The COVID-19 pandemic has particularly highlighted the importance of connecting scientists with the healthcare industry. Read more to learn about a career at the interface of science and medicine. We invited Ashlyn Ritter to tell us about her role as a Medical Science Liaison. Here, Ashlyn tells us about her work and how she transitioned from being a PhD student to pursuing a career in the biopharmaceutical industry. She also offers some advice to those who are interested in becoming a Medical Science Liaison.
About Ashlyn Ritter
Ashlyn’s Ph.D. focused on the areas of gene expression in metabolism and aging. After her PhD, she currently works as a Senior Medical Science Liaison for Women’s Health Medical Affairs branch of AbbVie, a global biopharmaceutical company.
How did you get your current job? Describe the path to your current position.
Communicating science has always been my passion. While I love and appreciate the art of writing, I enjoy presenting and exchanging knowledge through conversations about data the most. I started to look at career options outside of academia where I could use my PhD training to improve our understanding of human diseases while utilizing the latest research.
I found out about the role of Medical Science Liaison (MSL) through a friend. MSLs—also called medical science associates/clinical science liaisons/medical science managers—lead scientific discussions with healthcare providers about new research regarding particular diseases, technologies, medical devices or therapies. They communicate the most recent research to help healthcare providers make informed decisions when caring for their patients. As opposed to sales representatives who work under a commercial organization, MSLs typically work within a medical affairs branch of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. Therefore, MSLs do not sell or promote any product or its use. After reading about the core responsibility, I remember thinking, “I can get paid to stay plugged into cutting edge research and talk science all day? I have to check this out.”
What is a usual day/week at your job position?
Every day is different! MSLs visit healthcare providers and research institutions within their allocated regions, which usually include two to five states, spending time becoming familiar with the healthcare landscape and networking to establish relationships. While everyone manages their calendars a little differently, I typically allocate one day a week for administrative duties. MSLs also spend time staying up to date on the latest research through reading publications, attending conferences and reviewing new clinical trial data. My office is at home, which allows a lot of flexibility in scheduling but comes with unique challenges. You have to be self-driven, which most graduate students, postdocs and PIs understand!
From your experience, what does a company/institution look for in candidates applying to your job position?
Companies can have varying expectations for applicants. MSLs must have acquired advanced degrees like a PhD, PharmD, MD, PA and advanced nursing degrees. Some companies might require previous MSL experience (which I’ve provided some advice for breaking through below), but many are open to hiring without experience, so long as you have completed a doctorate-level degree. Most companies seek candidates with experience in a particular disease or technology. Since we are often translating data from clinical trial studies, experience with clinical trials is a plus!
What skills have made you and others in your field successful? Were there any unexpected skills that you needed to learn?
Critical thinking, time management and independence is key to being a successful MSL – PhD training already hones these skills very well. The MSL role is inherently a social role too, which means you will have to be comfortable carrying on a conversation with a perfect stranger. I found that spending time on developing conversational skills really enhanced my ability to succeed.
I spent most of my academic career thinking that the industry was just about selling drugs and consumables. In reality, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries are developing innovations that are empowering physicians and scientists to advance their work and patient care! Having an open mind, being willing to learn quickly and thinking creatively on how to educate scientists and healthcare providers are also skills that will help you succeed in the MSL role.
What advice do you have for the current graduate students looking into work in this job position?
Academia provides the foundational skills required to transfer into other fields. An MSL role would let you branch out a little from academia and gain experience in looking at human health and diseases from a different perspective. Here are some steps to get primed for this role: Learn what it takes to get FDA approval for a device or drug. Utilize LinkedIn and the mentorship program with the Medical Science Liaison Society to find individuals currently in this role. Set up some time for an informational interview and ask if they’d be willing to keep you posted on any opportunities in their company. In addition, many companies are running clinical trials within academic institutions—identify such principal investigators and reach out to them.
It can often be challenging to land your first MSL role, as most of these roles require experience. If you’re having difficulty getting interviews, try a different point of access. For example, you could assist clinical trials, create educational resources for pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies, or work for a consulting company that specializes in materials for pharma or biotech. Gaining experience in scientific communication, learning about the industry and networking are key to landing your first MSL role!
Interview by Pankajam Thyagarajan
