The 2025 MSL of the Year Awards took place during the 13th Annual MSL Society Conference in Miami on October 13–14, 2025. The awards recognize excellence in field Medical Affairs and are open to all MSLs and MSL managers worldwide. There are eight categories, including MSL of the Year, MSL Rookie of the Year, and MSL Manager of the Year for both the USA and international regions.
This year, 20 finalists were selected, and the winners were announced during the Awards Night Celebration. The judging process was conducted by an independent panel of nine MSL leaders from the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries. Each nominee submitted four letters of recommendation from key stakeholders, and judges scored all applications using defined evaluation criteria. Scoring was blinded to ensure fairness, and winners were only revealed during the event.
Following the event, we spoke with several winners about what the recognition meant to them, their journey to success, and advice to others including:
Kimberly Jaramillo
Syneos Health
MSL Rookie Manager of the Year USA
Jodi Mann
Corcept Therapeutics
MSL of the Year USA
Maren Stoeber
Orphalan GmbH
MSL of the Year Outside the USA
Bhrugu Yagnik
Thermo Fisher Scientific
MSL Rookie of the Year USA
1. What has winning the award meant to you?
Kimberly Jaramillo: Winning Rookie MSL Manager of the Year has been one of those moments where you pause, smile, and think, “Wow…okay, this actually happened.” Our work in Medical Affairs isn’t glamorous—it’s rooted in evidence, relationship-building, operational discipline, and a great deal of humanity. For the MSL Society to recognize that work is incredibly meaningful. It reinforces what I’ve always believed: you can lead with compassion, uphold scientific rigor, and keep people—patients, sites, colleagues—at the center of every decision.
And while the recognition is special, it also grounds me. I’m still very much a work in progress. The best leaders I know keep learning, refining, and evolving—and I plan to stay in that camp, award or not.
Jodi Mann: Receiving the award has meant so much to me on two levels: personally, and professionally. Personally, it has so much weight because I feel rewarded for the commitment and passion I have shown to my role and it also serves as a reminder for me to continue working on things with great dedication. On a professional level, it has enabled me to initiate and extend my contribution to the community and network in this field to a greater extent. More than anything, the award holds immense significance for me. It serves as an unwavering inspiration, propelling me to continue my journey of self and community upliftment. This journey aims to broaden the horizons of individuals who share my passion for advancing medical science and providing compassionate care to patients.
Maren Stoeber: Winning this award has been deeply meaningful to me and fills me with a great sense of gratitude. It represents not only a personal milestone, but also an affirmation of the principles that guide my work as an MSL: scientific integrity, collaborative engagement, and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of patients. This recognition has reinforced how essential it is to translate complex evidence into meaningful clinical value, to build trusted scientific relationships, and to act on medical insights in ways that can truly support better patient outcomes. It serves as a powerful reminder of the privilege and responsibility that come with this profession.
I am also genuinely grateful to the exceptional cross-functional team I have the privilege to work alongside. Their dedication, expertise, and shared passion for making a difference play a crucial role in everything we accomplish. Together, we make an impact.
Bhrugu Yagnik: Winning the MSL Rookie of the Year award has been a humbling and affirming moment in my professional journey. It represents more than a personal achievement — it reflects the collective effort of mentors, colleagues, and cross-functional teams who believed in my potential. Transitioning from academia into the MSL profession was both exciting and challenging, and this recognition reinforces that the pursuit of scientific excellence, curiosity, and patient-centric impact truly matters.
It has also given me renewed purpose: to not only keep advancing as a Medical Science Liaison at The Binding Site (part of Thermo Fisher Scientific), but also to inspire and mentor the next generation of scientists aspiring to join our profession. It’s a reminder that the MSL role is not defined by tenure, but by commitment, credibility, and contribution to science and healthcare.
2. Why did you enter the competition?
Kimberly Jaramillo: I entered the competition because representation matters. None of our paths into Medical Affairs look the same but if your north stars are aligned with service, science, people, and purpose, you eventually land where you’re meant to contribute.
