The radiography of the role of a Scientific Liaison Physician was based in times ago on the one-to-one interactions that this professional had with the stakeholders, sharing relevant scientific information, new scientific data, updates from congresses, and academic activities, among others.
Currently, a value proposition of the Scientific Liaison Physicians is aimed at developing several pillars within their role, always carrying a high scientific knowledge, developing strategic thinking and cooperative work with the different areas of a company; as well as gathering insights and unmet needs from the field.
The key to the game lies in an adequate balance between the traditional strategies with which we have been working, and incorporating those that we consider that a stakeholder wants to see, such as providing solutions to those unsatisfied needs, that these solutions are innovative and that they can multiply that added value, as well as being able to interact in a multifunctional work within organizations.
Definitely, at present, the role of the MSL cannot be alien to the technological revolution worldwide, and that has been the result that an MSL can transform the delivery of its messages, and can carry out multiple activities, taking the different omnichannel alternatives, apps, artificial intelligence as platforms to improve this scientific exchange, which is becoming more relevant every day within the medical field and others that can be covered, providing and overturning the traditional way of delivering and exchanging scientific messages.
And when we talk about a value proposition, we talk about being able to respond to the needs that our stakeholders require, communicating in an innovative, creative, scientific way, and using the best storytelling that can be put in place every day to carry a high-level scientific message; having that link as indicated in the name of its role “Liaison”, with the different departments or areas of a company, and thus be able to provide a 360 response as a company, clearly counting on adequate communication with all the necessary parts, without forgetting that your answer is based on scientific value and high knowledge.
As a relevant topic, for an MSL to have a transcendental impact, we must definitely be aligned with the soft skills that every day in each role become indispensable. However, for the MSL, which, although it is true, are personal attributes, they are indispensable for dealing with stakeholders; problem-solving, communication skills, teamwork, organization, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, adaptability, resilience, and empathy, are among others some of the key soft skills to achieve a positive impact both at the internal and external within the role of a scientific liaison doctor. (1)
And that is why every day we work to develop and enhance not only our hard skills but also our soft ones, to advance in becoming an integral professional, who is capable of responding to different objections and that makes a difference in a business environment and in the hospital environment.
Reference:
1-https://www.universia.net/co/actualidad/empleo/habilidades-blandas-que-son-que-importante-desarrollarlas-1078831.html
Author:
Beky Ortiz Sedano, MD, MSc, MBA
Beky Ortiz Sedano, MD, MSc, MBA, is the Medical Sciences Liaison (MSL) Leader at Abbvie for the North Region of LATAM. She has a Bachelor of Medicine, a Master of Pharmaceutical Medicine, and a Master of Business Administration. For the past 13 years, Beky has held a variety of positions at key pharmaceutical companies, always within medical affairs. It started in Medical Information, Pharmacovigilance, Patient Program, clinical Operations, and Medical Manager. She then moved to the MSL Leader position, which gives her an understanding of people transformation and development. Currently, Beky is responsible for planning, executing, and aligning strategy, processes, and field systems for MSL teams.
Beky loves to lead by example, to be an inspiration in relation to autonomy, dedication at work, and work & life balance, always aiming to convert high-performance teams and functional Cross work.
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