MSL@UNC Panel Notes

Zoe Hesp

•  Senior medical liaison at AbbVie
• • Have over 180 medical liaisons
• Background
  • Bench/basic science
    • Successful and published papers, NRSA grant…but neuroscience did not have a large bridge to commercialization
  • How to become an MSL with little experience
    • Get industry experience
      • Startup groups, consulting, etc.
      • Internship one-day per week
    • Science does not become a reality unless there is financial interest
  • First job as an MSL
    • 70% via contract
    • 20% enter a really small company
    • 10% large company
  • Started at a small company
    • Scheduled all meetings, made slide decks, collected clinical data, generated marketing material
      • You do everything at a small company and there are very few resources
    • Working at AbbVie
      • Assigned a territory (Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia)
      • Make and schedule meetings
      • Talk with reps
      • Interaction with clinical trial sites
        • Insight collections leads to medical strategy
      • If you think you want to be an MSL
        • Are you good at making friends?
          • Social, good relationship building
        • Do you have a high level of organization?
          • Traveling is fun but it is not easy to be proactive and schedule all meetings
        • How is MSL role during COVID?
          • Challenging, less travel
            • Easier to make connections in person
          • Metrics are not there so there are not the same expectations to meet
        • Resources to be a part of
          • Member of the MSL society
            • Do not pay for it!
          • Do not waste money on third-party organizations for verification
            • You will be tested and certified yearly within the company to ensure you are up to date on disease state + therapies

Emilia Mahoney

•  Amgen Pharmaceuticals
• To prepare for interviews
  • Not with a typical resume or CV
    • Need to focus on science communication
    • Do not put your CV directly on a website
      • Make connections with recruiters
        • Recruiters are free to you and can advocate for you
        • Treat recruiters as the hiring manager
      • Made connection via LinkedIn then connected with a field director
        • LinkedIn is a massive resource
      • Types of MSLs
        • Those that wish to remain MSLs for life
        • Using MSL as a stepping stone
          • e. Zoe is planning to go to the commercial side
        • How to balance work and family life
          • Emilia has two children
          • Advantage of working at home and still being able to take care of kids
          • Amgen emphasizes family life
            • Work 9-5pm
            • Flexible for doctor’ appointments, kids, etc.
            • Many vacation days
            • No weekend work
            • Very rarely have overnights with the exception of conferences
          • What is a typical day?
            • Monday + Friday à administrative days
              • Calls with team director
              • National calls
            • Reach out to physicians and set up meetings
            • Follow up on previous meetings
              • Questions on current articles or data
            • Learn whatever is new in current therapeutic area/landscape
              • Stay up to date on all clinical trials, not only those associated with your company
            • New hire training
              • Program to offer mentorship for new hires
                • Maintain good relationships within the company
              • What are insights?
                • Pieces of information collected based off of topics of interest
                  • Specific to therapeutic area
                    • Need to hear from the field what people are saying about these topics
                  • Insights are collected into a national system
                    • MSL team will present to the medical team to help shape the current treatments
                  • What matters when you are applying for an MSL position?
                    • Does not matter how many publications you have or the fact that you have a PhD, MD, or PharmD (the degree is assumed)
                    • Have experience in the therapeutic field you are applying for
                      • Not necessary but it helps
                    • Internship, collaboration, project, etc.
                      • Can be 1, 3, 6 months
                        • Just something to get you a little industry experience
                      • NC has a lot of resources for internships
                    • Be able to tell your story + passion
                      • Impress your science communication skills, organization, etc.
                      • Be passionate, excited, and honest!
                    • Use LinkedIn to make connections
                      • Strike a conversation
                      • Send emails
                        • May not always get responses but it just takes one!
                      • How to keep up with the literature?
                        • Listen to podcasts
                          • Research to Practice
                          • Peer Voice
                          • Peer Review, Oncology + Hematology
                          • Outspoken Oncology
                          • Quick Brain
                        • Have alerts on PubMed
                        • Day to day conversations with individuals will keep you learning
                      • How to succeed?
                        • Have good time management skills
                          • Don’t work a lot, just work smarter
                            • Be efficient!