Welcome to the MSL Mastery Blog

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 ...

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, understa...

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, a...

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

"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 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)

Have you noticed how almost every MSL job description mentions insights? That's because insights are one of the core responsibilities of the MSL role and a central way that Medical Affairs teams deliver value. Without a doubt, if someone wants to m...

By Patrina Pellett & Sarah Snyder

Being a parent and having a full-time job is tough in any industry. You basically have 3 full-time jobs. The MSL role is no exception and introduces some additional challenges. Many aspiring MSLs wonder if the MSL role is compatible with being a parent.

The answer...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD & Tom Caravela

Have you recently done a scan of your territory and noticed that some of your KOLs have fallen through the cracks? Or perhaps you are breaking into a new territory and working your tail off to build relationships?

Getting access to KOLs and building the re...