I also wanted the next generation to know that grit, consistency, and surrounding yourself with people who support your growth can take you far. What’s meant for you will be yours – maybe not in the timeline you want and sometimes you only realize it only in retrospect. There is no single mold to fit—only the courage to embrace your narrative and own your path.
The MSL Society creates space for these diverse stories to be seen, respected, and celebrated. Showing up authentically—in the truest version of who I am and how I lead—felt important.
Jodi Mann: I received a nomination from the Senior Director, Medical Affairs at Corcept for the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) of the Year Award. Competing for me meant a chance to grow and to share my journey with others who may be traveling the same road as me. It was a chance to appreciate the difference I raised and to understand others with a similar MSL passion. The veteran competitors are passionate about the MSL work, and I wanted to use my work to encourage colleagues to reflect and appreciate the work I hope collectively adds to the advancement of the MSL profession.
Maren Stoeber: I decided to enter the competition because it felt like a meaningful moment to reflect on why this profession is so important to me. I am motivated by the chance to bring science into real clinical contexts, to understand the challenges and questions that matter to medical experts, and to help ensure that evidence can genuinely support patients in their journeys. Participating in the competition gave me an opportunity to express that motivation and to highlight the elements of the MSL role that inspire me and give my work purpose every day
Bhrugu Yagnik: I chose to enter because I wanted to benchmark myself against peers within a profession I deeply respect. Having transitioned from a decade of translational immunology research into the MSL space, I saw this as an opportunity to reflect on my growth — how I’ve applied scientific expertise to real-world patient impact.
Equally important, I wanted to contribute to the visibility of early-career MSLs. Our field attracts brilliant scientific minds who often underestimate how transferable their skills are from the bench to the field. By participating, I hoped to demonstrate that strong scientific training, coupled with strategic engagement and empathy, can lead to immediate impact in industry-medical collaboration.
3. How do these awards benefit the MSL community?
Kimberly Jaramillo: These awards shine a light on the real, day-to-day impact of Medical Affairs—the bridge-building, the scientific stewardship, the operational finesse, and the emotional intelligence that rarely fit neatly into job descriptions.
The recognition also comes at a pivotal time for our industry. We’re seeing a clear shift toward valuing Medical Affairs’ perspective earlier in research and development because our insights matter. Field insights, site realities, and patient experiences bring nuance that data alone can’t capture. When our perspective informs study design, feasibility, and strategic decision-making, it elevates the entire development process.
The MSL Society further elevates what excellence looks like in this evolving landscape: curiosity, credibility, collaboration, and a patient-centered compass. By recognizing leaders across different backgrounds and levels, these awards validate the work that anchors science back to what healthcare is fundamentally about: taking care of people—and not abstract “patients,” but real individuals who are someone’s parent, sibling, partner, or child.
In doing so, these awards encourage all of us to keep raising the bar…and to remember that we’re all still growing.
Jodi Mann: Awards like MSL of the Year have several implications for our community and these awards do not go unnoticed. First, such awards highlight actionable best practices and innovation, inspiring and motivating all MSLs to improve. Second, they foster industry pride and construct a sense of unity to bolster self-worth and recognition in a tight and difficult industry. Third, they increase the visibility of the MSL role internally in organizations and externally in the broader healthcare market, thereby driving MSL career development and position them as reliable scientific partners.
Maren Stoeber: These awards benefit the MSL community by showing how meaningful and multifaceted our role truly is. They offer a moment to recognize the impact MSLs can have — from raising disease awareness and strengthening scientific understanding to fostering meaningful, evidence-based scientific exchange across our field. By sharing real examples of how medical insights are translated into practical value, the awards help make our work more visible and better understood. They also inspire our community to continue evolving, stay curious, and value the contribution we can collectively make to the healthcare community and, ultimately, to the people they care for.
Bhrugu Yagnik: Awards like these elevate the entire MSL profession by reinforcing its strategic and scientific value. They:
- Showcase best practices: Recognizing excellence highlights how field medical teams drive innovation, insight generation, and scientific credibility within organizations.
- Inspire professional development: Seeing peers succeed encourages others to refine their communication, leadership, and data-driven decision-making skills.
