People acting as medical science liaisons need excellent interpersonal skills, an impressive background in the sciences, and strong communication with diverse groups. The individual will serve as a median between physicians and medical facilities.
The scientific professional is responsible for detailed information on “medical treatments, drugs, and devices” for their company.
They serve as a business representative and work alongside “KOLs or key opinion leaders” in the healthcare industry, regulatory agencies within the government, and investors.
These staff members’ primary employers are either “pharmaceutical firms, biotechnology companies, or medical device businesses.” In some cases, the medical science liaison will function in a position for manufacturers of consumer products along the lines of cosmetics.
What Is the Role Of A Medical Science Liaison
A medical science liaison is usually geographically situated in a central location with the tendency for extensive travel. The role within the medical department of a vast array of organizations is to develop a rapport and retain this with “key opinion leaders or KOLs among the medical industry.”
In order to detail information for the company they work for to other professionals on medical devices, various drugs, and treatments, the liaison will hold public speaking or panels in group settings. What are some of the skills most important in this role? These include the following:
Communication is a primary skill necessary for a liaison
As a medical science liaison, a key skill is a communication. This is important not only within the company, where the individual is geographically centered but among the community, where the liaison will be responsible for developing a rapport with the KOLs.
Public speaking is a large component of the position in presenting details of what the individual’s company has to offer the medical industry and what makes the products or services vital to each of these businesses. The feedback received from the audience is an essential element of development.
When the professional returns to their office, they can share the input received from reputed members of the medical community, which can contribute to better development or processes within the medical department.
The integrity of this professional needs to be bar none
In the medical profession, all members must adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct for patient care.
That includes the medical science liaison. If the individual is uncomfortable endorsing a practice or treatment they deem questionable, it’s in their best interest and that of the patient community to communicate those doubts.
No one can speak to a group of peers or do a panel discussion with decision-makers under the guise of full disclosure when there’s something about the details that don’t work for them.
The liaison is expected to follow the laws of integrity by reaching out to the powers that be to address the concerns in an effort to resolve the doubts so the work can move forward.
Versatility and flexibility within the position are a must
In this position, the professional needs to have the capacity to understand where the needs lie for the clients. The expert will be versatile in their language and able to speak to varied groups in both a clinical tone and, in layperson’s terms, each well-versed and knowledgeable.
It will be essential to switch gears as the audience changes from “RNs to pharmacists and specialty providers or doctors” and be able to do so comfortably.
Regardless of the audience, questions or concerns from the group should be handled in detail intelligently and without difficulty, given the vast knowledge of the subject. The challenge will be how the topic pertains to each specialty being presented. Go to https://www.medicalscienceliaison.org/2022/09/09/how-to-advance-your-medical-science-liaison-career/ for guidance on advancing your professional career.
Interpersonal skills come with the position
In this role, interpersonal skills are ingrained in the individual who often presents as a company consultant, usually in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields. This position involves sharing the details of information leaders in these sectors provide to decision-makers.
That involves public speaking or having panel groups with large audiences to hold these discussions and offer answers to individual inquiries or concerns.
In order to interact in this manner, it’s essential to have the talent to interact in a professional, knowledgeable, and credible way so that the audience trusts the information.
It further means garnering the respect of colleagues as dependable expert capable of parlaying the details of their work to the masses, making the formidable task seem almost effortless given their level of talent and skill not only academically but in interacting with their peers.
The medical science liaison must be an active listener
When involved in public speaking and contributing critical details to a vital audience like the medical science liaison would be in front of, it’s crucial that aside from communicating effectively, the professional would need adequate active listening skills. This will allow an understanding of inquiries.
The liaison will be able to discern what the clients or medical facilities are most interested in and bring those details back to their employer. This way, the employer knows where to focus development and production.
Final Thought
The “Bureau of Labor Statistics” indicates employment for the medical science liaison profession should see growth throughout the next roughly ten years of approximately “17%,” a much more rapid pace than is average for most fields.
As the need for therapeutic solutions rises, the career will see further growth potential beyond the expectation. The profession is still in its youth, so finding a position for new talent should be relatively easy.
It would be beneficial to gain experience, which they can do by working in other roles and working gradually toward that position. Many current liaisons began their career in posts like “practitioners, in pharmaceutical sales, or academic researching.”
When searching for suitable positions to start your path, it helps to network with those in the industry who can help direct you to various contacts or career openings. Go here for an insight into becoming a medical science liaison. After gaining several years in the industry and often for those in the pharmaceutical or biotech firms, the highest salaries are usually earned.
