The terms “efficacy” and “effectiveness” are often used interchangeably. But when evaluating health technologies (e.g., drugs, vaccines, diagnostics, devices), their meanings have crucial differences. Efficacy concerns the question, “Can it work?” That is, can a novel technology improve health outcomes under ideal conditions in an experimental design? Randomized … [Read more...]

Introduction: Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) thrive on meaningful work that addresses patient care decision-making as supported by scientific data and published literature. Below, we demonstrate this impact and how a field-based inquiry evolved into a large-scale project with multiple engagement points and broad utilization. The Need: Despite a health care professional's … [Read more...]

As a seasoned professional, life has given me several opportunities for challenges and successes. I want to share a few pearls of wisdom I gained during one of the most challenging times in my professional career and personal life with the intention that I may provide hope for others. Having earned a PhD in Neurobiology and Anatomy at Wake Forest University and completed … [Read more...]

The primary function of medical advisory boards is to provide consultation to the company on core topics of high interest related to the product. The strategic output sought at an advisory board will likely vary based on the phase of the product in its life cycle, which could include: a pre-launch advisory board to assess the clinical development program (what the data … [Read more...]

At the start of the pandemic, April 2020, I was offered my first medical liaison role. I had been a Hematology/Oncology Physician Assistant for 13 years and was excited to start my new career in Medical Affairs. Adapting to virtual onboarding and virtual scientific engagements, were some of the barriers that I encountered in my job transition. Prior to COVID, my favorite … [Read more...]