The primary purpose of the MSL Activities During the COVID-19 Pandemic global survey was to gain insights into how the current pandemic is impacting the activities of Medical Science Liaisons globally including working virtually and engaging with KOLs. One of the benefits from the results is to not only understand how other companies and MSL teams are dealing with the pandemic, but to also be able to utilize the results as a tool to set and manage realistic expectations regarding MSL activities in the new reality.
One of the questions in the survey that addressed the concern of KOL engagement was “As a result of COVID-19, and the need for virtual engagements with a KOL, are there additional training topics that would be beneficial?”
Although the question received more than 400 free text responses which included numerous and varying training topics, one of the most frequently provided answers focused on how to effectively conduct virtual KOL engagements.
This is revealing because even though 70% of U.S. based MSLs reported that KOL engagement or access has been REDUCED by more than 51% as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, MSLs are still very interested in receiving additional training on how to conduct virtual KOL engagements.
Another recent survey further highlights the desire of MSLs to receive additional training. During a live webinar conducted on April 16th 2020, 86% of MSLs polled answered yes to the question “Would you like additional training on how to effectively conduct virtual KOL engagements?”
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, how MSLs engage with and access to KOLs and other healthcare providers is quickly evolving. The results of these surveys underscore the desire of MSLs to continually receive additional effective and adequate training. The MSL Activities During the COVID-19 Pandemic survey results allow MSL leaders to gain detailed insights into issues impacting the performance of MSLs and can be used to make informed and effective business decisions.
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 75 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 several 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 (https://amzn.to/4aoYcZp). The book is the first and only step-by-step guide on how to break into the MSL profession and it has received multiple prestigious awards, including:
- 2024 Winner of the American Legacy Book Awards in the Business: Careers category.
- 2024 “Gold Award” Winner – Literary Titan Book Awards in the Career category.
- 2023 “Best Book” Winner – Pinnacle Book Achievement Award in the Career Development category.
He is also the author of the Medical Science Liaison Job Application Tracking & Interview Self-Evaluation Journal (https://amzn.to/49n6MGR).
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