Alright, so in Part One, we broke it down: medical narration isn’t about memorizing textbooks. It’s about delivering complex information in a way that’s clear, human, and tailored to the listener. Now, we’re getting practical and covering the skills that’ll set you up for success, the tools that make life in the booth way easier, how to build a strong demo, and where to find the work.
Skill Sets That Help You Shine
Medical narration favors voice actors who are confident and precise. It means being intentional, not cold and robotic. Some of the top skills that will serve you in this genre are:
- Clarity and enunciation: without sounding over-articulated.
- Control over pacing and breath: medical reads are often long and require stamina.
- Tone flexibility: your delivery needs to match the audience.
- Comfort with research: you’ll need to look things up – drug names, acronyms, even procedures. It’s part of the gig and part of what makes it fun!
- Reliability: fast turnaround and clean audio matter just as much here as in other genres.
Don’t forget: some scripts, especially pharma-related content, ISI (important safety information), clinical trial data, product claims come with strict legal compliance. You can’t rephrase or ad lib; you have to deliver exactly as written.
Tools That Make Life Easier
There are some excellent tools (and weird little tricks) that can make your job easier.
For pronunciation, Merriam-Webster is an absolute go-to, and you can use places like Cambridge Dictionary, YouGlish, and Google Scholar to double-check. If you’re still unsure, especially with brand names or acronyms specific to a company — reach out to them directly. A quick call saying, “Hey, I’m voicing something for your team and just wanted to confirm a pronunciation” is absolutely acceptable.
For articulation, here’s a weird trick that works – and I promise I’m not just trying to have a laugh: try putting a cork, your thumb, or a piece of carrot between your front teeth and reading a difficult phrase out loud. Now remove the object and say it again. Chances are, you’ll notice a huge improvement in your articulation. It works because you’ve introduced resistance and then released it, it kicks your articulators into gear.
When you’re staring down a long word or phrase like angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-induced angioedema (yep, real term), break it up, slow it down, and then build it back up. Take it one word at a time. Then introduce the next word, practice those together, and continue adding until you’ve got it!
The Secret Advantage: Know What Buyers Need
Once you understand what buyers want, you can deliver a stand-out product. You’re often part of a larger educational or compliance-driven goal — if you know what your clients care about, you can shape your reads (and your outreach) accordingly.
Medical narration has the power to increase engagement by helping content feel less clinical and more relatable. It can improve comprehension, especially in patient education materials. A well-delivered read can build trust and credibility through accurate, compassionate delivery, and even create a stronger emotional connection in healthcare marketing — something many clients actively look for. In patient-facing content, it can lead to better treatment compliance, simply because the information was delivered in a way that was understandable and accessible.
Understanding these goals makes your reads more intentional and your marketing more effective.
Building a Medical Narration Demo
Let’s talk demos. If you’re thinking of jumping into this genre, that’s great – but just like our medical clients, do your research (and training!) first. You have to be able to read things you may not understand as if you do understand them, and that takes training with someone experienced in this genre. When you’re ready, work with a demo producer who specializes in medical VO themselves, and please resist the urge to DIY your demo.
Your demo should reflect your goals and be built around what’s booking right now in the industry. A strong medical narration demo has at least five or six different reads. They often include a calm eLearning read, a confident corporate spot, and a precise technical clip. Less is more when it’s high quality and well curated. Specialized coaching and production is key. Think about what types of medical VO you want to do, and tailor your spots to those markets. Keep your samples short and labeled so buyers can quickly find what they need.
Where to Find the Work
Once you’re trained and have a strong, intentional demo, the next step is getting it into the right hands, and the good news is, there are more of those hands out there than you might think.
Medical narration work comes from a variety of places. Companies that specialize in medical explainer videos or healthcare communication are often looking for voice actors who understand the balance between technical accuracy and human connection. Pharma and biotech companies may produce internal training or compliance materials, and many of them either work with voice talent directly or through production houses that cast for them. You’ll find opportunities with eLearning developers, particularly those who create content for hospitals, universities, or continuing education programs in the medical field.
Online casting platforms have opportunities too, but it’s important to go in with eyes wide open, as quality and rates vary widely.
All the core strategies you’ve learned for direct marketing in VO apply here. Make space for medical narration on your website. Keep your audio quality sharp. Follow up consistently. Know who you’re reaching out to and why, and remember that the client’s needs come first. There’s no need to reinvent your process.
For rates, the GVAA Rate Guide is a reliable and respected reference. It helps you stay professional, consistent, and fair.
You’re Ready for This
Medical narration is a steady, fulfilling lane in voice-over with room to grow.
Whether you’re guiding a new nurse through a training module or explaining side effects to a nervous patient, your voice matters.
And if you can make angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-induced angioedema sound approachable?
You can do anything.
