What Is a Medical Science Liaison? | George Washington University (2023)

FAQs

What is a medical science liaison? ›

The Medical Science Liaison (MSL) is a specialized role within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and related health-care fields. They concentrate on a specific therapeutic area or disease state (e.g., oncology, cardiology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, rheumatology).

Medical Science Liaisons are vital to the success of a company. They work throughout a product's lifecycle, help to ensure that products are utilized effectively, serve as scientific peers and resources within the medical community, and are scientific experts to internal colleagues at companies.

Becoming an MSL professional is not an easy task, but the certification is worth it. In addition to the higher pay, your organization will give you an official car, and you will get flexible working hours. All these together make building a career in the pharmaceutical industry worthwhile.

While MSLs are not sales representatives, they ARE proactive educators. This means that as an MSL, you will consistently reach out to people with the intent to educate them about your company and its products. To be successful at this, you must always maintain diplomacy, self-discipline, and integrity.

The MSL position differs across companies but typically, you work from home 1-2 days per week and then travel roughly 3 days/week. It is a very flexible position, in that generally you are responsible for your schedule and are setting meetings.

In an MSL interview, use this question to show that you're enthusiastic about the role, can build relationships, have knowledge about the company and have excellent communication skills. Consider talking about relationships you've developed and skills you bring to this new role from past experiences.

A liaison officer is an employee who builds and maintains mutually beneficial relationships, facilitates communications and coordinates activities among two or more people, agencies or organizations.

Liaison responsibilities include:

Reviewing company norms, processes, and goals to maintain knowledge thereof. Detecting opportunities for meaningful collaboration within and across industries. Securing collaborators' buy-ins and discussing parameters to be observed.

The primary purpose of the Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) role is to provide value to Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), in part, through the exchange of scientific information. In fact, the success of every MSL is based on their ability to add value to the KOLs they support!

Some liaisons can get an MSL position with a Masters degree, but most positions require a minimum of a PhD in the area of medical expertise that a company or product requires.

How to get a job in MSL without experience? ›

To become a medical science liaison with no experience, a person needs to ensure they have the right educational qualifications and develop expertise in a specific therapeutic area. This will help a person get a job as a medical science liaison without prior pharmaceutical experience.

Find ways to connect with the experts within the therapeutic area. A recommendation from a Key Opinion Leader (KOL) can help you land your first MSL job. Look for managerial positions in Medical Affairs that are corporate-based. Once a company knows you, it's easier to move into an MSL position.

It is hard to get a medical science liaison job.

In order to get this role, a person will need to concentrate on a specific therapeutic area or disease state (e.g., oncology, cardiology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, rheumatology) and gain expertise in the field.

It is extremely competitive to become an MSL. Dr. Dyer said that The MSL Society has “launched more than 100 careers of medical science liaisons.” He recommends that candidates educate themselves on the profession and become aware of the resources out there to support their careers, including The MSL Society.

MSL manager or medical manager/director

A definitive step up in your medical affairs career would be to seek an MSL manager role and then, to get to the top of the medical affairs career ladder, a medical manager or director job.

The MSL bonus target range can also vary, but generally, it is anywhere from 5% to 20% of the base salary. Other benefits that come with the medical science liaison position are the common benefits you see with full-time employment: Paid Time Off.

What is the typical career path of a medical science liaison? As aforementioned the most common career path for MSLs is: PhD Graduate – Medical Science Liaison – Senior Medical Science Liaison – Medical Manager/Medical Advisor – Country Medical Director – Global Medical Director.

What to say when asked why do you want this position? ›

“I see this opportunity as a way to contribute to an exciting/forward-thinking/fast-moving company/industry, and I feel I can do so by/with my …” “I feel my skills are particularly well-suited to this position because …” “I believe I have the type of knowledge to succeed in this role and at the company because …”

They provide a point of contact for patients, their families and their carers.

What's a Liaison in English? In English pronunciation, you use the word liaison when words are linked together in pronunciation. For example, in the sentence “My name is Ann“, a linguist would say there's a liaison between the Z sound of “is” and the letter A of “Ann” – [my nay mi zan].

Yes, being a liaison can be a good job.

That is more than three times the national average for all liaison careers. The average liaison makes $47,539 a year. While this leaves something to be desired, the benefits may outweigh the pros of this career. A liaison is a mediator between two parties.

Three common soft skills for a liaison are time-management skills, compassion and problem-solving skills.

E-4. A liaison officer (LNO) represents the commander or a staff officer. The task and its complexity determine the required qualifications. At higher echelons, the complexity of operations often requires an increase in the rank required for LNOs.

Therefore, when approaching prospective thought leader candidates, medical science liaisons must focus their interactions on the science behind the products. By doing so, the MSL provides physicians the opportunity to advance research within the given therapeutic area.

Medical Science Liaison (MSL) salaries at Pfizer can range from $120,651-$132,211.

MSLs typically handle external communication, engaging in scientific discussions with key opinion leaders in the industry. Medical Advisors predominantly oversee internal governance, sales and marketing training as well as the approval of medical and marketing materials within the organisation.

How much does a Medical Science Liaison earn in the US? ›

How much does a Medical Science Liaison make? The national average salary for a Medical Science Liaison is $1,65,022 in United States.

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Anesthesiologists and surgeons earn the highest income among doctors. According to Payscale August 2022 data, anesthesiologists earn an average of $307,740, and surgeons earn an average of $287,500 as of July 2022 data.

A Medical Science Liaison is a scientifically trained specialist in their field. Therefore, today the doctorate degree has become the educational standard in the industry for the MSL role. MSL requirements are generally for a degree within one of the following subjects: Biochemistry.

MSLs are trusted scientific advisors to HCPs, who provide truthful, non-misleading medical and scientific information, whereas the sales rep's focus is commercial and promotional and geared towards convincing the HCP of the merits of the company's drug.

It is extremely competitive to become an MSL. Dr. Dyer said that The MSL Society has “launched more than 100 careers of medical science liaisons.” He recommends that candidates educate themselves on the profession and become aware of the resources out there to support their careers, including The MSL Society.

What is the highest paid medical professional? ›

Anesthesiologists and surgeons earn the highest income among doctors. According to Payscale August 2022 data, anesthesiologists earn an average of $307,740, and surgeons earn an average of $287,500 as of July 2022 data.

The average medical science liaison salary in the USA is $170,400 per year or $81.92 per hour. Entry level positions start at $150,000 per year while most experienced workers make up to $200,000 per year.