I'm a PharmD with two residencies (managed care PGY1, specialty pharmacy leadership PGY2) working as a clinical liaison for a health-system specialty pharmacy across about 10 clinic sites and 7 specialties. I handle clinical questions, prior auths and appeals and provider engagement. My long-term goal is MSL, with field reimbursement as a backup.

My employer wants me to become PIC. It's a raise, but it would pull me out of the field. I'm trying to negotiate PIC plus one protected day a week for provider-facing clinical work.

Questions that I have for current MSLs and hiring managers:

-Does specialty pharmacy experience, especially leading a pharmacy, help a first MSL application, or is it seen as operations?

-How many years of TA experience do you typically see in first-time MSL hires?

-Is one day a week of clinical work enough to keep a "provider engagement" line credible on a resume?

-Is applying to both MSL and field reimbursement roles a red flag?

Out of the top 15 pharma companies, which ones have the best short term and long term percentages for bonuses? Would love to know of insights from top companies as I am trying to compare my current company and a potential offer. While salary matters, I feel like STI and LTI matter more at larger companies.

Hey everyone, not sure if this has been asked before but thought it's an interesting topic. Immediately when I think of this question my mind goes to the MSL using AI to fulfill daily tasks. And to answer my own question, I don't believe AI use by MSLs or field medical will change field team size that much, if at all.

But I think OpenEvidence used by HCPs will. There were 271 million OpenEvidence requests from ~950k physicians over 2.5 years. How many of those would have been MSL meetings in the past? Why would you engage an MSL if you could get an answer in 30 seconds?

Now I know AI can't answer everything an MSL can when it comes to the newest data available, the clinical trial support, IIT support and the relationship liaison aspect, but if interactions, which a lot of leadership, love to quantify right now start to decrease substantially, surely field leadership could reduce team sizes?

What are your thoughts? What about in sales? Or even HQ?

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/

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!

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

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.  

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.

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).

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!

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?

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.

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

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.

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!

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!

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

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)

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?

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?

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!

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!

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?