Publicis Health School of Medical Writing

It's a medical writing course created and run by Publicis Health Paris, a healthcare-focused communications agency. Over five evenings, it introduces you to the medical writer's profession: how a healthcare agency works, the basics of content production, writing, the regulatory framework, and a final immersion with a brief to tackle. The school has existed since 2022 and is now on its fourth cohort.

Because most young scientists, doctors and pharmacists have never heard of this profession — many don't even imagine this world exists. Yet many of them are looking for an alternative to research or clinical practice, and have exactly the qualities the job calls for: creativity and rigour. Rather than tell them about our world, we prefer to show it to them.

A medical writer turns scientific information into clear, rigorous content aimed at healthcare professionals or patients. We sum the job up in two words: rhythm and melody. Rhythm is mastering a constantly changing landscape made of science, rules and guidelines. Melody is laying a creative idea over that foundation, expressed with words that sing.

Monday: welcome to our world — what a healthcare communications agency is, who does what, and the medical writer's role. Tuesday: content basics — promotional vs corporate, an overview of standard formats. Wednesday: writing basics — using source materials, creating content, using AI, distilling messages. Thursday: regulatory basics — ANSM, EFPIA, ABPI and the other frameworks that guide us. Friday: immersion and the handing out of briefs.

Yes, each evening ends with a hands-on exercise: identifying the qualities of a medical writer and learning to defend them in an interview, decoding unbranded campaigns to find the company and intention behind them, building a key messages platform, and spotting the regulatory mistakes hidden in a brochure. The week ends with a brief to complete at home: an infographic, a key messages platform or a short brochure.

Yes. Using AI in writing work is part of Wednesday's program, alongside working with source materials and distilling messages. We train for the profession as it's practised today, tools included.

The speakers are working medical writers from Publicis Health Paris, together with colleagues from the teams they work with day to day. You're trained by practitioners of the craft, not by external trainers.

No. It's a professional discovery course, neither degree- nor certificate-awarding: it grants no ECTS credits or registered certification. A certificate of attendance can be provided at the end of the week on request.

No. Every stage of the program is labelled 'basics': it's designed for people with a scientific background who are discovering the profession entirely. No prior experience in medical writing or in an agency is required.

More than 95% of participants recommend the course. The most common feedback: their surprise at discovering how much creativity and teamwork matter in a profession they'd imagined to be purely scientific.

Anyone with a scientific background. Previous cohorts included doctors, PhDs, surgeons, pharmacists, a biotech engineer, an oceanographer, a dentist, medical translators, freelancers and journalists. Above all, we look for people who are curious, rigorous, creative and who enjoy sharing knowledge.

Both are welcome: students, PhD candidates, recent graduates, working professionals considering a career change, or freelancers. Since the sessions take place in the evening, the format is designed to fit around daytime commitments.

You should be comfortable reading English, as the scientific literature and some of our materials are in English. The sessions are held in French. Your application file may be written in either French or English.

Yes, there's no residence requirement. Bear in mind, though, that the course takes place in person only, on our premises in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, over five consecutive evenings. Travel and accommodation costs are at your own expense.

Yes, provided you can be physically present in Paris for the whole week. No visa, travel or accommodation support is provided.

Yes. Each cohort's applications are reviewed afresh, independently of previous ones. We simply invite you to rework your file around the current edition's study.

Two documents: a Word file of one page maximum setting out the key messages of the study indicated on the course page, and your CV. Both may be written in French or English.

We want to see how you prioritise information. A good exercise identifies what the study actually demonstrates, expresses it in a few clear, evidence-based statements, and stays true to the data. It's neither an exhaustive summary nor personal commentary: it's what a busy reader absolutely must take away. It's exactly the exercise you'll do again during the course, in greater depth.

Yes, both. The Word format (.doc or .docx) and the one-page limit are part of the exercise: working within format constraints is at the heart of the job. Documents exceeding one page may be set aside.

Substance matters far more than form. We don't expect any particular design: a readable, well-structured, error-free document is more than enough.

The link to the study is in the "How to apply?" section of the Formation page. If the link doesn’t work, contact us via the form and we’ll send you the document.

AI is one of the tools we teach during the course, so we don't demonise it. But the application exercise is precisely there to assess how you personally read, understand and prioritise scientific information. A text produced without genuine analysis of your own is easy to spot and tells us nothing about you. Use it as an assistant, not as an author.

Once the form has been submitted, the application can no longer be edited directly. If you need to correct an attachment, contact us via the form before the closing date, quoting your name and the confirmation reference you received by email.

An automatic confirmation email is sent to you immediately after you submit the form, with an application reference. If you don't receive it within the hour, check your spam folder before contacting us.

Contact us via the form, describing the issue: browser used, the step where it failed, and any error message. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Applications are open until XX February 2027 inclusive. No application can be accepted after that date.

Mainly on the quality of your key-messages document: scientific accuracy, ability to prioritise, clarity of writing and respect for the format constraint. Your background and motivation, read from your CV, complete the assessment.

Numbers vary by cohort: between 20 and 65 participants per edition since 2022. The number of places depends on the volume and quality of applications received, as well as our capacity.

We receive many applications each edition, so selection is real. But we're not after the best CVs: we're after people who write well, think clearly and want to discover the profession. An unusual background is no handicap — our cohorts have included an oceanographer and journalists.

All candidates receive a response, whether positive or negative, around XX February 2027. We make it a point of honour to get back to every applicant.

Selection is based mainly on the application file. Some candidates may be offered a further conversation, by phone or video call. If so, you'll be notified by email.

The volume of applications means we can't provide individual feedback as a rule. You are, however, welcome to apply again for a future cohort.

Nothing. The course is entirely free: knowledge is priceless, so we haven't put a price on our course. Only your travel and accommodation costs are at your own expense.

The program runs from XX to XX March 2027, Monday to Friday in the evening (XXh – XXh), after your working day — and ours.

At Publicis Health's premises, XX, Paris 17th arrondissement. Precise access details are sent to selected participants.

No. The course is in person only: the workshops, group work and exchanges with the speakers are its core and don't translate online.

The program is progressive: Thursday's regulatory basics build on Tuesday's content basics, and Friday's brief draws on everything else. We therefore ask participants to attend the whole week. Let us know of any known constraints as soon as you're selected.

The end-of-session exercises are done on site. The week, however, ends with a brief to complete at home: an infographic, a key messages platform or a short brochure. Expect a few hours of personal work.

A laptop is recommended for the writing workshops. Everything else — materials, documentation and something to keep you going through the evening — is provided on site.

The course is not a recruitment process and guarantees no position. It does, however, let us meet promising people, and several participants have told us at the end of the week that they want to join the sector. When an opportunity matches someone we've met, we know where to find them.

Yes, independently of the course. Our internship, apprenticeship and permanent-role openings are posted on our usual recruitment channels, and applications are made there separately.

Yes. Freelancers and medical translators have taken part in previous cohorts, notably to understand what agencies expect and the regulatory framework around the content they're commissioned to produce.

Yes. Participants leave with the speakers' contact details and join the School's alumni community, which is the first to hear about our events and opportunities.

Your data and documents are used solely to process your application to the Publicis Health School of Medical Writing and are accessible only to the people involved in selection.

Yes, group and session photos are taken and may be used to present the school. Your consent is collected at the start of the week, and you may decline it with no impact whatsoever on your participation.

Applications are kept for 12 months after the cohort closes, then deleted. You may request their deletion at any time.

Under GDPR, you have the right to access, rectify, delete and object to the processing of your data. To exercise these rights, contact us via the form. Our privacy policy details all of these processes.