Medical Science Liaison (MSL) vs. Medical Affairs Medical Director

Medical Affairs, in my opinion, is the most difficult of the major 3 career options (Clinical Development, Medical Affairs and Pharmacovigilance/Safety) for physicians in the pharmaceutical industry to explain.

Here’s my best explanation (and believe me, I’ve tried MULTIPLE times to explain to family and friends when they would ask “What do you do??”)…

Medical Affairs bridges clinical development and commercial. These professionals translate the clinical science and communicate it externally; to key opinion leaders and payers.

Key aspects of the MSL Role:

• Territory, home office based role
• KOL (Key Opinion Leader) relationship building and maintenance
• Tactical execution of strategic plans (such as medical education grants and investigator sponsored research plans)

Key aspects of the Medical Affairs, Medical Director Role:

• Headquarters based role
• National (i.e., United States or Europe) or Global purview
• Strategic planning for medical education and medical messaging (such as publication planning and congress planning)

Medical Affairs plans, put in place by Medical Affairs Directors are executed by MSLs. On the flip side, MSLs provide important information to Medical Affairs regarding needs in their territories that will drive the overall Medical Affairs strategic plans.