Member Spotlight - Tracey Cheung

Where can we find you online?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifestyle-health-wellness-writer-traceycheung/

Link to your AMWA directory listing

https://www.medicalwriters.org/community/contact/1570/

 
Brief description of what you do

I am a regular contributor to a retail pharmacy magazine, which keeps pharmacists informed about the latest news, evidence, technological and medical developments, new services, and how other health professionals are working with patients for various conditions. I have also been writing consumer education content for a supplement company. I also love writing feature articles on various health topics to raise awareness about these for magazines and newspapers.

 

What led you to become a medical writer?

I have had a passion for health since high school and studied a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Health Promotion)/Commerce followed by a Graduate Certificate in Human Nutrition. About five years ago, I was lucky to find a content writing role at a major supplement company and then also a freelance journalist role at a national pharmacy publication.

 

What do you enjoy most about being a medical writer?

Being able to combine my love for writing with my passion for health. I aim to raise awareness of health issues that need more awareness and attention, which includes myth-debunking, and to help the community understand how to best take care of and advocate for their health. I also love that I can keep pharmacists involved by including the most up-to-date research and comments from the medical community. I hope that this helps them in their role of supporting their patients. They play such an important role, being at the forefront and one of the most accessible points of contact for the community.

 

What has been one of your career highlights as a medical writer and why?

I still consider myself relatively new, so I am grateful for where am and what I am doing now. I am very grateful for my role as a regular contributor to a pharmacy magazine. I am to expand my experience now into writing for other medical communications.

 

What has been one of the greatest challenges for you as a medical writer, and how have you addressed this?

Initially, I had to re-familiarise myself with being efficient at finding rigorous research studies. If I am having trouble, I try to contact the relevant faculties of universities to find out if a researcher can point me in the right direction, toward the latest research in that field.

 

What advice would you give fellow writers or people considering a career in medical writing?

There are many areas of medical writing, and I think it’s helpful to focus on the one where your skills and passion intersect. For me, it was educational content so I could reach consumers and help increase their health literacy through my articles on various consumer websites. At the same time, I have been able to indirectly impacting the service that pharmacists provide to their patients through my articles they read in their trade publication.

 

What led you to join AMWA?

I look forward to networking opportunities and a focused platform and community that surrounds me with professionals in my field. I work independently as a freelancer, so having such a community is important for a sense of belonging and for support. I look forward to sharing opportunities and experiences so that together, we can learn and get through challenges that working in this industry can bring.

 

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