Advantages and Applicability of a Master Class Series as a Training Model for Mid-Career Medical Writers: Our Experience From the Perspectives of the Manager, Trainer, and Participants

Abstract

Advancement of mid-career medical writers (MWs) to senior levels requires augmentation beyond the traditional training provided to MWs at all levels. In response to this need, online training and classes taught by more experienced writers in house, external lecturers, or a mixture of both delivered through didactic presentations should be supplemented with methods that allow for interaction between the trainer and trainees and for a tailored approach. We therefore designed an interactive, engaging, and dynamic training model that would draw on varied perspectives of colleagues. This Master Class Series was led by an external instructor and was based on a structured critique of regulatory document organization, content, and style. In this article, we share our experience from the perspectives of manager, trainer, and participant. The Master Class Series was successful in part because of its dynamic content. The participants felt that this training greatly improved their understanding of the broader contexts in which documents are used and their ability to develop coherent documents. Participants further felt that their ability to implement a top-down approach in strategy documents and in applying lean writing principles was enhanced. They all agreed that they greatly benefit from exposure to each other’s creativity in solving challenges in data and content presentation and concurred that it is very likely that they would sign up for a course with a similar model in the future. Our experience indicates that a Master Class Series is essential to the training of mid-career MWs.