Welcome to the Fall edition of The MSL Journal! Fall is my favorite time of year as you begin to feel the crisp chill of weather changing, leaves crunching beneath your feet, and smell wood burning in fireplaces and outdoor fire pits! It is finally time for the s’mores! This edition is incredibly full of […]Continue Reading

The 2023 MSL of the Year Awards took place during the 11th annual MSL Society Conference in Miami (August 29th-31). The purpose of the annual awards is to recognize excellence within the MSL Profession and are open to any MSL and MSL Manager worldwide. During the Awards Night Celebration, the MSL Society recognized 33 finalists […]Continue Reading

Breaking into the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) profession is very competitive! Your curriculum vitae (CV)/resume is often your first and only opportunity to make a positive first impression and grab the attention of hiring managers. (“Resume” and “CV” are often used interchangeably within MSL job descriptions, but by definition, there are differences between them that […]Continue Reading

Introduction When facing objections in thought leader engagement, it is time to ask strategic questions to go beyond the surface-level opinions and guide the conversation to new understanding. Objection handling represents an opportunity to strengthen relationships, establish credibility, and be a resource to help solve problems, provide additional information to further educate on key topics, […]Continue Reading

Traditionally, MSLs are deployed 24 to 12 months prior to a new product launch. Several smaller as well as larger pharmaceutical companies have come to the conclusion that it would be very valuable to deploy MSLs in their late-stage clinical trials even earlier. Some large companies even have pipeline MSLs that are solely responsible for […]Continue Reading

Medical Science Liaisons face a range of new challenges and organizations are increasingly leaning on them to engage with HCPs to build both market performance and brand reputation Introduction The MSL role is fast emerging as a principal player across a post-COVID landscape where HCPs are demanding high-caliber information that addresses their specific needs. Delivering […]Continue Reading

In the ever-evolving landscape of medical science and healthcare, the role of medical science liaisons (MSLs) stands as a crucial bridge between cutting-edge research and real-world clinical applications. In this context, the ability to cultivate an open-minded, adaptable, and growth-oriented mindset is not just valuable—it’s imperative. Enter Adam Grant’s enlightening work, “Think Again,” which delves […]Continue Reading

Pre-Launch Field Medical Education Leads to 1.5x Increase in Treatment Adoption The Veeva Pulse Field Trends Report includes an analysis of over 600 million HCP interactions and activities from more than 80% of commercial biopharma field teams worldwide, the largest industry benchmark of its kind on HCP engagement. The recent report shares for the first […]Continue Reading

Hybrid communication is here to stay. In person meetings as well as virtual meetings are now part of MSL interactions. This is for good reason, as it allows for the use of the best channel fit depending upon time available, physician preference content of what is to be discussed. We need the agility and flexibility […]Continue Reading

This past August, the MSL Society Conference took place in Miami. The event not only introduced us to a new location after years in Las Vegas, but also introduced us to many new faces to meet and hot topics to discuss. As recruiters in the field medical space, we have the privilege of attending the […]Continue Reading

Introduction The pharmaceutical industry plays a pivotal role in healthcare and is responsible for researching, developing, and producing medications that improve and save lives. In this highly regulated and competitive sector, building trust, credibility, and effective communication are all essential. Key Opinion Leader (KOL) engagement has emerged as a crucial strategy for pharmaceutical companies to […]Continue Reading

We are all different, aren’t we? Indeed, and in this lies the beauty! No doubt that the way we grow up influences who we are in the sense that how and where we live, learn, work, and play as well as if we have access to high-quality healthcare, food, and education can also influence our […]Continue Reading

In the rare disease space, Medical Science Liaisons play a vital role in ensuring that healthcare providers have access to accurate, up-to-date information, and patients receive the best possible care. By embodying these best practices, MSLs can contribute to advancements in rare disease research, facilitate better patient outcomes, and foster collaboration among stakeholders in the […]Continue Reading

The role of MSL is crucial for fostering effective communication between pharma companies and HCPs, providing valuable scientific and medical information and contributing to evidence-based decision-making. In the data-driven world of medical affairs, the role of MSL professionals is expanding beyond traditional scientific knowledge transfer. While MSLs possess a wealth of knowledge, the true impact […]Continue Reading

Basically, my desire to become an MSL was sparked by an encounter with another MSL during my time as an intern at a hospital. This individual had come to deliver a speech but ended up inspiring a profound aspiration within me. Pursuing this dream turned out to be far more challenging than I initially anticipated. […]Continue Reading

Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI, has been the buzzword promising massive transformation in the way Medical Affairs professionals do their jobs over the past year. Medical Affairs organizations, specifically the MSLs, Medical Writers, and Medical Researchers are experiencing a significant shift in their roles and responsibilities, but how exactly is the integration of AI […]Continue Reading

MSLs and field-based medical personnel, you are the heroes of this article. The people who often cover huge geographies working both remotely and field-based, are experts in their therapy area and work tirelessly to be the trusted, impartial provider of scientific information, whenever a healthcare professional calls! If you are interested in exploring your own […]Continue Reading

Due to today’s rapidly evolving scientific information and consistently emerging therapies, an integrated medical team that includes Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) as part of the launch leadership and strategy is vital to assure corporate and product awareness. MSLs also assist with overcoming challenges and staying abreast of the latest advances in therapeutic areas, product trends, […]Continue Reading

INTRODUCTION The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries improving the efficiency and effectiveness of Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) and Medical Advisors (MAs) in their daily activities. However, the awareness, understanding, and perceptions of these advanced technologies in these roles remain unclear. To bridge this knowledge gap, […]Continue Reading

This is the second part of an article describing a model for managing and developing new MSLs. Part One provided advice for managers on the key mentoring and management needs of a new MSL, so that they can help the MSL settle into their role as smoothly as possible. Here in Part Two, I’ll cover […]Continue Reading

At times, working as a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) just might be one of the most ambiguous careers one will choose to embark upon. Known by many names (e.g. Regional Medical Scientist, Thought Leader Liaison, Regional Medical Director, etc), the primary role of an MSL is to build professional relationships with thought leaders and foster […]Continue Reading

To do your best work in pharma as MSLs, partnerships are essential. But let’s face it; as pharma professionals, we start at a trust deficit. We come to the table with a noble purpose to help HCPs improve patient outcomes. We believe that we can achieve that better together than we can alone. However, even […]Continue Reading

Bio-medical research is no longer confined to the United States. The higher economic returns, greater patient pools, the lure of the availability of advanced medical facilities, and commensurate high-end clinical research personnel and capabilities in many other countries make it viable and attractive for pharma and device companies to engage in scientific discovery via clinical […]Continue Reading

Like many of you, I believed that small territories meant less hectic travel, more nights at home, and, by extension, more time with the family. In my MSL career, I have been responsible for managing territories that ranged from a few counties in southern California to eight states on the US West Coast. Balancing my […]Continue Reading