Welcome to the MSL Mastery Blog

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outdated mindset that has no place in today's pharmaceutical industry.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 Checklist f...

By Sarah Snyder, PharmD

If your training program doesn't immediately connect to an MSL's daily reality, it's already failed. 

After 20 years as an MSL and daily conversations with field teams, I see this disconnect growing wider. While we're living in 2025's fast-paced medical landscape, our Me...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

“Hi Patrina, Happy Holidays! I just wanted to let you know that one of the best moments for me this year was when I printed all your blogs, made a binder, and read through them multiple times—they’ve been so inspiring and insightful.”
— Aspiring MSL

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, MSL Mastery may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

2025 is YOUR year. It’s the year to elevate your impact, refine your craft, and prio...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

When you think of “presentation skills,” what comes to mind? Probably a big, formal event with a polished PowerPoint and an audience full of bigwigs, right? But here’s the truth: it’s not just the big moments that shape your career.

It’s the everyday...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

We’ve all sat through (or delivered) those presentations. You know the ones I’m talking about. Slide after slide of data with numbers that blur together until you’re left with nothing but a vague sense of, well, something. But there’s one simple wa...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, MSL Mastery may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

If there's one thing I’ve noticed about aspiring MSLs, it’s that they’re lifelong le...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

Here's a big secret of mine: I used to have a serious "um" problem. While watching videos of myself presenting, I was shocked by how often I said it. It was so cringey! Recognizing this was a huge step, and I worked hard to eliminate "um" from my p...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

Virtual presentations are here to stay, especially in pharma and biotech. They’ve become an everyday part of our professional toolkit. Check out the chart below from a recent LinkedIn poll! Everyone is in several hours of virtual meetings per week....