Dear MSL Journal Readers –
We are approaching Spring with new beginnings all around! While it may seem that the pandemic is beginning to abate, other worries replace this one; yet, our medical teams remain resilient, knowing patients are ever waiting for new treatments and better medical solutions.
This edition of The MSL Journal has a dearth of information to digest from multiple articles focusing on best practices, how to bring more value through field engagements and increased focus on gathering quality medical insights! I am incredibly impressed by how many fantastic articles we received to publish in this edition and thank our authors for their gracious investment in helping to develop medical affairs colleagues around the globe!
Medical Affairs has grown into its own strong sense of strategic value and more organizations are adding MSL teams as well as expanding teams, including creation of novel MSL roles and new Medical Affairs areas of focus! It is a hot market at present, with more open positions than people to fill them! This bodes well for those aspiring to enter their first MSL role! Stay focused on what you want to achieve, and you will do it! The 2021 MSL salary and compensation survey nods to the value of MSLs and MSL leadership with consistently top dollar salaries in these roles. Be sure to check out the full global survey results on the MSL Society website!
Technology, artificial intelligence, telemedicine and need for virtual engagement continue to be elevated in our content and I hope everyone will hone their tech savvy skills through these offerings! And, to round out this edition, the recent PhRMA Code updates are summarized to aid quick absorption of the key elements which went into effect January 1st.
MSLs are nimble, agile, flexible and adapt well to change; these capabilities fortify medical affairs colleagues in times of rapid change, as we all work to exceed expectations, find creative methods to define and demonstrate value while navigating a vastly different KOL landscape where hybrid meetings and virtual engagement have become the norm and KOLs have far less time to meet. It is incumbent on each of us to plan for success, prepare even better for each meeting and show up with a unique and memorable brand.
As we begin 2022, take stock of what you offer your internal and external stakeholders. It is my sincere wish that the culmination of all that each journal edition offers readers will impart wisdom, new ideas and positive energy as we lean into a new year and with hope that the world can find peace and strength in these times.
Wishing everyone good health and continued professional development,
Cherie Hyder
Editor:
Cherie Hyder, PharmD, MSL-BC
Cherie Hyder is Syndicated National MSL Director at Syneos Health. In her previous job at Biohaven Pharmaceuticals she supported a virtual launch of Nurtec ODT for acute migraine. She has been involved in drug development for more than 30 years, working at FDA in CDER and pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer, Lilly, Novartis, Solvay, and Avanir, among others. At University of Missouri, she received a Doctor of Pharmacy degree with the intention to devote her career to pharmaceutical research. She has multiple adjunct faculty appointments and enjoys teaching opportunities.
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