Starting a new job as a medical science liaison (MSL) can be tough – especially when the onboarding process doesn’t provide enough support.
MSLs are expected to handle complex scientific information and communicate effectively with healthcare providers. However, many MSLs struggle to meet these expectations because their training isn’t as thorough as it should be.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common onboarding challenges MSLs face and how a solid MSL training curriculum can make all the difference.
The Onboarding Challenge For MSLs
Onboarding is a crucial part of starting any job, but medical science liaisons often struggle because of a lack of effective onboarding programs. The Medical Science Liaison Society states that “72% of MSLs around the globe reported that their initial onboarding training only consists of a set of journal articles about the product or disease for at-home self-study.“
This means that 72% of MSLs feel that their onboarding process is extremely limited. So, instead of receiving comprehensive, structured training that includes hands-on learning, interactive sessions, or direct mentorship, they’re expected to study these materials independently.
Medical science liaison training may be inadequate for several reasons, including:
- Lack of engagement: Relying on self-study alone can be much less engaging than interactive training methods. In turn, this can lead to a lack of information retention for an aspiring MSL.
- Lack of context: With self-study, your MSL team may miss out on important context, practical applications, and insights that typically come with a more guided training program.
- Isolated studying: Self-study may make your MSLs feel alone in their learning. This is because they don’t have the ability to ask questions or discuss concepts with their fellow students. Similarly, they’re not able to learn from their colleagues with prior MSL experience.
- Inconsistent knowledge: Without a structured MSL program, there is potential for inconsistencies in how well different MSLs understand the materials. As a result, their effectiveness in the field may be negatively impacted.
Essentially, this finding suggests that MSLs aren’t receiving the comprehensive training they need to succeed in their roles. In turn, this stunts their ability to communicate effectively with healthcare professionals and further their company’s objectives.
The Role Of MSL And Medical Affairs Training Leaders
Before we dive into the specifics of MSL training, it’s important to understand the roles that both medical science liaisons and medical affairs training leaders play within the pharmaceutical industry.
These professionals work together to make sure that MSL teams have the knowledge and skills that they need for success.
Medical science liaisons (MSLs)
A medical science liaison (MSL) is an important role in the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare sector. They act as a go-between or bridge between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals (HCPs).
Generally, MSLs are responsible for facilitating scientific communication and providing expertise on a company’s products and therapeutic areas. Their primary duties usually include:
- Educating HCPs about new therapies
- Gathering and analyzing clinical and scientific data
- Addressing scientific queries
Usually, the MSL’s role involves supporting clinical trials and offering insights from their field. Additionally, they can contribute to the planning of clinical development and marketing strategies.
Why are MSLs important?
MSLs are significant professionals in healthcare because they ensure that scientific and clinical data about new drugs or medical devices are effectively and clearly communicated to HCPs. This communication helps create a better understanding of the available therapeutic options and leads to overall better patient care.
When medical science liaisons engage with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and other stakeholders, they can provide valuable feedback from the field. This feedback then informs the company’s research and drug development efforts.
An MSL’s role is essential in balancing the company’s scientific knowledge with the practical needs of healthcare providers. Of course, this makes it easier to exchange important information that supports the company’s informed decision-making.
Medical affairs training leaders
Medical affairs training leaders play an important role in shaping how MSLs are onboarded and continue learning throughout their careers. An MSL leader usually designs and runs training programs to ensure students have the knowledge and advanced skills that are essential for MSL jobs.
Instead of just handing new hires a stack of journal articles to read, training leaders create more structured, hands-on learning experiences. These help to address the real challenges that individuals within MSL positions face.
By working closely with MSLs, these leaders can also adjust the curriculum to fit the team’s needs. That way, they can blend the scientific content with product knowledge and other important information about clinical research, clinical practice, drug development, and more.
Over and above their importance in training MSLs, leaders also act as mentors to guide students through their roles. Generally, they provide ongoing support to keep MSLs up-to-date on:
- The latest developments and advancements
- Industry rules
- Current research and drug discovery
- Medical strategy
- Best practices for engaging with HCPs and KOLs
How A Powerful MSL Training Curriculum Can Make An Impact
A well-structured MSL training program can significantly impact the success of an MSL team – and the company as a whole. This is because the MSL role requires a deep understanding of scientific knowledge and communication skills.
Typically, MSLs must:
- Master the science behind their company’s products and the diseases or therapeutic areas they address.
- Stay updated on the latest medical and clinical research.
- Communicate complex information effectively to their customers (including HCPs and KOLs).
- Understand any regulatory and compliance requirements for the pharmaceutical industry.
Benefits of a strong MSL training program
Having a strong MSL team starts with giving them the tools they need to excel in their field. So, by having a strong training program in place, you can aid new and experienced MSLs in gaining all of the necessary skills for their role. These include:
- Logical organization and skill building: A well-designed curriculum should organize courses into logical groups of information. That way, they can slowly build from basic to more advanced skills. MSLs may start with a foundational knowledge about the company’s products, and over time, they can move on to more advanced topics like healthcare regulations.
