Welcome to another quarterly edition of The MSL Journal! This one is packed with a variety of stimulating and informative content! Medical Affairs is in the midst of evolution that is taking this role toward greater strategic focus, more specialization and enhanced use of digital technologies. Change is necessary for growth, and it is in […]Continue Reading

In the dynamic and complex landscape of healthcare delivery, Medical Affairs professionals play a vital role in bridging the gap between scientific innovation, regulatory compliance, KOL engagement, and patient care. As Medical Affairs continues to evolve, it becomes increasingly important for professionals to have a strong foundation of training that includes the necessary knowledge and […]Continue Reading

Attending medical conferences is an important activity for Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs). The value of MSL and Key Opinion Leader (KOL) engagement during medical conferences is crucial to the success of a product and plays a critical role in advancing medical knowledge, fostering collaborations, driving innovation, and improving patient care. To better understand how MSLs […]Continue Reading

Syneos Health® worked to integrate certain aspects of the metaverse to create a new and immersive experience for the end-user, resulting in enhanced medical science liaison (MSL) training in an engaging environment. In the Spring 2023 issue of the Journal of the MSL Society we presented positive results of our initial pilot program that integrated […]Continue Reading

Orphan drug approvals by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) have increased steadily since 2010. For four of the past five years, they have comprised more than half of all drugs approved per year,. Yet, despite this, only 10 percent of the 7,000 recognized rare diseases have FDA-approved therapies. Consequently, there is relatively little […]Continue Reading

Leaving academia for a position in industry was an enormous culture shock for me and now having had time to reflect on my experience, I feel confident enough in my role to discuss my view of the yearlong acclimation process. Having two decades of clinical experience in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging did not prepare […]Continue Reading

MSLs play a critical role in the Pharmaceutical Industry Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) are a vital link between the science and art of medicine. They work with healthcare providers (HCPs) to understand the needs of patients and then bring that knowledge back to pharmaceutical companies to help develop and market new drugs that are essential […]Continue Reading

Yay! You got the job! Now it is time to meet the new team and strive out a map for yourself in this organization. Keys for effective team communication starts with Emotional Intelligence. What are the pillars of emotional intelligence? And how about soft-skills to enhance dealing with others? Self Awareness Emotional awareness, the ability […]Continue Reading

Great people are critical to business success and they never stop looking for ways to improve while organizations must aspire to greater heights in the fast-changing pharmaceutical sector. These twin drivers are fueling an expansion in staff coaching as an exercise in good business practice and progressive leadership that underscores a company’s values. Innovation and […]Continue Reading

I get a lot of connection requests on LinkedIn or just random questions asking, “how did I get into the industry, as a nurse?” or “what made me make the transition to industry from nursing?” For me, it was a transition that made sense. My career trajectory has been a little atypical. I am a […]Continue Reading

Engaging with key opinion leaders (KOLs) is especially critical to the success of the life science industry. KOLs are experts in their respective fields and provide industry Healthcare Professionals with influential insights, recommendations, and guidance. In recent years, the emergence of digital channels has transformed KOL engagement, creating a more complex omnichannel engagement ecosystem that […]Continue Reading

One of the core pillars of Medical Affairs is improving patient care and outcomes. Also central to Medical Affairs are medical science liaisons (MSLs), who act as scientific experts and educators, serving as a bridge between the company and the medical community, including healthcare professionals (HCPs), researchers, and key opinion leaders (KOLs). But simply delivering […]Continue Reading

As the adage goes: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Having been a MSL of large territories for three years, I’ve admittedly learned many lessons… the hard way. Ideally, reading this mixture of advice and experiences will spare you some travel strife. Breaking this down into categories: Rental Cars Never assume […]Continue Reading

Medical MSLs and commercial teams play a critical role in educating healthcare professionals about the latest clinical research findings, disease management strategies, and treatment options. By collaborating and sharing insights, offering tailored solutions, providing education and training, building long-term relationships, and emphasizing patient outcomes, MSLs and commercial teams can build more meaningful experiences for healthcare […]Continue Reading

The healthcare crisis in Venezuela is a tangible element of a country where two completely opposite poles coexist. As indicated by The New York Times in its edition of March 21, 2023, while televisions are being sold for $115,000, healthcare workers receive a monthly salary of $20 to survive.1 Although the hyperinflation situation that occurred […]Continue Reading

Does your health technology (e.g., drug, vaccine, diagnostic, device) provide additional health benefits compared to competing alternatives (e.g., standard of care)? How do you measure and quantify the “value” associated with the added benefits? Value can be measured in many ways (e.g., economic, clinical, and humanistic outcomes). You could, for example, simply compare how many […]Continue Reading

To many, the metaverse may be a nebulous term that is difficult to conceptualize. Adding to the obscurity is a lack of publications that share results from utilizing the technology in a regulated industry setting, such as the biopharmaceutical space. In this issue of The MSL Journal, Shim and colleagues report findings from utilizing the […]Continue Reading

This article is written from two perspectives: one is the experience of someone who is working with a coach (the client) and the other is the perspective of a coach. The Client Perspective A favorite quote of mine is from Warren Buffet: “The best investment you can make is in yourself”. As MSLs, we know […]Continue Reading

My friend Marcel called me last night. He and his wife, Kathryn, were working on their ‘fun calendar’ for the new year and wanted to pencil us in. “How about a bike ride through the old rail trail followed by wine and pizza from our backyard oven?” he proposed. Well … heck yes! I’m in! […]Continue Reading

Today, medical plans routinely incorporate a digital strategy, and the terms “omnichannel” or “content creation” are on the lips of most Medical Directors you meet. Medical Affairs is increasingly driving digital strategy, and interest in Digital Opinion Leaders is growing. Chances are, as a Medical Affairs professional, you are keen to engage these influencers of […]Continue Reading

The role of the medical science liaison (MSL) requires a unique skill set to be successful. The ability to accurately discuss scientific data and engage with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), Thought Leaders (TLs), and clinically practicing providers is one of these skills. The ability to engage in compliant, open-ended, unbranded discussions regarding the science of […]Continue Reading