By Patrina Pellett & Sarah Snyder 

“We have a digital-first strategy. Help us train our MSLs on this.” 

We’ve heard this from a lot of senior Medical Affairs leaders lately. They’re being asked to lead digital transformation, but here’s the problem: 

Even at the top, people aren’t always clea...

By Sarah Snyder

Two MSLs walk into the same office.

Same clinical trial. Same slide deck. Same level of scientific knowledge.

One walks out with a quick “Thanks, we’ll let you know.”

The other walks out with a deeper relationship, shared insights, and a clear next step.

The difference isn’t the sc...

By Patrina Pellett & Sarah Snyder

If we had a dollar for every time someone asked, “What should I wear to the interview/conference/meeting?”, we’d fund our own MSL Mastery clothing line.

It’s easy to downplay this stuff. You're a Medical Affairs professional, not a fashionista. We know this job...

By Sarah Snyder

The Problem: MSL Training Is Stuck in the Past

Picture this: A new MSL sits at their desk, surrounded by stacks of scientific articles and slide decks, diligently highlighting and taking notes. This has been the standard training approach for decades—memorize the data, understan...

By Sarah Snyder and Patrina Pellett

“I knew the science, but I still failed.”

A new Medical Science Liaison (MSL) had spent 8 weeks preparing for her MSL field certification. She knew the two Phase 3 trials inside and out. But when she got in front of the panel, medical directors, senior MSLs, ...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD 

Emily had just passed her field certification test and was officially ready to start her role as an MSL. Her manager handed her a KOL list, gave a few general instructions about meeting with the top names, and sent her off to start building relationships. 

She felt prep...

By Sarah Snyder
 

Let's get real about this whole work-life balance thing as a Medical Science Liaison (MSL). 

It's a myth. And honestly? 

It's making you feel worse, not better.

Here's the truth: You'll never achieve perfect balance.

That conference week where your kid gets sick, your workout ...

By Sarah Snyder

Personal branding for MSLs and Medical Affairs professionals isn't optional anymore.

Think about it.

What's the FIRST thing you do before meeting someone new? 

You have their name and...

You Google them. 

Don't pretend you don't - we all do it. 🙂 

I was chatting with a well-respected MS...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn) 

Rejection is inevitable in the Medical Affairs world. Whether it's a job rejection, a KOL who won’t meet with you, or an internal opportunity that slips through your fingers, the sting is real. But the most successful MSLs don’t just survive rejec...

By Sarah Snyder

"Isn't she a little old to be moving into a new role?"

Someone seriously asked me that.

That question stopped me in my tracks – not because it was surprising, but because it reflects an outdated mindset that has no place in today's pharmaceutical industry.

The Reality of Modern Ph...

By Sarah Snyder

"Don't bother applying to that MSL role directly - I can double your chances of getting an interview."

I used to think recruiters were just middlemen until I became one. Now, after placing hundreds of Medical Affairs professionals at top pharmaceutical companies, I've seen it al...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

When Tom Caravela hosted Samantha Buckley on his MSL Talk podcast, they expected her story of transitioning from clinical pharmacist to MSL to inspire listeners. 

But what happened was totally unexpected:

Episode 195, What's the ULTIMATE Checkli...