- Foster community and mentorship: The awards create a platform for dialogue, networking, and collaboration across therapeutic areas and geographies.
- Increase visibility of MSL impact: Recognition brings attention to how MSLs bridge science and business — influencing research priorities, product strategy, and ultimately, patient outcomes.
These awards don’t just celebrate individuals; they elevate the collective narrative of what MSLs contribute to modern healthcare.
4. As someone recognized for excellence within the MSL profession, what advice would you give others?
Kimberly Jaramillo: Lead with clarity and heart. Listen like it’s your superpower. Follow through even when it’s inconvenient. And give yourself permission to still be learning; in this field, the moment you think you’ve “arrived” is usually a sign you haven’t.
Know your biases, too. We all have them, and they influence how we read a room, interpret signals, and decide what we think we already understand. Checking those assumptions isn’t about being perfect — it’s about staying open. And in Medical Affairs, staying open is everything, because real insights only surface when we listen without filtering them through our own lenses.
Stay curious, stay grounded, and make your leadership human. Medical Affairs moves fast, people are nuanced, and science never stops evolving. Don’t let your warmth be mistaken for weakness — gracious and assertive can absolutely coexist. And above all, embrace your narrative. Your path, voice, and lived experience are part of what make this profession stronger.
Jodi Mann: To fellow MSL professionals, I would say: have a sense of curiosity, be true to yourself, and always remember how important relationships are. It is important to take the time and listen to your colleagues, stakeholders, and to do some introspection. Work with your strengths and be open to people teaching you something new. The most competent MSLs are the ones that paired their knowledge and skills on the science with emotional and social skills, in addition to a real interest in making a difference in the field of health care.
Maren Stoeber: My advice would be to stay grounded in the values that give our work meaning: genuine scientific curiosity, integrity in every action, and a consistent focus on the patient. Staying open-minded — to new ideas, different perspectives, and continuous learning — is essential for long-term growth in this role. Let your motivation come from the impact you can create, even when it isn’t immediately visible. Turning evidence into something that supports understanding, raises disease awareness, or improves the patient journey can be incredibly rewarding. Cultivating this mindset — curiosity, integrity, and a willingness to learn — helps you navigate the role with purpose and authenticity.
Bhrugu Yagnik:
- Be scientifically grounded, but people-focused. Your credibility starts with science, but your success grows from relationships built on trust and empathy.
- Listen more than you speak. Understanding stakeholder needs is more powerful than simply presenting data.
- Be a bridge, not a broadcaster. Translate complex scientific concepts into actionable insights that help clinicians make informed decisions and your organization advance patient-centric strategy.
- Embrace technology and innovation. Integrate digital tools (like CRM and analytics) to strengthen engagement and insight generation.
- Seek mentorship — and offer it. I’ve benefited from remarkable mentors, and now I make it a priority to mentor PhD and postdoctoral fellows exploring the MSL path.
- Stay authentic and ethical. Integrity is the cornerstone of credibility. Every conversation, slide deck, or publication should reflect scientific honesty and a focus on improving patient care.
5. What are the keys to being successful within the MSL profession?
Kimberly Jaramillo: Success in the MSL profession lives at the intersection of several truths:
- Scientific excellence: Understanding not just the data, but the “why” behind it.
- Operational discipline: The structure, clarity, and accountability that keep field work credible.
- Emotional agility: Reading a room and adapting your approach with respect for the person across from you.
- Cross-functional fluency: Collaborating effectively with Clinical, Medical, and external partners while maintaining objectivity.
- Humanity: Recognizing that every dataset, every protocol, and every insight ultimately touches real people who matter deeply to someone.
The strongest MSLs I know bring clarity into complicated conversations and calm into chaotic ones. They communicate with intention, treat people with respect, and never lose sight of the impact behind the science. At its best, this role becomes more than a job; it becomes a privilege. And that’s what the MSL Society continues to champion—professionals who are brilliant, compassionate, and still evolving.
The MSL Society has created a community where science, service, and humanity harmonize—and where insights are recognized as catalysts for stronger, more patient-centered research and development. I’m grateful to be part of that ecosystem. This recognition is not a finish line but a milestone, and I’m excited for the continued learning, collaboration, and impact ahead. Our work is never done—and that’s exactly what makes it meaningful.
