American Medical Writers Association

If you are a technical writer specializing on medical and pharmaceutical copy you might consider becoming a member of the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA). They’re about to hold their annual conference down in Dallas, TX on October 22nd.
Here are some of the AMWA membership benefits:
* Career development at all expertise levels
* Continuing education through highly regarded workshops and certificate programs
* Networking with more than 5,600 members in 19 chapters in the US and Canada
* Job opportunities posted online
* Publications including an indexed journal, e-newsletter (AMWA Update ), and books
* Member discounts on meetings, publications, and other products, including free access to MD Consult
American Medical Writers Association
AMWA is not as large as STC (Society for Technical Communication) but it is more specialized and targeted. If you can afford to do so I’d actually recommend membership in both organizations.
The American Medical Writers Association (AMWA), founded in 1940, is the leading professional organization for medical communicators. The more than 5,600 members from around the world include a variety of medical communicators:

  • Administrators
  • Advertisers
  • Audiovisual Producers
  • Authors’ Editors
  • College and University Professors
  • Journal Editors
  • Pharmaceutical Writers, Editors, and Managers
  • Public Relations Specialists
  • Publishers
  • Reporters
  • Researchers
  • Scriptwriters
  • Statisticians
  • Translators
If you write, edit, or are employed in the field of medical communication as a teacher or as a specialist in multimedia, public relations, advertising, or marketing, you belong in AMWA. AMWA enhances the professionalism of freelance medical writers and editors and of those employed by a hospital, medical school, clinic, health sciences center, foundation, or nonprofit association, or by a pharmaceutical, medical communication, or biotechnology company.

Membership in AMWA is open to anyone interested in any aspect of medical communication. Student membership is available to full-time students.

For details on AMWA’s educational programs, see Educational/Development.
For more information:
American Medical Writers Association
30 West Gude Drive, Suite 525
Rockville, MD 20850-1161
(301) 294-5303; fax: (301) 294-9006
amwa@amwa.org