Our allegro. alumni

I joined the allegro.WRITE programme at Inizio Medical as an Associate Medical Writer in January 2023. Following two months of training with my fellow new writers in the Manchester office, I was placed onto my first rotation which focused on publications in oncology. Here, I was introduced to the world of med comms by working on posters and abstracts for various scientific congresses, and even drafted my first manuscript! It was a brilliant, hands-on experience, and the five months flew by.

My second rotation was drug-induced movement disorders in a medical affairs account, and I worked on a variety of projects, including post-congress reports, video storyboards, and materials for an advisory board. This was a fantastic opportunity to develop relationships with the client, as I worked closely with them to create meeting materials that supported their strategic goals. I was delighted to be able to travel to Italy to attend the advisory board and see all of our hard work come together. It was really rewarding to see the external experts discussing the slides I had created, and to gather their invaluable insights on the topics presented. Moving forward, I will utilise everything I learnt during the allegro.WRITE programme to approach new projects with confidence and experience as a newly-promoted Medical Writer.

Overall, the allegro.WRITE programme has taught me countless skills that are needed to thrive as a Medical Writer, as well as providing me with a variety of opportunities to work closely with exciting medical developments and the world-renowned experts who are at the forefront of improving patient outcomes. I look forward to continuing working with my wonderful team and to expanding my skillset further!

Embarking on a career in medical writing was a thrilling yet daunting prospect. My journey started with the allegro.WRITE South Africa programme at Inizio Medical, designed to prepare aspiring writers like myself for the fast-paced world of med comms.

From the start, the allegro.WRITE programme offered a structured approach that was essential for someone transitioning into the field. The training materials were designed to cover a wide range of topics relevant to medical writing, from understanding scientific concepts to mastering the nuances of developing compelling content. Each training session provided a solid foundation upon which to build our skills, ensuring a seamless transition into the medical writing environment. What truly set this programme apart was the unwavering support and mentorship provided by the allegro. team. Each member was committed to the growth of everyone enrolled in the programme. Their guidance was influential in improving my writing abilities and instilling confidence in my work. The training materials were comprehensive, offering valuable insights and practical exercises that allowed me to apply what I learned in the ‘real-world’. Whether it was developing slide decks, posters or analysing study materials, every task served to deepen my understanding of medical writing principles. As I progressed through my first year as an Associate Medical Writer, I became increasingly adept at navigating the complexities of med comms. One aspect of medical writing that particularly appealed to me was the fast-paced nature and unpredictability of the work. No two days have been the same which presents new challenges and opportunities for growth. This dynamic nature of the job keeps me intellectually stimulated and motivated, pushing me to constantly evolve as a writer.

Looking ahead, my aspirations in the field of medical writing are ambitious yet attainable. I aim to continue growing in my role, taking on increasingly challenging projects and expanding my areas of expertise. Ultimately, my goal is to become a Senior Medical Writer and I look forward to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead on my journey to achieve this goal.

Coming out of university, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do but knew that I wanted to use my natural sciences degree and remain in the healthcare industry. Finding out about med comms, I thought it was the perfect fit for me. I wanted to hear more about what med comms entailed, so I attended the allegro.DRIVE webinar on LinkedIn, which helped me to settle on applying for a role in Client Services. The team answered lots of questions, giving me an insight into the world of med comms, which was invaluable at that stage. The allegro.DRIVE application process was enjoyable, with some online tests and an in-person assessment day with a good mix of formal assessments and a networking lunch. This meant that you could meet people at the company and ask questions in a more informal setting.

Starting the allegro.DRIVE programme at Inizio Medical, I’ve particularly felt that there has been a strong support network. With a number of different mentors, a buddy system and the peer network, there’s always someone to ask a question to and provide guidance. This support has made it easy to integrate into my account teams and the company as a whole. Everyone at the company has been friendly and approachable and I’ve been impressed by how much interaction we have with senior leadership. They made time to introduce themselves to us in our first week, and having regular meetings with our mentors throughout the programme has been beneficial.

I now work on a number of projects in rheumatology, oncology and neuroscience, and have really enjoyed how varied the work is. The allegro.DRIVE training was a great introduction to the account work, providing lots of resources to draw upon. We’ve also been introduced to business development and pitching, gaining valuable information about the wider company. I’m looking forward to growing within the company and taking more ownership of projects.