Why work as a Senior Medical Science Liaison?
An IQVIA Medical Science Liaison Manager is responsible for influencing and building relationships with key opinion leaders to not only provide clinical and technical education, but also to implement guidance on compliance and ethics. It’s a key role within the medical and healthcare industry, giving people the opportunity to truly make a difference by collecting and interpreting insights into disease areas and treatment pathways.
For Senior Medical Science Liaison Raff Gaffar, no two workdays are the same, with plenty of opportunities to upskill and contribute to the healthcare community. Here’s what he has to say about working as an MSL:
“As a medical science liaison (MSL), my work helps to deliver solutions within the healthcare industry”
Raff’s main role is responding to the needs of his customers (healthcare providers, or HCPs), identifying scientific information and data that relates to current marketed products or compounds that are still in clinical development stage. He gathers insights from the medical field, understanding where treatment gaps are, what challenges exist, any efficacy and side effects information and what the profiles of the company’s own and competitor products are.These insights are fed back to the broader team to help develop solutions to address problems and opportunities, all with a view to developing better patient care.
“No two days are the same for an MSL”
The medical science liaison workload is incredibly varied, with Raff’s average workday changing from week to week. Some days he spends time engaging with physicians in advance of commercial approval, developing relationships with thought leaders, whereas other days he’ll be working with colleagues to organise and run advisory boards and round table meetings, acting as a facilitator to scientific exchanges.
Other tasks include collaborating with key opinion leaders on patient management, while Raff’s favourite part of the role is working with key opinion leaders to generate clinical data through company-sponsored trials or investigator-initiated studies.
“Relationship building is a key part of my job”
Communication is a key skill within medical sales, and this is true of Raff’s role as well. A medical science liaison manager must establish and maintain partnerships with physicians as well as acting as a critical bridge between the company and key healthcare professionals. This entails establishing connections with consultants who are influencers in their fields, members or drug formularies and specialist nurses, meaning the ability to build trust and rapport is essential for an MSL.
Raff also works on specific projects such as the development, organisation and facilitation of scientific advisory boards, which can lead to key clinicians contributing valuable opinions regarding how they might utilise the clinical features of therapies in their daily practice.
“I’m currently working on an exciting international project, managed by IQVIA”
Raff has worked on a number of projects with IQVIA in the past, and is currently involved in an international project with BeiGene. The ability to work on different large-scale projects under the IQVIA umbrella is one of the reasons why Raff loves his job, saying he’s found IQVIA an exciting, vibrant and fast-paced environment in which to work - not to mention the travel opportunities he’s enjoyed across the country and internationally.
According to Raff, an MSL’s career satisfaction is huge; he takes pride in seeing the value patients gain by safely using a drug he’s worked on from clinical stages through to approval. MSLs also provide immense value to key opinion leaders through clinical practice advancement, as well as to companies in the form of insight feedback.
“I am constantly upskilling and learning new things”
The nature of the industry means that Raff is constantly upskilling to understand advances within the disease area, taking into account clinical data, pipeline developments and competitors. He became an MSL after working within the sales and marketing function of the pharmaceuticals industry for many years, before retraining and moving into medical affairs. After working with MSLs in his sales role, Raff could see the immense value they added and was keen to remain in pharmaceuticals whilst exercising his business acumen, interpersonal skills and data handling expertise. Eight years later, he’s thriving.
“If you enjoy working with people, like science, are self-motivated and have a head for business, this is the job for you”
To anyone aspiring to become an MSL, Raff has a few words of advice. He recommends networking with people who are already in the industry – even shadowing an MSL if possible – or signing up to training and information programmes through MSL associations.t’s a fast-paced, dynamic-career that Raff loves, which can be incredibly rewarding for the right person.
Find your next Medical Science Liaison Manager role with IQVIA, or find out more about how you can become an MSL.
