Program Overview

How well we formulate arguments, present data and convey messages has an enormous impact on our ability to achieve our professional goals. Our communication skills affect the way grant proposals are received and reviewed, how peers consider our work and ideas, and whether—and how—the public embraces our viewpoints and opinions. 

The Effective Writing for Health Care certificate program is a one-year, blended learning program designed to help clinicians, clinical investigators, researchers and allied health professionals achieve their personal writing and career objectives through a core curriculum and one of three specialized tracks. The program’s schedule and learning models are designed to accelerate and elevate communication skills with minimal time away from practice or research activities.

Three Specialized Tracks

Writing for Medical and Scientific Journals

Increase the likelihood of your submission being accepted to a medical or scientific journal

Writing for the Public

Achieve success in communicating your ideas and opinions via newspapers, magazines and social media

Writing Grant Proposals

Master strategies and best practices to create persuasive grant proposals to fund your projects

Workshop Dates

Harvard Medical School is monitoring the ongoing conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to work with learners to ensure that you safely and successfully complete your program while we deliver a transformational HMS learning experience. At this time, the program is scheduled to commence with a live virtual workshop and will include two in-person workshops in Boston, MA on the following dates:

Workshop 1: June 1–4, 2022 | Live Virtual

Workshop 2: November 14–17, 2022 | Boston, MA 

Workshop 3 and Graduation Ceremony: June 12–15, 2023 | Boston, MA

Effective Writing for Health Care Brochure Cover

Download the Brochure

Download the program brochure and stay up-to-date on program details by completing the form below:

Over the course of one year, participants will:
  • Attend three four-day workshops
  • Participate in 60 webinars, on-demand sessions and targeted hands-on learning exercises
  • Work in small groups and receive individualized feedback from personal editors and program faculty members to advance specific writing goals
  • Produce a personal, submission-ready capstone project with support from a faculty member
Assignment of a Faculty Member:

This program gives learners instruction from faculty, editors, contributors, reviewers and writing coaches from:

  • Harvard Medical School
  • Harvard College Writing Program
  • The New England Journal of Medicine and other leading medical and scientific journals
  • International, national and regional media outlets
  • Private, government and industry grant organizations

NEJM logo

Featuring faculty editors and contributors from the New England Journal of Medicine
Daniela Lamas

Daniela Lamas, a pulmonary and critical care doctor at the Brigham & Women's Hospital and member of the teaching team, explores the emotional side of illness through writing.

Read Article