I sat down with Dr. Akanxa Roonie, who took a fascinating journey from academic research to carving out a successful career in medical writing. With a PhD in microbiology and a natural flair for writing, Akanxa shares how she discovered the world of medical communication, landed her first role, and grew into the profession—proving that you can build a meaningful career outside the lab.
Whether you’re a PhD student, early-career academic, or someone exploring the medical writing path, this conversation is packed with practical tips and inspiring takeaways.
Or listen to the audio version:
Breaking into medical writing from academia
Akanxa’s journey began with a strong academic foundation—earning her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Biotechnology in India, followed by a PhD in Microbiology. Like many in academia, she originally planned to pursue teaching or research.
But during her PhD, something unexpected happened: she found herself more drawn to the writing and communication aspects of her work than the hands-on lab research. Writing research papers, creating presentations, and simplifying complex data for others to understand lit a creative spark she couldn’t ignore.
It wasn’t until a friend mentioned the field of medical writing that the dots truly connected.
“I had no idea about medical writing as a career path—even as a PhD! It was my friend who introduced me to the role, and from there, everything clicked.”
Akanxa found her first medical writing job via LinkedIn—a platform she emphasizes every aspiring medical writer should actively use.
Pro tip: If you’re job hunting in med comms, be visible on LinkedIn. Engage, connect, and follow recruiters and industry leaders.
Her first application included her academic CV (a mistake she now recognizes), but her genuine enthusiasm and foundational scientific knowledge helped her stand out. The interview process included:
- A conversation on why she wanted to transition to medical writing
- A discussion of her transferable skills
- A two-part writing test:
- Creating a scientific slide deck from a research paper
- Writing a plagiarism-free abstract
Even without prior clinical experience, she showed her ability to analyze, synthesize, and communicate scientific data clearly, which ultimately landed her the role.
Writing test tips:
For many aspiring medical writers, the writing test can feel like a major hurdle. Akanxa offers a golden rule:
“Follow the instructions. To the letter.”
From referencing formats (e.g., AMA style, Vancouver style) to tone and document structure, your success depends on showing you can stick to a brief. If something is unclear, don’t guess—ask for clarification. This is especially important because strong communication skills are key to thriving in this industry.
Tools of the trade
While she didn’t rely on many public tools due to data confidentiality, Akanxa recommends:
- Grammarly – for polishing grammar and style
- Client-specific tools like Veeva Vault and Kosa, a reference management tool used in literature surveillance
If you’re building a portfolio, it’s also smart to get familiar with tools like EndNote, Zotero, or Mendeley for managing references.
A day in the life:
In her roles, Akanxa has worked across a wide range of medical writing projects, including:
- Slide decks (her favorite!)
- FAQs and standard response letters
- Abstracts and summaries
- Training modules
- Literature surveillance
She dives deep into the process of literature surveillance, where she was tasked with reviewing over 100 articles per day across various therapeutic areas like oncology, cardiology, and obesity. Her goal? Flagging key findings and updates—like new trial phases or guideline changes—for clients in real-time.
“It exposed me to multiple therapeutic areas and taught me how to scan research efficiently and strategically.”
Finding your niche in medical writing
One thing that stood out from this conversation was how her agency asked: Do you prefer writing technical documents or visual presentations like slide decks?
That question helped her lean into what she loved—and where she thrived.
✨ Tip: As you explore medical writing, think about what format energizes you—regulatory writing, slides, publications, or educational materials.
Final advice for aspiring medical writers
Dr. Roonie wraps up with this heartfelt advice:
“Don’t just come for the pay or the remote lifestyle. Come with passion and patience. This field demands constant learning, unlearning, and a genuine love for simplifying science.”
She also encourages reaching out and asking questions. Many candidates wrongly assume recruiters don’t want follow-up questions—but being proactive shows your professionalism and attention to detail.