Jodi Mann: It all comes to three core components: being active, working together with people, and having a growth mindset. Get actively involved, participate in initiatives or discussions, join events, and volunteer. Collaboration is crucial for the growth of every community, and for the MSL Society as well. Construct sincere connections with your colleagues and mentors, and offer your time and knowledge in support. Lastly, learning something new should be a constant throughout your life, the MSL occupation is being adapted to new things almost daily, and to stay on top of it, new ideas and ways of thinking should be embraced.
Maren Stoeber: In my view, success in the MSL profession begins with staying current on new evidence, clinical developments, and emerging data. A strong scientific foundation enables us to contribute relevant and accurate value to the medical community.
Equally important is the ability to recognise meaningful medical insights — from unmet needs to recurring clinical challenges — and translate them into clear, actionable contributions. This relies heavily on close cross-functional collaboration to ensure that insights are shared, aligned, and developed into initiatives that genuinely support the healthcare community. Working as one team amplifies our impact far beyond what any of us could accomplish individually.
Authenticity also plays a key role. It fosters the credibility and trust required to build lasting scientific relationships.
And throughout all of this, keeping the patient at the centre of our decisions provides direction and purpose. When scientific expertise, actionable insights, collaboration, and patient focus come together, the MSL role becomes a powerful driver of meaningful progress in healthcare.
Bhrugu Yagnik: From my experience, success as an MSL requires the intersection of scientific depth, strategic thinking, and emotional intelligence:
- Scientific Expertise: A strong command of your therapeutic area allows you to earn trust and navigate nuanced scientific discussions.
- Strategic Insight: Understanding the business and medical landscape enables you to align your field insights with company objectives.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Success comes from breaking silos — partnering with commercial, regulatory, and R&D teams to transform insights into action.
- Communication Skills: Whether presenting to a KOL or a regional leadership team, the ability to tailor and simplify complex information is vital.
- Adaptability: The healthcare environment is dynamic. Successful MSLs embrace change, leverage new technologies, and continuously learn.
- Patient Focus: Ultimately, everything we do should circle back to improving patient outcomes — that’s the compass guiding every scientific exchange.
About the author:
Samuel Dyer, MD, PhD
Dr. Samuel Dyer is the CEO of the Medical Science Liaison Society and has over 25 years of international MSL experience. During his career, he has managed MSL teams and operations in over sixty countries across the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand. He has facilitated the successful launch of pharmaceutical and medical device products for both Fortune 500 pharmaceutical companies and small biotechnology companies.
Dr. Dyer has coached, interviewed, and reviewed the CVs of countless aspiring MSLs. His insights and guidance have resulted in hundreds of aspiring MSLs successfully breaking into their first roles.
While leading the MSL Society, he has conducted MSL training programs for over 60 pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies in more than 15 countries. Dr. Dyer has also written extensively on the Medical Science Liaison profession, including numerous published articles, benchmark studies, and reports. He has been the keynote speaker and moderated numerous international conferences on various MSL–related topics, including creating teams, management, MSL training, proper utilization of MSLs, global trends, and the KPIs and metrics used to measure MSL performance. Dr. Dyer has also served as a resource and consultant on a number of MSL–related projects for several organizations, including McKinsey & Company and Bain & Company.
Dr. Dyer has an MD from Washington University (Health & Science) School of Medicine, a PhD in Health Sciences from Touro University, a Master’s degree in Tropical Biology (where he studied in the Amazon) from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of the State of New York. Dr. Dyer also completed a certificate program for Executive Leadership and Strategy in Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology at the Harvard Business School.
Dr. Dyer is the author of the multi-award-winning and Amazon #1 Best Seller “The Medical Science Liaison Career Guide: How to Break into Your First Role.” The book is the first and only step-by-step guide on how to break into the MSL career (www.themslbook.com). He is also the author of the Medical Science Liaison Job Application Tracking & Interview Self-Evaluation Journal, which is available on Amazon.
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