and has given me the confidence to apply them in a more structured and efficient manner. I believe it would be also invaluable for a PhD graduate looking to transition out of academia into industry. Similarly for a medical doctor/nurse/pharmacist seeking to move out of clinical work.

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5 star rating

Great course for medical writers of all levels

Kelly Langford

This is a great course in which Sarah has distilled down and shared her years of experience in medical writing. I guarantee that everyone will come away from the course with new ways of planning and thinking about a project, as well as new methods...

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This is a great course in which Sarah has distilled down and shared her years of experience in medical writing. I guarantee that everyone will come away from the course with new ways of planning and thinking about a project, as well as new methods and techniques they can implement in their own writing. The course is a great mix of Sarah sharing her advice and ways of working, alongside set assignments where you get to practice implementing the skills you've learned. Sarah also provides feedback and support along the way to ensure you leave the course feeling more confident in your planning, researching, and writing abilities. Thanks, Sarah!

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5 star rating

Amazing course for any fledgling medical writer!

Rebecca Nachiappan

Sarah was very thorough, and I learnt a lot through this course. I am definitely more confident in managing a medical writing project from start to finish now! :)

Sarah was very thorough, and I learnt a lot through this course. I am definitely more confident in managing a medical writing project from start to finish now! :)

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Ready to sign up? There's payment options to suit every budget

Students have two options for taking the Foundations of Excellence course. Select the Tutored version of this course if you want regular check-ins and feedback from Sarah. More experienced writers might prefer to to go it alone until the final assessment, pick the Self-paced course

Here's what's included

    1. Start with the end in mind - what will success look like for you?

    2. The 5 Pillars of Medical Writing

      FREE PREVIEW
    3. Typical workflow for medcomms deliverables

    4. Med Comms Glossary

    1. What we'll cover in the Planning phase

    2. How to use Strategic Thinking in the Planning phase

    3. How to use Agency Skills in the Planning phase

    4. ASSIGNMENT 1: Taking a project brief (instructions)

    5. ASSIGNMENT 1: Taking a project brief (recording)

    6. Update: Using AI to help meeting minutes, with demo of Zoom's AI Companion

    7. ASSIGNMENT 2: Estimating writing time to develop a congress abstract

    8. CASE STUDY 1: How Sarah planned to write a congress abstract

    9. Key principles for success in the Planning phase

    1. What we'll cover in the Writing phase

    2. The first step in the Writing phase: Background reading

    3. ASSIGNMENT 3: Background research

    4. A note on effective visual storytelling

    5. Exploring different frameworks for telling your scientific story

    6. ASSIGNMENT 4: Invitation email - Watch to the end to see Sarah's solution

    7. CASE STUDY 2: How Sarah approached background research for a technical meeting

    1. Technical Writing

    2. Crafting compliant copy

    3. Understanding and using Style Guides

    4. Technical Writing quiz

    5. ASSIGNMENT 5: Editing a Congress Abstract

    6. Time management to boost productivity

    7. Writing phase: Summary and general principles

    1. Welcome to Section 4: Finalizing your document

    2. Referencing your work

    3. Data checking and marking up references

    4. Creating and editing a bibliography

    5. ASSIGNMENT 6: Editing a reference list

    6. Understanding the review process

    7. CASE STUDY 3: How Sarah edited a slide deck

    8. Finalizing phase: Summary and general principles

About this course

  • 42 lessons
  • 3.5 hours of video content

Instructor(s)

Sarah Nelson, PhD

Founder of Green Pen Solutions

I'm Sarah Nelson, PhD and I love helping medical writers to overcome obstacles and get a career they love. I've been a medical writer since 2006 and I know the challenges, at every step of the way. I became a mentor so that I can help writers like you enjoy your career just as much as I have. Mentees initially choose to work with me because of my industry experience. I've mentored and trained writers in over 20 med comms agencies, led a team of writers for over 9 years, and screened hundreds of candidates throughout the recruitment process. I've sat on both sides of the interview desk, so I know exactly what agencies look for in both candidates and freelancers. What makes mentees trust me is my honesty, dedication and commitment to your career goals. Wherever you start from, I'll support you, so you can enjoy a varied, exciting career in medical writing.

There's only one decision left to make...

Will you choose the Tutored course, with extra guidance from Sarah, or the Self-paced course for a more relaxed, independent approach?