Medical science liaison (MSL) career development workshop presented at the 2018 Medical Affairs Professional Society meeting in Miami.

1. 1Medical Affairs Professional Society | 2018
OK---So What’s Next?
How MSLs Can Take Charge of
Their Career Development
David Jencen PhD
Principal
Jencen Field Medical Consulting LLC
Joyce Ryan DNP NP RN
Former, VP Medical/Clinical Affairs – Stryker Medial

2. 2Medical Affairs Professional Society | 2018
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon the completion of this workshop the participants will be able
to:
• Utilize techniques to identify your strengths and weaknesses
• Identify methods to learn about opportunities within your
company
• Learn about various career paths available to MSLs, and the
behaviors, competencies, and skills necessary to achieve them
• Identify methods for securing management commitment to
your career goals
• Outline a career development plan
Did we miss anything?

3. 3Medical Affairs Professional Society | 2018
Audience Demographics
1. MSLs (%)
2. Years as MSL?
a. <1 y
b. 1-5 y
c. >5 y
3. Doctoral vs. non-doctoral
4. Others?
a. MSL managers
b. other Medical Affairs
5. Your company has a multi-level MSL career track? (Y/N)
6. Your company has a formalized career development process (Y/N)

4. 4Medical Affairs Professional Society | 2018
General Overview
• Who is responsible for the MSL career plan?
• What is the typical timing?
• What are some usual positions into which MSLs are promoted?
• HANDS-ON EXERCISE: start your own plan using a template you
can take with you

5. 5Medical Affairs Professional Society | 2018
Core MSL Competencies
• Scientific/technical mastery
– does your degree matter?
• Effective communicator
• Problem Solver
• Self-motivated
• Flexible

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Advanced MSL Competencies

7. 7Medical Affairs Professional Society | 2018
Advanced Competencies
Interactions with Emerging Customer Groups
• Can you speak their language?
– Payers (medical directors, Rx
directors, benefit design)
– Consultant pharmacists (LTC)
– Policy makers (state Medicaid)
• Can you uncover their unique
unmet medical needs?
• Effectively performing in a cross-
functional, local business unit
– Value evidence teams

8. 8Medical Affairs Professional Society | 2018
 Self-awareness
o Listen more/actively---talk less
 Self-management
o Important in increasingly difficult
environment in which to engage
customers
 Social awareness
o Adapt to changing circumstances
o Your audience may represent
multiple functions
 Relationship management
o Team player
8
Advanced Competencies
Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

9. 9Medical Affairs Professional Society | 2018
• Personalized / genomic
medicine
• Companion diagnostics
– Lab science
• Drug / device
combinations
– Engineering
– Biomaterials
• Immunology
Advanced Competencies
Multidisciplinary Expertise

10. 10Medical Affairs Professional Society | 2018
Identifying Your Strengths and
Areas for Improvement
• Conduct a frank self-assessment
– Align your perspective with those who would promote you
– Are your strengths important for your next role?
– Some behaviors are difficult to change
• Get 360°feedback
– Talk to trusted, respected sources who will tell you what you
need to hear
– Seek out those who’ve already traveled your desired path

11. 11Medical Affairs Professional Society | 2018
Is your management on board?
• Is your manager in agreement with your desire to be
promoted/advanced?
– If no, why not?
• Direct manager
– Often your single most important promotion advocate
– What have you done to make them look good?
– Easier for your manager to promote a solid performer (you)
• Suggest (or elicit) alternate steps
– Internship in function of interest
– What areas should you improve on?

12. 12Medical Affairs Professional Society | 2018
Resources to build your plan
• Network, network, network
– Who has been recently promoted?
• Online information sources
– Job aggregator sites (Indeed.com, etc)
– TMAC Direct
– MSL Society
– MSL blogs (MSL Tribe, )
– MAPS
– Others?

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WORKSHOP – 30 mins.
• Groups of 5-6 (depends on total attendees)
• Handouts provided
– Generic MSL career development checklist
– Common titles to which MSLs are advanced
• Design roadmap from where you are to where you
would like to go.

14. 14Medical Affairs Professional Society | 2018
1. Critical self-appraisal
a. At least 1 year in current role (no prior MSL experience)?
b. Consistently meets /exceeds performance expectations?
2. Categorize short-term career goals (1-2 years) into the following pathways:
a. Next-level promotion → senior / exec MSL; MSL manager
b. Advanced degree / certification / training
c. Advancement opportunities beyond immediate
MSL environment; parallel move
3. Gaps identified
a. 360°feedback
b. Aligned to desired competencies
4. Plan to address gaps
a. Resources needed
b. People & resource commitments, especially management
MSL Career Development Plan Checklist

15. 15Medical Affairs Professional Society | 2018
Potential MSL Career Paths
MSL Medical Affairs Other
Senior MSL Medical Director (or
Associate)
Marketing
Executive MSL Medical Communications Clinical Research
Managed Markets MSL Medical Information Solutions Provider (Agency)
• Communications
• Market research
• Med Ed
• Content development
HEOR MSL Medical Publications Patient Advocacy
Manager of MSLs KOL / Medical Customer
Strategies
External (Professional)
Relations
• Medical societies
• Pharmacy groups
Medical Education