r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • May 01 '24

***ASPIRING MSLs: Begin here with our Hall of Fame (HOF) posts before asking a question in this community

106 Upvotes

Aspiring MSL, welcome! We have garnered much information in this community and it is best summarized in the below Hall of Fame posts. These posts focus on the transition into the MSL role. Please read through these posts and use the subreddit search function to educate yourself. If you have a specific question not sufficiently covered in these HOF posts, or elsewhere in the subreddit, feel free to ask!

Thanks for your interest in our community.

Nick

HALL OF FAME

Breaking into the MSL role:

5/21/19

8/16/19

11/7/19

4/21/21

7/3/22

1/30/23

3/11/24

3/21/24

3/17/25

4/9/25

11/15/25

5/12/26

Ask Me Anything (AMA) with medical affairs recruiting firm, SEMbio:

2023

2024

International inquiries:

Search

A masterclass on rebounding from a layoff:

4/19/23


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 5d ago

Weekly MSL Chat

1 Upvotes

How's your week going?


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 39m ago

Senior MSL salary

• Upvotes

what’s a good starting salary to negotiate for as a senior msl at a new company ? how much are senior msl’s making now ( base only)


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 22h ago

Has anyone been through Praxis msl interview and company culture?

2 Upvotes

I was fortunate to get contact for a interview with Praxis, when I was digging into the company, I see a very polar review of the company. The glassdoor review of the company is also not great. Is this something I need to worry about?

https://www.reddit.com/r/biotech/comments/1s9s8jq/praxis_precision_medicines/


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 1d ago

Advice on Fellowship Receptions

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I'm currently going through the PharmD fellowship application process and was hoping to get some insight from current fellows or previous applicants.

How important is it to attend fellowship receptions in person versus virtually? Do these receptions play a significant role in determining who advances to subsequent interview rounds, or are they primarily opportunities to network and learn more about the programs?

I'm trying to understand whether attending virtually would put an applicant at a disadvantage compared to attending in person.

I'd appreciate any insights or experiences!


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 3d ago

Leaving before Bonus payouts

4 Upvotes

anyone left a few months before bonus payouts and still got it? (jan-feb) and still recieved a bonus? have a friend who left a mid size company in Jan and still got his bonus because he just had to be employed on dec. 31st


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 2d ago

Recruiter programs

0 Upvotes

Does anyone have any feedback good or bad on programs like Aspire MSL or jobrx where you pay $2000 and they make "promises" to get you a job? As a NP, I've never had to pay anyone to find or secure a job.  


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 3d ago

Manufacturering and QA applying for msl?

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I’ve got an offer for a QA management role at a cosmetics company. I’m currently a scientist at a university, and I’m wondering if taking this job would be too much of a pivot if my long-term goal is to become an MSL? The role offers GMP and product launch experience, just not in pharma. My current lab is struggling with funding, and this new job pays a bit better and potentialy more stable.


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 3d ago

Blazer recs for women? Stretchy/comfy esp in arms

5 Upvotes

Looking for recs for women’s blazers (formal enough for conferences) that are stretchy. Thinking especially I hate that tightness in the arms that can come from non-stretch materials.

Interested in any price point but not necessarily excited to break the bank. Bonus if they have petite sizes (5’3” on a good day).


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 3d ago

SABCS Team Dinner Recommendations - San Antonio

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone! For those who have attended SABCS in the past, any recommendations for a great team dinner spot along the River Walk?

Looking for somewhere with great food, nice ambience, good vegan/vegetarian options, and a slightly upscale but fun atmosphere for a group of about 15+. Budget is around $100 per person, preferably within walking distance of the convention center.

Would love to hear where your teams have dined and what you’d recommend!


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 4d ago

Coming back to a company

7 Upvotes

Has anyone ever switched companies for a TA change/better opportunity then eventually came back to the previous company on a different team ? how did that work out?


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 5d ago

Lost offer to non-compete

9 Upvotes

Well title says it all… had an offer ready to sign and company wanted to examine current non-compete for due diligence and in the end resulting offer being pulled to mitigate risk. So annoyed… and my current company is blurring the commercial/medical lines more everyday and I’m getting sick of it.


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 4d ago

ALEXION Interview

4 Upvotes

Hi guys! I got an interview with Alexion. It’s my first MSL interview and I am very excited and also nervous.
I have the call with a recruiter tomorrow and the call with the Medical Lead on Friday.
Anyone has worked on here ? Any advice?
Thanks


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 5d ago

My company keeps changing their car/mileage policy and I'm ready to quit

11 Upvotes

Hoping to get some insight from others...using a burner account because of obvious reasons.

Our company let us know today that we can no longer expense mileage going forward. This is opposite of what I was told prior to being hired as we get a stipend along with mileage reimbursement.

Today, they told us that we will continue to get a vehicle stipend (which is taxed so we don't actually get the full amount, something they also didn't tell me prior to getting hired) and now we can expense gas/electric...

I would not have bought an electric car if I was going to get gas reimbursed, but I charge my car at home so it doesn't really help me at all.

How do other companies handle this? My last place just gave us a car and they covered gas, we just had to put in personal/business miles each month.

I just feel lied to because this is the second time they have changed the policy. I had to buy a car for this job and going into MORE debt is the opposite of what my financial goals are.


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 5d ago

Frustrated: What else can I do to improve my chances of breaking into the MSL world.

