AMWA Member Spotlight - Lynnette Hoffman
Where can we find you online? (e.g., your Twitter handle, LinkedIn profile):
Lynnettehoffman.com but I haven’t updated in ages…
www.linkedin.com/in/lynnette-hoffman/ in case one day I start actively using it ;-)
@nomadlynnette on Instagram if you want to see pictures of sunsets and flowers…
Link to your AMWA directory listing (if applicable):
1. Brief description of what you do
Currently I’m the managing editor at Healthed, which provides continuing education for GPs. We develop two newsletters a week, covering
both clinical education and health policy/advocacy style articles for our GP audience.
2. What led you to become a medical writer?
It happened quite organically – my first articles for Australian Doctor were actually travel stories – and then more policy related
articles – but I had a lot of academic friends researching sports science and nutrition, and I kept asking them for ideas to pitch. One
thing led to another and the next thing I knew, I was specialising as a clinical writer.
3. What do you enjoy most about being a medical writer?
The diversity of topics I get to learn about – as well as the diversity of work available. Over the years I’ve worked in health
promotions, developed CPD modules for health professionals and resources for patients, and written and edited for all kinds of random
publications, organisations and websites. I’ve also been lucky enough to meet so many creative and interesting people all along the way, and
I love that too.
4. What has been one of your career highlights as a medical writer and why?
Way back early in my career, I won/placed runner-up for a few health journalism awards for feature articles I wrote as a freelancer for the
Weekend Australian. I think it was just very validated to be recognised, especially when I was still scrambling to make a name for myself.
They also all had some decent prize money attached, and I wasn’t that far off from broke uni student, so that was nice too😊
5. What has been one of the greatest challenges for you as a medical writer and how have you addressed this?
I went through a stage where I was bored with medical writing, and also a bit disillusioned at the fact that many of the issues in our health system seem to persist, regardless of how much advocacy occurs.
I got through it by taking a big break, spending lots of time out in the bush, and working on some creative pursuits that had nothing to
do with health or medicine. When the managing editor role at Healthed popped up, I was refreshed and no longer jaded, so I decided
to give it a go, and fortunately, I’ve loved it.
6. What advice would you give fellow writers or people considering a career in medical writing?
Give it a go, try lots of different things, be persistent…but also don’t be afraid to say no to projects, especially if you’re already
feeling stretched…
7. What led you to join AMWA?
My work used to pay for me to attend the conference year after year, and eventually someone pointed out that I should probably become a member😊