Communication skills are fundamental to a researcher’s day-to-day work.
This panel session features speakers who have built on these skills to go into healthcare and medical communications, careers that aim to raise awareness of therapies and medical devices that could transform lives.
Dr Beatrice Tyrrell, Principal Medical Writer, Aspire Scientific: As a Principal Medical Writer at Aspire Scientific, I am part of a team committed to delivering high-quality medical writing services for our pharmaceutical and biotech clients, ranging from supporting our clients with scientific strategy, to developing training materials and pivotal clinical trial publications. I completed an MA in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge, specialising in Pathology, and a DPhil in Infection, Immunology, and Translational Medicine at the University of Oxford, investigating the antiviral and immunomodulatory effects of iminosugar compounds, particularly in dengue virus infection. During my DPhil, I gained science communication experience outside the lab, including as Features Section Editor for Phenotype and Founder of Oxford Hands-On Science. As I neared the end of my DPhil, I was drawn to a career in medical communications (MedComms). Taking part in Aspire Scientific’s Aspirations scheme allowed me to gain paid medical writing experience alongside my DPhil, and cemented my belief that MedComms would be a good fit for me. I joined the company as a Medical Writer in 2019, and now help to run the Aspirations scheme.
Shelley Goodwin, Head of Strategy, ConcentricLife (part of Accenture Song): Running out of her burning chemistry building in ‘an orderly fashion’ brought an unexpected end to her PhD in Chemistry at the Australian National University. With a smoke-soaked lab coat put to rest nearly 20 years ago, Shelley dove straight into the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry as the principal medical writer for clinical trials at DebioClinic in Paris. Over these 20 years, Shelley has led medical, creative, and strategic teams to connect the right medicine with the right patient, at the right time. Currently based in London, Shelley works directly with pharmaceutical clients to launch new medical innovations across the globe. Now being part of one of the biggest technology-powered companies in the world, Accenture, the timely impact of communication and education is even more relevant and meaningful for prescribers and the patients. Shelley has combined her scientific background with her creative flair to build a fruitful career at both a local and global level.
