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Medical Information Scientist

Pharmaceutical companies provide in-depth information about medical conditions and their remedies to doctors, nurses, and other health-care professionals. That information is gathered and prepared by specialists with training in the sciences and writing skills suited to the unique demands of the field. These medical information scientists create material for their companies' sales efforts and respond to direct queries from working medical professionals. The information specialists typically work in teams that include trained physicians. The hours and pay for this type of job are very attractive when compared to those in related fields - but this work requires a unique background.

Prospects

The pharmaceutical industry continues to grow and new medical information is revealed nearly every day. Qualified people should have no trouble finding work at drug companies throughout the United States.

Qualifications:

The best preparation for this work will include in-depth study of biology or biochemistry, along with courses in business, technical communications or journalism, and information science. Experience as a researcher is essential to reach this level of job. You'll need to be comfortable using computer word-processing and database programs, too.

Characteristics

If you work well as part of a team, if you don't crave recognition, if you can shift gears smoothly - speaking to a lay audience for one project, a technical group for another - and if you are resourceful in seeking out information, you'll thrive in this job.

Information Source:

100 Jobs in Words. New York: Macmillan, pp. 102-103.