In Today’s episode Tom Caravela and I explore the question–what does a perfect MSL organization to support a product launch look like?

I’ve knonw Tom for years, and asked him to share his unique perspective on field medical organizations.

In addition to being a certified speaker, trainer and coach as well as a podcaster, Tom is the founder of an Executive Search Firm called The Carolan Group. They’re known for their niche expertise for specializing in the recruitment and placement of highly scientific professionals called Medical Science Liaisons. Tom is also the host of the popular medical affairs podcast, MSL Talk, which now has over 250,000 listeners in over 80 countries. 

We talk about:

• Introduction to the role of a leader in field medical
• Areas that support field medical
• Ideal candidate qualifications
• Timeframe for filling a position
• Importance of leadership in forming a team
• Factors affecting the number of MSLs needed
• Types of MSLs
• Onboarding and ongoing training for MSLs
• Commercialization solutions in drug development and preparation process
• When to bring on an MSL team during clinical development process

Links:

Join PharmaSessions for free on Substack for exclusive content: pharmasession.substack.com

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/

Tom Caravela: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomcaravelamslrecruiter/
https://www.carolangroup.com/

Follow MSL Talk on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msl_talk_podcast/

MSL Talk is a podcast that features helpful information for current Medical Science Liaisons, Medical Affairs leaders, job seekers looking to break into the pharmaceutical industry in their first MSL role as well as anyone interested in hearing good industry conversation and medical affairs discussions.

#msl #medicalaffairs #medicalscienceliaison #MSLTalk #pharmaceutical

Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan Kaskey

Follow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/

Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:
www.pharmasessions.substack.com

Steve Royle is an innovative pharmaceutical professional with experience in both the commercial and medical affairs sides of the industry.  After starting in sales and marketing, Steve moved to the agency side of global medical communications and medical education. He went on to found Swipe Health and Rumi. Recently, Steve has used his expertise to create mymedicalafairs.com, a Netflix-style database of medical affairs events and topics. 

Through mymedicalaffairs.com, we crowdsourced the topics for today's conversation. The discussion included:

- Medical Affairs: Shift in Responsibilities

- Exchange of Ideas and Information Sharing

- Opportunities for Progress in the Short to Medium Term

- MSL Upskilling and Micro-Learning

- Digital Platforms for Training

- Tracking Engagement and Identifying Sticky Points

- Omnichannel Emphasis

- The Importance of Active Listening

- Tracking HCPs' Digital Behavior and Insights

- A Unified Strategy that Combines Digital and In-Person Efforts

- Health Misinformation on the Internet

- Future of MSLs

- Focus on Communication and Commercial Aptitude

✉️ pharmasessions.substack.com to follow along!

Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan Kaskey

Follow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/

Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:
www.pharmasessions.substack.com

Camille Pope is the Chief Medical Lead at Acclinate, helping pharmaceutical companies and healthcare organizations access and engage communities of color so research is more inclusive.

She'd previously worked for several large pharmaceutical companies in both field medical and medical affairs leadership roles.

We discuss the importance of diversity in clinical trials, the new FDA guidance, the impacts that a lack of trial diversity can have when presenting information to patients and providers, and why medical affairs has the skillset to make change.

Don’t miss an episode and subscribe to the newsletter: 

✉️ pharmasessions.substack.com 

What You’ll Learn:

05:50:00 How to assess the primary endpoint of clinical trials.

06:54:00 The demographics of patients in clinical trials.

11:34:00 How can we think differently about who we are engaging in clinical trials?

16:32:00 Clinical Trial Diversity Workstream.

21:50:00 How to  measure patient representation in clinical trials

24:50:00 How to ask about clinical trial options?

27:11:00 Prioritization and budgets

Resources:

Jonathan Kaskey

👤 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey

🔗 Website: www.pharmasessions.substack.com

✉️ Email: [email protected]

🐤 Twitter: @PharmaSessions

🎥 YouTube: @PharmaSessions

Camille Pope

👤 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camille-pope/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2CqK5Apvgnm6B2EGTI8sHN?si=1a45fe814913417f
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/increasing-clinical-trial-diversity-with-camille-pope/id1641549065?i=1000605399386

Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan Kaskey

Follow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/

Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:
www.pharmasessions.substack.com

Chris Caudle is a LinkedIn specialist for execs working in the healthcare and life sciences sectors. He helps clients to develop their personal brand, increase their visibility, leadership and reach bigger audiences using LinkedIn as their launchpad.

