Practical Strategies for MSLs, Aspiring MSLs, and Medical Affairs Leaders

By Patrina Pellett & Sarah Snyder

If you’re an MSL, you already know this feeling well: 

You open LinkedIn or email. 
You see the notification. 
You sigh. 

“Hi! I’m an aspiring MSL and would love to pick your brain…” 

Cue the internal debate: 

You remember what it felt like to want this role. ...

By Sarah Snyder

Becoming a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) can change your life.

You’ll get to use your scientific expertise, build meaningful relationships with healthcare providers, and make a direct impact on patient care. For many, it’s the most rewarding career in the life sciences.

But her...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

It’s hard not to be distracted in meetings. People are often distracted within the first few seconds.

Whether you’re in person, on Zoom, or grabbing 5 minutes between sessions, there’s always something pulling your attention elsewhere. Notificatio...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

Inside the Aspire MSL program, we see imposter syndrome show up all the time. Not as a lack of ambition. Not as fear of the role. But as self-sabotage.

Aspiring Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) know they want the role but get stuck in a confidence ...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD 

Emily had just passed her field certification test and officially became an MSL as an MSL. Her manager handed her a KOL list, shared a few high-level expectations, and sent her into the field to start “building relationships.”

She did what most new MSLs do. She worked t...

By Sarah Snyder

You’re halfway through the paper and already tired.

You’ve highlighted half the page.
You’ve reread the methods twice.
You think you understand the statistics.

But if someone asked you right now:
“So… what does this actually mean?”

You’d hesitate.

Not because you’re unqualified.
Not...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD & Sarah Snyder

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2026 is YOUR year. It’s the year to elevate your impact, refine your craft, and prioritize what ...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD (Follow me on LinkedIn)

If you’re a new MSL, let me guess what your first year feels like:

A mix of excitement… panic… imposter syndrome… and a whole lot of Googling things you didn’t even know existed 6 months ago.

We know because we train new MSLs every single we. An...

By Patrina Pellett & Sarah Snyder

When Patrina entered Medical Affairs 7 years ago, everyone was obsessed with “showing value.” It was the hot topic. The thing on everyone’s mind. 

She even has an entire blog dedicated to tools and resources to help Medical Affairs show value. And guess what? S...

By Sarah Snyder & Patrina Pellett

Let’s talk about the thief that sneaks into almost every MSL’s head and destroys confidence.

Comparison.

You scroll LinkedIn and see another MSL posting about a new role, a podium presentation, or a major KOL connection. You tell yourself you’re happy for them...

By Patrina Pellett, PhD

You’ve sent out 30 MSL job applications.

Crickets. The problem probably isn’t your experience: it’s your resume.

If you are applying for jobs and not hearing anything back, it might be time to revamp your resume. When an academic decides to switch to the dark side (industr...

By Patrina Pellett & Sarah Snyder 

In Medical Affairs, there’s a hidden money pit no one talks about. 

Leaders spend millions every year on slide decks, medical communications vendors, polished value stories, and perfectly animated MOAs. The assumption? Better decks equal better engagement. 

B...