Introduction
After transitioning from clinical practice to medical affairs, professionals encounter numerous lateral and vertical opportunities for continued growth. With the whirlwind of daily activities, medical science liaisons (MSLs) face a conundrum of knowing where to start and which path to pursue. With MSLs possessing the drive to advance their knowledge of the science behind medicine, they are poised to continue their professional growth within the biopharmaceutical arena as well. Successful MSLs possess qualities such as emotional intelligence, empathy, and time management that transfer to leadership roles. For example, empathy and curiosity from clinical practice and MSL roles can empower a leader to look beyond the metrics and focus on the wellbeing of each individual team member and the group. This article aims to impart advice from conversations with numerous leaders, mentors, articles, podcasts, and personal experiences to guide the MSL in leadership advancement.
Territory Plan
In the same way an MSL develops and executes a territory plan, aspiring leaders need a flexible plan to organize their trajectory. This includes reviewing core competencies for desired positions or analyzing internal or external job postings. Identifying the qualifications, skills, and experiences required helps focus on the development plan. This can guide stretch assignments, and which company or team activities would help fill gaps in skills. Mapping out small attainable and measurable goals such as taking a leadership course can have big dividends long term. If an MSL wants to expand their clinical trial experiences to prepare for a lateral move as a clinical trial liaison or director of research, the MSL can look for stretch assignments or networking opportunities involving research. Scheduling these activities out keeps schedules from filling up with other activities. If not, there will always be a daily activity that takes the place of long-term goals.
Metrics
In pursuing advancement, do not forget metrics and daily activities. It can be easy to focus on the long term and put off daily activities, especially the mundane. It is easy to overlook routine tasks such as expense reports, company training, and keeping track of spreadsheets or trackers. If an MSL cannot manage their current position, it can send a message to leadership that they may not be ready to manage a team’s needs. This can also make MSLs less likely to be considered for stretch assignments. Being in control of required MSL activities, also transfers over to a lateral move to areas such as medical excellence where organization, analysis, and evaluation are useful.
Networking
Discussing leadership aspirations, goals, and plans during 1 on 1 meetings or field visits allows input, advice, and direction. Effective pre-call planning demonstrates to leadership that MSLs are proactive and prepared, with their questions, plans, and future discussion points clearly outlined. Discussing personal strengths and weaknesses from a director’s standpoint allows an MSL to see areas and traits that may fall into their blind spot. This also allows opportunities to potentially network with other colleagues that a director may know to glean experiences and future leadership positions. This can also pave the way for skip level meetings with higher levels of management to have a bi-directional exchange of ideas. Senior level management can hear from MSL field experiences and ideas while MSLs can glean from experiences of senior management.
Personal Onboarding
Explore company opportunities such as leadership development programs or mentoring initiatives. This allows greater exposure within a company and allows networking with like-minded individuals also seeking advancement. Being mentored by someone outside of your direct chain of command offers unbiased advice, free from day-to-day accountability. If leadership initiatives are not formally available within a company, considering those through the MSL Society can help. Another option would be to take the lead to start or incorporate one.
For MSLs that have a narrowly defined role such as those that focus on engagements with key opinion leaders or those that focus only on the research side, broadening understanding of the many facets of MSL role can be beneficial. Networking with another MSL that possesses those skills within a company or professional network can help. Research on fundamental skills such as company training resources or through MSL organizations can help.
Knowing the Why Behind the Why
In reviewing a planned career trajectory, current leader insights, and potential job opportunities, the most important consideration is knowing an aspiring leader’s why behind the why. Leaders can be faced with increased hours, responsibilities, and less recognition. When their team excels, they will not be in the spotlight. However, when their team hits an obstacle, they may be held responsible. Despite challenges, leaders have the unique ability to inspire others to reach their full potential. They can make meaningful differences in their team’s lives and in the well-being of their family. They may be farther upstream from key opinion leader engagements, but their direction can commission MSLs to empower their key opinion leaders to impact patient lives.
Two-Way Dialog
In the way that MSL skills can transfer into leadership, leadership training can benefit MSLs in the field as well. Experts commonly mention that once one assumes the leadership role it is not about them but the team. Whether an MSL is the direct lead of an MSL team, heading up a special committee, or group, the accomplishments and accompanying recognition belong to the whole team. In the same way when an MSL interacts with a key opinion leader, it should be about the needs of the key opinion leader. Strategy and efforts of the MSL should be placed around the key opinion leader’s needs. The relationship should not be one-sided to where only the MSL benefits.
p>0.05 Positivity
One trait in leadership is to focus on the positive but be aware of the negative. This is not to sugar coat the truth. If a company is merging, focusing on the potential for growth and opportunity within a larger company instead of focusing on the negative. In the same manner, focusing on the positive when interacting with other internal or external stakeholders can improve the relationship. It keeps an MSL from being part of the problem and helps them become part of the solution.
Closing Thoughts
In closing, many traits and skills from successful MSLs can be harnessed to become a successful leader. Additionally, many lessons learned in leadership through mentoring and development can aid the MSL while in the field. Having a long-term, flexible plan and being aware of an MSL’s own insights into why they want to take a specific career trajectory help both prepare for success. Daily excellence in the small and large duties can prepare for further advancement. Networking and continued personal development, characteristics of life-long learning attributes of an MSL are imperative. Putting others first and focusing on the positive can set a medical affairs professional in any move including lateral and upward for success.
In dedication to my leadership mentors, Rachel Pater, Verena Ottley, Cherie Hyder, Lynell D’Sylva, whose guidance and wisdom have been the foundation of my growth and success.
The views expressed are of my own and not necessarily those of my employer.
About the author:
Clint Bastible
Clint Bastible brings over three years of scientific expertise in respiratory, vaccines, and immunology as a Medical Science Liaison. With a solid foundation of more than 15 years as a clinical physician assistant in both specialty and primary care, Clint excels in building rapport with community level providers, facilitating scientific discussions, and sharing key insights. A dedicated team developer, he has contributed to onboarding, mentoring, and has served as interim field director. Committed to lifelong learning, Clint engages in mentoring, formal leadership training, therapeutic area expansion, and has completed his doctoral training. He aspires to take on future leadership roles, continuing to influence and shape the field of medical affairs.
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