Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to someone whose story really stuck with me—Jenna Osterlund Oltmanns. A while back, Jenna sent me a direct message on LinkedIn She told me how she decided to leave the lab and pursue medical writing—while becoming a new mom. That combo of life-changing events was so powerful, I knew I had to talk to her.
So let’s dive into how Jenna pivoted from academia, embraced the world of medical writing, and carved out a meaningful, flexible, and fulfilling career.
CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON TO WATCH THE INTERVIEW:
OR LISTEN TO THE AUDIO VERSION BELOW:
*Invite me to speak: https://theboldphd.com/speaking/
*All my books and workshops: https://theboldphd.com/learn/
*Dr. G’s book recommendations: https://theboldphd.com/amazonrecs
*Join 2700+ academics who receive my weekly newsletter: https://theboldphd.com/careerslist
A Career Pivot Sparked by Motherhood—and Reflection
Jenna had been on the classic academic track: undergrad, grad school, postdoc. She was headed toward a tenure-track role as a PI (principal investigator). But then, she started asking some deeper questions:
“Not only what do I want out of a career, but what do I want out of life?”
Those conversations—alongside watching her PI struggle with funding and long hours—made her pause. She realized she craved work-life balance and more immediate patient impact than basic research typically provides.
Why Medical Writing?
What drew Jenna to medical writing was her love for scientific communication. Throughout grad school and her postdoc, she found herself captivated by the stories behind research: how a project began, where it’s going, and why it matters.
“Every biotech device or pharmaceutical has a story, and I wanted to help translate that—from the bench to the patient.”
She also loved the cutting-edge science she’d get to work on—partnering directly with researchers and clinicians on late-breaking advances.
Making the Leap: From Academia to Medical Writing
The big question: how do you actually switch from lab life to medical writing?
Jenna credits one of my YouTube videos for introducing her to the concept of informational interviews (yay!). Nervous but determined, she opened up to her PI about her career shift. To her surprise, he was fully supportive—and even connected her with his network in the field.
She reached out to medical writers, asked what their day-to-day looked like, and started applying to jobs on LinkedIn and Indeed.
💡 Pro tip: One of those informational interviews turned into a job offer from a CEO—without even a job posting. You just never know where those conversations can lead.
What Jenna’s Day Looks Like as a Medical Writer
No two days are alike, and that’s one of the things Jenna loves most.
She works remotely for a company that serves clients from Fortune 500 pharma companies to tiny biotech startups. Her projects include:
- Manuscripts from clinical trial data
- White papers and green papers (internal summaries of studies)
- Patient information materials
- Systematic literature reviews using tools like Nested Knowledge
- NIH SBIR/STTR grants, helping clients secure funding
Remote Work and Work-Life Balance
Leaving academia gave Jenna a balance she hadn’t felt in years. Gone are the 24/7 lab days. Now she works eight-hour days, turns off at night, and sets clear boundaries—like not having her work email on her phone.
“I made this switch largely to have work-life balance. So I set working hours—and I stick to them.”
We also talked about how to mentally separate work from home, even when your office is just down the hall. Jenna suggests:
- Creating set start/end times
- Removing work apps from your phone
- Respecting your own time (and encouraging your team to do the same!)
Advice for Aspiring Medical Writers in 2025
If you’re eyeing a transition into medical writing this year, here’s Jenna’s advice:
1. Build a Portfolio
Even if you haven’t written professionally before, repurpose what you have written:
- Turn a report into a polished white paper
- Refresh a blog post
- Write mock projects to show your style
2. Do Informational Interviews
Talk to people in the field. Be genuinely curious. Ask:
- What’s your day-to-day like?
- What skills transferred from your past career?
- What do you love about your job?
Jenna’s story proves that these conversations can lead to hidden job opportunities—ones that aren’t even posted online.
3. Join the Community
Follow other medical writers on LinkedIn, stay engaged, and learn from peers.
One tool Jenna recommends? Scite.ai—an AI-powered research assistant that shows how often a study is cited and whether it’s supported or contradicted in the literature.
Transferable Skills from Academia
PhDs and postdocs—you’ve already got so many of the skills medical writing needs. Just a few:
- Rapid learning and topic mastery
- Critical analysis of research methods
- Cautious data interpretation
- Clear, structured scientific writing
- Accepting and applying feedback without taking it personally
As Jenna shared, taking feedback in stride and using it to improve your work is a must-have skill.
Final Thoughts: You’ve Got This
Jenna’s story is a beautiful reminder that you don’t have to stay on a path that no longer fits. Whether it’s a baby, burnout, or just a shift in your values, it’s okay to pivot.
Her advice? Be proactive. Be curious. And start conversations.
“Sometimes, you have to make your own opportunities—and they might come from the most unexpected places.”