Patricia R. Olsen

Writer/Author with combined experience in business writing and journalism. Specialties are books, book proposals, white papers, and health and business articles, especially first-person profiles and Q&As. Skills include editing and blogging. Author of health book with M.D. co-author, published by DaCapo Lifelong in 2008. English and M.B.A. degrees.


Professional Background: 1980-present

Long time contributor to The New York Times 

Former lead writer of the popular Boss and Vocations columns in Sunday Business. Sole writer of the Workspace  column. Skilled in finding the themes in both an executive's and a regular worker's life, and in conveying their voice. I’ve also contributed to nine other columns in the section, including Small Business. 

Technical Writer

I've been a technical writer, on staff and on contract, for companies that include Cisco, AT&T, Sanofi-Aventis, Bristol Myers Squibb, and others. I've written manuals, policies and procedures, requirements, and other documents. I'm knowledgeable about SDLC, VPNs, optical networking, CFR21, clinical trials, and other technical concepts.

Columnist

Executive columns:
• Life Stories, for On Wall Street magazine
• At the Helm, for Family Business

Content Developer

I have written articles for numerous websites and corporate clients, including  Princeton University, Columbia University Medical School, Monmouth Medical Center and Harvard Business Review online. I also contribute to newsletters.

Credits include American Gas Association magazine, NJ Monthly, Dealmaker, Trader Monthly, Continental, Neurology Now, Diabetic Living, CareTaker Advantage, Remedy, Bipolar, USA Weekend, Financial Planning, Business Traveler, The San Francisco Chronicle magazine, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Hemispheres, and others. In addition, I’ve written for custom publications.

Education

Foundations of Clinical Research and Drug Fundamentals Program
(Coursework in post-B.A. certificate)
MERCER COUNTY PROGRAM

M.B.A. (Marketing)
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
Graduate School of Business Administration

A.A.S. (Computer Science)
BROOKDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

B.A. (English, Spanish)
RIDER COLLEGE


Professional Organizations (Past and present):

Current or past member of Society of American Business Writers and Editors, American Medical Writers Association, American Society of Journalists and Authors, Association of Health Care Journalists, and Authors Guild.