In this episode Chris talks about how to use social media, specifically LinkedIn. He discusses the benefits of having a strong online brand and how to make it stand out.

Chris and Jon talk give examples about using social not only for personal branding, but to actually do the work of medical affairs.

And stay tuned for the end for a full profile breakdown of someone doing an outstanding job on LinkedIn.

Don’t miss an episode and subscribe to the newsletter: 

✉️ pharmasessions.substack.com 

Key Takeaways:

1. Build your personal brand through LinkedIn.
2. Collaborate to build an online presence.
3. Increase visibility in organization.

What You’ll Learn:

00:03:00 Grow your online presence with LinkedIn.

00:09:00 Increase visibility to influence stakeholders.

00:15:17 Humanize your organization.

00:17:16 Build a mission-based profile.

00:24:51 Collaborate to build authority.

00:25:30 Opportunities for connection.

Resources:

Jonathan Kaskey

👤 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey

🔗 Website: www.pharmasessions.substack.com

✉️ Email: [email protected]

Christopher Caudle 

👤 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/christopherbcaudle

🔗 Website: www.makebusinesssocial.com

✉️ Email: [email protected]

✉️Substack | 📱Tiktok | ▶️ YouTube | 🐦 Twitter | 🎥 Instagram

🔗 Website: https://pharmasessions.buzzsprout.com/

Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan Kaskey

Follow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/

Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:
www.pharmasessions.substack.com

Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan Kaskey

Follow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/

Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:
www.pharmasessions.substack.com

Evan Reddick recently joined an exciting emerging biotech with a major phase 3 trial win, and preparing to launch a first-in-class oral medication for breast cancer, serving as the AVP and Head of Global Medical Affairs Strategy. 

Evan previously had a number of field and leadership roles at a large pharma.

A highlight was the very first topic discussed, the framework of “Standing in Success”, and what that means for leaders. But we covered so much, I'm really excited to hear what you have to say!

Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan Kaskey

Follow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/

Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:
www.pharmasessions.substack.com

Riad Dirani is the VP of Global HEOR at Teva Pharmaceuticals. 

We talk about: 

• Customizing data for a global audience
• The importance of a clear medical story
• How to create an insights gathering process that turns a scientific narrative into a living document
• How HEOR can best support a field team
• Involving Medical Directors in RWE generation
• What's needed to create "1 medical team" as a mindset
• What the future holds for HEOR

The views expressed here are mine and Riad's, and don’t reflect those of our employers.

Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan Kaskey

Follow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/

Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:
www.pharmasessions.substack.com

 Amber Spierer is the VP of Patient Affairs at EQRx, formally head of US Patient Engagement at Novartis.

We talk about: 

• Defining the patient journey
• Why understanding this journey is important strategically
• The difference between viewing someone as a patient and as a person
• Current patient expectations around working with pharma
• Tactics

The views expressed here are mine and Amber’s, and don’t reflect those of our employers.

Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan Kaskey

Follow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/

Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:
www.pharmasessions.substack.com

I had a great chat with Pete Piliero, VP of Medical Affairs at Melinta Therapeutics.

We talk about: 

• Transitioning from clinical practice to med affairs
• Changes in how other groups in pharma see med affairs
• The differences between access and adoption (and how to impact both)
• Advances in patient engagement and much more

A quick note–the views expressed here are mine and Pete’s, and don’t reflect those of our employers.

At one point I reference the MAPS, Future of Medical Affairs report. You can view the whole report here: https://medicalaffairs.org/future-medical-affairs-2030/

Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan Kaskey

Follow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/

Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:
www.pharmasessions.substack.com

Danie du Plessis is the EVP of Medical Affairs for Kyowa Kirin, a board member at the Medical Affairs Professional Society, and was previously the SVP of Global Medical Affairs for GSK. 

We talk about: 

• Why Danie switched from primary care to working with pharma
• If a business background is important in med affairs leadership
• Leading big organizations vs small organizations
• How important an understanding of the patient journey is to everything med affairs

Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan Kaskey

Follow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/

Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:
www.pharmasessions.substack.com