- Contextual understanding: When your program is organized into a cohesive curriculum, your MSL team can see exactly how each part of their training will fit into their responsibilities. By understanding how each module connects to the next, they’ll have a better grasp of their role and what is expected of them.
- A clear development pathway: A more structured curriculum can act as a map to guide their professional development. They’ll know what skills they must focus on and can then follow their “roadmap” to help them progress systematically. It also helps to ensure that they cover all of the essential topics and areas before moving on to more specialized skills.
- Aligning with team needs: A solid training program means that training isn’t isolated. It helps your medical affairs training leaders understand what knowledge the MSLs already have and identify potential gaps. In turn, they can create more effective and personalized coaching or development plans.
Core components of a powerful MSL training curriculum
There are a few important aspects that need to be considered for a medical science liaison training program. For instance, training on core scientific knowledge, products and brands, and KOL interactions are essential for an effective MSL team. They’re the key to creating comprehensive course content that will prepare students confidently to step into any MSL job and achieve MSL excellence.
Core scientific knowledge
The foundation of most MSL programs is core scientific training. This includes a deep dive into therapeutic areas relevant to an MSL’s role, such as oncology or cardiology.
Generally, the training program focuses on understanding the mechanisms of action, efficacy, safety profiles, and clinical trial results of specific drugs or treatments.
Since MSLs need to be skilled in interpreting and communicating complex data, the training often includes modules on biostatistics and clinical research methodologies.
Product and brand training
Product and brand training involves a full education on the company’s products and competitive positioning. MSLs will learn about the product life-cycle (from development to commercialization), which includes the clinical trial stages, regulatory approvals, and even the marketing strategy for the product.
This training ensures that MSLs can accurately convey information about a product to HCPs. They’ll also be able to answer any questions HCPs may have about the product.
Key Opinion Leader interaction training
Another important aspect of medical science liaison training is KOL interaction. This focuses on building and maintaining relationships with HCPs and, in some cases, academic leaders.
This customer-centric approach is essential for success in medical affairs. During this training stage, MSLs are taught how to engage with KOLs and understand their needs and concerns. They can then leverage these relationships to support the company’s objectives.
Skills MSLs Need To Succeed
As an important member of the medical affairs team, some of the vital skills that a medical science liaison needs include:
- Communication skills: Excellent communication skills – both written and verbal.
- Presentation skills: The ability to present scientific data clearly and persuasively to HCPs.
- A strong scientific background: Scientific knowledge is important for understanding and discussing complicated clinical data and therapeutic mechanisms.
- Strategic thinking: This is essential for aligning scientific insights with business goals and clinical needs.
- Interpersonal skills: To help build and maintain relationships with KOLs and internal stakeholders.
With a strong MSL training program, your team will have all of these skills and more. But creating a comprehensive program can be tricky.
So, if you’d like help setting up your training curriculums or assessments, then be sure to take a look at Acceleration Point’s Medical Excellence Services, which includes Field Medical Team Development.
Tips For Building An MSL Training Curriculum
If you’re building an MSL training program for your company, these three essential tips will help you make it as comprehensive as possible:
- Organize the content strategically: To create a comprehensive curriculum, you should ideally blend scientific and non-scientific content. By covering things like KOL interaction training, product and brand information, and operational processes or system navigation, you can help set your future MSLs up for success.
- Consolidate everything into a unified curriculum: Rather than splitting the training into specific modules, it’s important to consolidate everything into a single program. This helps streamline the learning process and ensures MSLs aren’t overwhelmed with multiple or disjointed programs.
- Always update the curriculum: The field of medical science is always changing, so it’s essential to keep your training programs up to date. By regularly assessing and updating your curriculum, you can ensure your MSLs will be at the forefront of their profession. Ultimately, this leads to more company success.
FAQs
How does inadequate onboarding impact an MSL’s performance?
Inadequate onboarding can leave MSLs feeling overwhelmed and underprepared, which affects their overall job performance. They may struggle to understand the nuances of the necessary scientific expertise and fail to communicate effectively with customers like HCPs and KOLs.
How can technology be utilized to improve MSL training?
Technology can help to improve MSL training by providing access to online courses, webinars, interactive learning tools, and more. An online platform can also enable students to engage in simulations or case studies for more authentic training.
Final Thoughts
A strong onboarding and training program is essential to your MSL team’s success. When MSLs are equipped with the right tools, knowledge, and support from the start, they can navigate their jobs more confidently. The first step in the right direction is addressing the current gaps in MSL training.
By investing in a comprehensive, well-structured curriculum with Acceleration Point, you can ensure your MSLs are prepared to thrive and make a lasting impact in their field. Plus, with tools like Kwello, your team will be unstoppable.
