Medical editing involves the careful coordination and quality control of print and digital documents that are related to medical science and health care. Medical editors wear many hats and devote their energy to ensuring that all materials are prepared with accuracy, clarity, and consistency of expression.
They are guardians of scientific rigor who play a critical role in protecting the integrity of science and health information.
In a rapidly changing world, medical editors need to devote considerable attention to innovations in medicine, technology, and health care. They need to have impeccable editorial and analytic skills, as well as an understanding of the principles of scientific inquiry.
They are also skilled at shepherding documents through multiple stages of review by experts and other professionals, often serving as a final set of eyes on important scientific and medical documents.
Medical editors are involved in creating documents in many different formats, including traditional print publications, electronic publications, multimedia presentations, videos, podcasts, website content, and social media content.
They are often the ones who work with subject matter experts (SMEs) to create documents that describe research results, product use, and other medical information. They are also responsible for ensuring that documents comply with regulatory, publication, or other guidelines in terms of content, format, and structure.
Medical editors work in many types of industries, including health care, regulatory/pharmaceutical/device, publishing, research, and academia.
In many settings, medical editors are crucial members of the medical communication team and perform multiple quality-assurance tasks.
There are many different paths to becoming a medical editor. Some editors work as freelance contractors, while others are hired by organizations.
Medical editors need to have a deep passion for science and writing. They also must understand medical concepts and be able to interpret and explain the meaning of data to various audiences.
An advanced degree is not required to become a medical editor, but some have earned medical or science degrees. Others have experience in academic settings or as bench scientists, pharmacists, physicians, or other health care professionals. Sometimes an editor will have a master’s or doctorate in communications or English.
There are also several certificates and certifications, including the AMWA Certificate in Medical Editing, that are useful in demonstrating knowledge and proficiency.
Medical editors arrive in the field from various disciplines and backgrounds. People with medical or science backgrounds commonly benefit from refreshers in writing and editing mechanics, whereas people with editorial experience may need to focus on medical terminology and statistics.
Before applying for a program or position, aspiring medical editors should take an inventory of their skills, both quantitatively and qualitatively.
The following are some areas that all medical communicators, writers and editors alike, need to master:
Grammar and usage
Medical terminology
Professional ethics
Punctuation
Sentence and paragraph structure
Statistics
Tables, graphs, visual abstracts, and other illustrative materials
The AMWA Essential Skills Certificate Program addresses all of these topics.
An Essential Skills certificate will help determine whether you have the skills to become a good scientific/medical editor. It’s important to be realistic about your skill level, including how well you can create clarity in a document.
Most medical editors have experience in editorial settings, scientific positions, or both. In these professional settings, they learn the ins and outs of the editorial process, the flow of documents and information, and the organizational culture that is key to working successfully.
The experience required varies depending on the hiring organization and the job responsibilities. Some people gain experience by volunteering to edit grants, publications, or other documents for a nonprofit organization. Some get a foot in the door by volunteering to edit a paper for an organization with a job opening in order to demonstrate their skills. Some employers may make exceptions for candidates with limited formal experience when they prove they can do the job.
No matter what your entry point is, it is important to choose a focus.
A wide range of companies and organizations employ medical editors, and the field is generally divided into different specialties, each requiring specific editing skills or knowledge of medical terminology and practices.
Continuing education for health care professionals
Grant proposals
Health communication
Marketing/Advertising/Public relations
Medical journalism
Non–peer-reviewed publications for professional audiences
Patient education
Peer-reviewed journals
Regulatory writing
Sales training (biotech or pharmaceutical industry)
Scientific publications
Different organizations require editors with different skills. Most academic institutions require highly skilled substantive editors with analytical skills for work in scientific publications. Scientific/medical journals and publishing companies may hire editors with fundamental or copyediting skills or editors with experience in journal or book management. Pharmaceutical companies, device manufacturers, and medical communication agencies may hire editors with various skill levels, depending on the specific job responsibilities.
Several resources are available for assessing and acquiring the skills needed to become a medical editor.
AMWA has several such resources, including the Essential Skills modules that cover the basics of medical communication. These types of training opportunities can help sharpen writing and editing skills, enhance knowledge of medical terminology and statistics, and reinforce an understanding of medical ethics and practices.
In this day and age, training options abound. Aspiring medical editors and those already working in the field can explore online or in-person courses, check out self-paced virtual options, or attend conferences and events that offer educational opportunities.
Many of the skills needed to succeed as a medical editor overlap with those of medical writers. The following are a few examples of applicable programs:
As previously mentioned, the skills required of medical editors often overlap with those of medical writers. Medical editors are often in positions where they are leading teams and coordinating multiple stakeholders.
Medical editors are often the final stop in a long process of document development. They need to make sure that every document is prepared with accuracy, consistency, and clarity. At a minimum, they need to master all the essential skills for medical communicators.
In addition to possessing impeccable editorial skills, medical editors are often called upon to lead projects and shepherd documents through many stages of review. A 2017 study identified a set of key competencies for scientific editors. In short, medical editors should demonstrate knowledge of the field and be skilled at synthesizing information and views from a variety of sources. They should have leadership skills and be excellent communicators, and they must pay close attention to the ethics and best practices in their field.
Ethics are important in any profession, and much is at stake in medical communication. Medical communicators adhere to a specific set of ethical principles that are designed to promote the accurate and balanced presentation of scientific and medical information. In general, medical communicators should
Act professionally
Apply objectivity and fair balance
Expand knowledge and skills
Honor agreements
Meet the highest professional standards
Observe statutes and guidance from regulatory authorities
Renounce unethical practices
Respect confidentiality
AMWA’s Code of Ethics provides a model for ethical decision-making that is applicable to medical editors.
One of the most important elements of success in medical editing is establishing a presence online and in professional communities. Forming these types of connections often leads to opportunities in this quickly growing field.
Medical editors can advance their careers and enhance their knowledge by
There are several ways of framing the stages of editing a document, and many editors perform microediting, macroediting, and proofreading in their roles. Note: These stages are not the same as job titles, which we will cover in more detail later.
Microediting (sometimes called copyediting) generally focuses on improving grammar, syntax, tone, and clarity. In microediting, the language of the document is examined to determine whether it supports the author’s intention.
Macroediting is the process of looking at the big picture, or the architecture and organization of a scientific document. In macroediting, gaps in logic or information are identified.
Proofreading gives the editor a final chance to make the document as error-free as possible.
AMWA’s Medical Editing Checklist is a free tool that editors can use to make sure that every document is clear, concise, and accurate.
Most senior-level editors combine these functions as they edit. Entry-level editors may start by mainly microediting, or copyediting; then as they learn, they may begin to work more at the macroediting level. Proofreading is generally done by reading text word-by-word and line-by-line, or by reading the work aloud to detect and correct errors.
The career paths of medical editors are often as varied as the individuals and their organizations. Some medical editors come from medical fields, others come from nonmedical editorial positions, and some have gained experience as medical writers.
For an entry-level position, medical editors generally are required to pass an examination or show samples of their editing. Editors in higher-level positions will generally have a portfolio of manuscripts that they have edited (whose authors and institutions have been de-identified); they may also be asked to complete a sample edit. Some candidates may benefit from studying the AMA Manual of Style or other scientific style manuals before applying for a position.
People seeking an entry-level position should look for job titles that include the word “editor” and make sure that the position offers opportunities for advancement.
For a senior-level position whose responsibilities include substantive editing, candidates often need at least 5 years of experience and sharp analytical skills. Working for an organization with an editorial department that provides training is often preferable to working in a lone editor position in a department.
