First Friday: From Pharma to Freelance Medical Writing in the Digital Age

Virginia Chachati is a pharmacist turned medical writer who embarked on her freelance journey after moving to Germany in 2020. Inspired by the need to work remotely and make a living online, Virginia started a travel health blog that caught a client's attention on Upwork. Despite being underpaid for her valuable work, this experience motivated her to create a community of medical writers focused on fair compensation and support. Virginia established a presence on LinkedIn, where a medical communications agency found and recruited her. Now a full-time freelancer, Virginia enjoys the flexibility of working from home while being able to travel back to the UK for work and family visits. Join us as Virginia shares her insights on building a thriving medical writing career. 1. Learn how to identify and attract high-quality clients who value your skills and expertise 2. Discover the power of community in setting fair rates and supporting your professional growth Connect with Virginia LinkedIn Resources Free 61 tips Ebook for medical writers Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 02:10 Virginia’s journey into medical writing 04:02 Her experience with Upwork 06:31 Being picky about clients 08:29 Importance of writers knowing their worth and setting ground rules 12:56 The power of community in medical writing and solving the problem of Upwork 17:52 Setting fair value in medical writing 21:56 The future of medical writing: AI and social media 26:15 Takeaways from today’s conversation with Virginia Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.