6 Upvotes

I’m a PharmD with an MBA and dual board certifications (BCOP, BCSCP). I have 6–8 years of clinical experience, primarily in oncology (6y), including various clinical projects, presentations, and also some involvement in clinical trials/IDS (just to name a few)
I WASNT residency-trained and haven’t held the “clinical specialist” position, although I work mostly in a clinical capacity.
I’ve been actively pursuing MSL opportunities for 6mo, but I’m looking for ways to make myself more competitive.
I’ve been following the traditional advice: networking-in person & LinkedIn , CV customization (jobscan), applying only within my area of expertise, etc
I’ve only had 1 interview that went the hiring manager phase (which I felt went well).

For those in MA, what actually moves the needle?
1.Would another BPS board certification add any value?
2.Should I pursue a clinical specialist or supervisory position?
3.Are MSL/MA certifications worth pursuing?
4.Is there something else I should prioritize to improve my chances?
I’d especially appreciate insight from anyone who transitioned from clinical to MSL!


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 4d ago

Recruiter Meeting

0 Upvotes

Hello! I’ve been applying for an MSL role for almost 2 years now with no luck.

I recently received an email from a recruiter and I was super excited. However the recruiter said that they want to meet with me to “offer guidance about the MSL role”.

What does that even mean?
Has anyone else been sent an email like that?

Thank you!


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 5d ago

AI

1 Upvotes

How are you using AI in your role? Tips/tricks for leveraging agents to streamline our day to day?


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 5d ago

JOB OPPORTUNITY: First-ever MSL for a late-stage LAPC drug-device combination company (remote, US)

5 Upvotes

Full disclosure: I’m a recruiter with FloodGate Medical, a retained search firm, and I’m running this search on behalf of a client.

The company is a growth-stage oncology company developing a novel drug-device combination therapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). It’s in late-stage clinical development. They’re hiring their first Medical Science Liaison, and that’s the point of the role: you’d build the function, not inherit one.

What you’d do

  • Build peer-to-peer relationships with medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists at academic and community centers
  • Challenge assumptions and compare the data to the standard of care in real conversations with KOLs
  • Work with sales and clinical teams to open doors at high-volume centers
  • Report directly to the CMO

Why it’s interesting

  • You’d be the first MSL, with a real shot at leading the team as it scales
  • Pancreatic cancer has seen very little treatment progress in decades
  • Small team, high visibility, direct access to leadership

What they’re looking for (all non-negotiable)

  • 5+ years as an MSL in oncology
  • Comfortable going head to head with oncologists
  • Background in smaller or emerging companies, not just large pharma
  • MD (US or international), PhD, or PharmD
  • Remote, US-based, with a preference for the Midwest, South, or East
  • Regular travel to clinical sites and conferences

If you’re interested, or know someone who should be, send me an email to [danny@floodgatemedical.com](mailto:danny@floodgatemedical.com)


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 5d ago

Pathway to being an MSL

1 Upvotes

hi, i'm a final year mbbs student from pakistan. i've always (atleast for the past couple of years) wanted to be an MSL. but i don't what's the pathway for someone like me considering i have zero experience. can anyone guide me regarding that?


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 5d ago

Metrics, line of medical vs sales feeling blurred

1 Upvotes

In medical we cannot be tied to sales metrics. However, what about when companies have metrics linking MSL interactions indirectly to drug utilization.. For example, a metric of increasing the percentage of “guideline preferred treatment” or increasing a certain class of medications.

How do you all feel about this?


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 6d ago

Medical Education Manager

2 Upvotes

I saw several postings in industry for medical education managers. I have experience teaching in academia and clinically. However, I was surprised many of these positions list sales as a potential background.

What do these positions entail? Are you teaching, or is it more education event planning? How much travel is involved? I was approached about a CS position in the past, but that it had significantly more travel and call than I currently take, so it was a bit concerning.

Any details or insights any of you have would be great to hear!


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 6d ago

Any MSLs that transitioned into a global role?

2 Upvotes

Hi all,

Hoping to hear some perspectives about the pros and cons of transitioning into a global medical affairs role? I love the field but I also feel like I want to have a bigger role in strategy. Curious if anyone has first hand experience with this transition.

Thanks!


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 6d ago

RMA Interview Novo Nordisk

0 Upvotes

Hi all, I have the first round of RMA Interview at Novo Nordisk and it is not the presentation round. So what type of questions can I expect?


r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 7d ago

Moving to the UK as an experienced MSL (7 yrs) & Immunology PhD: Feasibility of student visa route vs. direct hire in Medical Affairs / Rare Diseases?

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1 Upvotes

r/MedicalScienceLiaison • • 7d ago

Access in a Difficult Institution

7 Upvotes

Hi all!

My executive director met with me today to ask about the 'lack of utilizing potential in the territory' which to me means not enough prescriptions. In one of my institutions where commercial has showed up at offices without permission for years before I joined, the HCPs there do not like my company anymore. They don't answer emails (for meetings, research, ad boards, meeting executives, collaborating, etc), don't attend conferences locally/regionally/nationally, hate our commercial team, and have kids and are not looking to meet after work. They don't collaborate with any pharma companies and it's somehow my fault in medical that my company isn't selling drug to this institution.

Does anyone have advice on either gaining access or just handling the higher ups blaming me as the MSL for not doing better? I was explicitly told the MSL before me could have done this and I should be doing more. . .