From PhD to Medical Writer
Sean Ogden, a Medical Writer at EBSCO Industries/DynaMedex, shares how he went from a PhD in Neuroscience to helping clinicians make evidence-based decisions at the point of care.
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👔 The Job 👔
As a Medical Writer at EBSCO Industries/DynaMedex, Sean creates evidence-based healthcare content designed to guide clinical decision-making.
In his role, he:
Synthesizes the latest medical research into practical guidance for clinicians
Updates disease and treatment topics used at the point of care
Contributes to social media outreach and educational content
Collaborates with PhDs and MDs through multiple layers of expert review
He helps clinicians determine how best to treat their patients using the strongest available evidence.
Best part of the job:
Knowing his work is actively being used. Updating a clinical topic and seeing it inform patient care feels tangible and rewarding, something that didn’t always feel true with traditional research manuscripts.
🛣️ The Path 🛣️
Sean initially hesitated about leaving academia, but a friend from graduate school encouraged him to apply for a medical writing role.
That nudge changed everything.
Key steps in his career journey:
• PhD Graduate ➡️ Postdoctoral Fellow ➡️ Medical Writer
🧠 The Decision 🧠
For Sean, stepping away from academia ultimately became an easy decision - especially for his physical and emotional health.
He describes academia as “all the cons of a start-up culture without the reward,” layered on top of a publish-or-perish mindset. Observing the lifestyles of the PIs he worked with, he realized he didn’t want that future for himself.
He chose to deviate from the academic path, and hasn’t looked back.
Sean couldn’t be happier with his decision to step away from research and into a role where his work directly impacts patient care.
💡 The Advice 💡
Cast a wide net early.
If you’re interested in science communication, explore roles like medical writing, science writing, journalism, medical affairs, or regulatory affairs. Keep your search broad at first, you can always narrow later.Talk to people in those roles.
Reach out on LinkedIn. Even a 10-minute call can provide clarity. Most PhDs are surprisingly willing to share their experiences - you just have to ask.Find support.
Identify a mentor or someone you trust to bounce ideas off of. Transitioning out of academia can feel scary, especially if people around you are disappointed. The right support system makes a huge difference.Get involved outside your research.
Sean’s path was shaped by community outreach and science communication activities unrelated to his dissertation work. Volunteer. Explore. Pay attention to what resonates with you - those side interests may point you toward your next career.
🔑 The Takeaway 🔑
Sean’s journey highlights a powerful call to impact: translating evidence that clinicians rely on every day.
A PhD trains you to evaluate data critically and communicate complex ideas clearly. In roles like medical writing, those skills don’t disappear - they become tools for real-time impact.
🛠️ Resource of the Week 🛠️
A core piece of Sean’s advice was to get involved outside your research.
One great way more and more PhDs are getting involved outside their academic work is through AI model training. I highly recommend checking out jobs at Mercor!
So many PhDs have landed awesome roles and are gaining hands-on experience!
As a medical writer, I think the four points of advice here are spot on. Networking is so, so important, and so is taking on activities outside of your thesis. Not just for your sanity, but also for your resume (sometimes in ways that will surprise you!)