Find out more about life at IQVIA
Did you know IQVIA has
1,900+ epidemiologists
and real world insight experts
Did you know IQVIA has
4,600 data scientists
including statisticians and analytics developers
Did you know IQVIA has
86,000+ employees
from clinicians to data scientists each transforming healthcare in 100+ countries
Did you know IQVIA has
Countless development opportunities
for personal and professional growth
Did you know IQVIA cares about
Health and Wellbeing
for all its employees
Did you know IQVIA has
Excellent work-life balance
and is committed to this kind of culture
Did you know IQVIA has
56+ petabytes of unique data
including 1.2B+ non-identified patient records
Did you know IQVIA has
86,000+ employees
from clinicians to data scientists each transforming healthcare in 100+ countries
Did you know IQVIA cares about
Health and Wellbeing
for all its employees
Did you know IQVIA has
56+ petabytes of unique data
including 1.2B+ non-identified patient records
Did you know IQVIA has
1,900+ epidemiologists
and real world insight experts
Did you know IQVIA has
4,600 data scientists
including statisticians and analytics developers
Did you know IQVIA has
Countless development opportunities
for personal and professional growth
Did you know IQVIA has
Excellent work-life balance
and is committed to this kind of culture
Related jobs
Salary:
Location:
Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas, Chicago, Santa Fe
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Science Liaison
Location
Los Angeles
Dallas
Chicago
Denver
Santa Fe
Description
Medical Science Liaison The Medical Science Liaison (MSL) will deliver scientific training to HCPs and Media regarding current and future adjunctive therapies and skincare solutions. The MSL will supp
Reference
R1377333
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Martin HannaAuthor
Martin HannaSalary:
Location:
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Science Liaison
Location
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Description
Medical Science Liaison We are looking for Medical Science Liaison who will help build relationships and demonstrates the clinical outcome and benefits of Client products. Educates and demonstrates th
Reference
R1420875
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary:
Location:
Boston, Chicago, Raleigh, Houston
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Science Liaison
Location
Boston
Houston
Chicago
Raleigh
Description
We excited to announce we are looking for a National Director of Medical Science Liaisons, to lead a national team of MSLs on behalf of client, ITF Therapeutics. The MSL Director will oversee a nati
Reference
R1416001
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Martin HannaAuthor
Martin HannaSalary:
Location:
Oslo
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Science Liaison
Location
Oslo
Description
Medical Science Liaison – New Position – Obesity treatmentIQVIA’s international talent acquisition team is currently recruiting for a brand-new MSL position in Norway on behalf of our client. We are
Reference
R1419974
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Rhys HarringtonAuthor
Rhys HarringtonSalary:
Location:
Mölndal, Helsingborg, Umea
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Science Liaison
Location
Mölndal
Helsingborg
Umea
Description
Medical Science Liaison – Team Build – Oncology Immunotherapy As part of a brand new immuno-oncology team build across the EU comprising commercial and medical heads, IQVIA’s international medical aff
Reference
R1381326
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Rhys HarringtonAuthor
Rhys HarringtonSalary:
Location:
Phoenix, Los Angeles
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Science Liaison
Location
Los Angeles
Phoenix
Description
We are excited to announce that currently we are looking for Neuromuscular Medical Science Liaisons to initiate scientific dialogue within the therapeutic area of neuromuscular diseases through scient
Reference
R1415852
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary:
Location:
Philadelphia, Boston, New York
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Science Liaison
Location
Philadelphia
Boston
New York
Description
We are excited to announce that currently we are looking for Neuromuscular Medical Science Liaisons to initiate scientific dialogue within the therapeutic area of neuromuscular diseases through scient
Reference
R1415848
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary:
Location:
Seattle, SanFrancisco
Job Type
Regular
Employment status
Full Time
Job Category
Medical Science Liaison
Location
Seattle
SanFrancisco
Description
We are excited to announce that currently we are looking for Neuromuscular Medical Science Liaisons to initiate scientific dialogue within the therapeutic area of neuromuscular diseases through scient
Reference
R1415853
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
A quick note to say thank you for your time this morning discussing my future career options. As you know I was feeling very conflicted about the right decision. Discussing the role with you gave me chance to clarify what is important to me.
Since joining IQVIA I have had unrivalled support and development from my manager to enable me to aspire to move into secondary care. I feel like my career is strongly supported by my manager in order to maximise my potential.
Just following on from the amazing news I got yesterday I wanted to say a really special thank you for all the help and support you have provided throughout the entire recruitment process.
IQVIA has been behind my development to become a MSL. The contracts that I have worked on have allowed me to push clinical projects with a recent opportunity to manage a pilot scheme integrating e-detailing into an established field based team. The result was an increase in sales.
Once again I cannot thank you enough for not only approaching me with this opportunity but also for all the support you’ve given me along the way!
A quick note to say thank you for your time this morning discussing my future career options. As you know I was feeling very conflicted about the right decision. Discussing the role with you gave me chance to clarify what is important to me.
IQVIA Related insights
Teaser
GeneralContent Type
ArticlePublished
30/04/2024
Summary
Whether you work remotely, with a hybrid model, or are a careerist who can’t help but mentally take your work home with you when you leave the office, it’s undeniable that the lines between work and
Teaser
Medical Sales & ServicesContent Type
ArticlePublished
19/03/2024
Summary
Are you wondering if medical sales is a good career? All over the world, the medical and pharmaceutical sectors are booming, and nowhere more so than in the UK. With a thriving ecosystem of research
Teaser
GeneralContent Type
ArticlePublished
05/02/2024
Summary
Lucy Manning sits in our clinical trials team, but that’s not where her career started at IQVIA. It all began at the back end of 2022 when Lucy took on a fixed-term contract as a Project Support Coo
Teaser
SalesContent Type
ArticlePublished
02/02/2024
Summary
Does the idea of being a medical sales rep excite you? This crucial position lets you make connections with companies and practitioners in the medical field. It’s also a growing and dynamic industry.
Content Type
ArticlePublished
04/01/2024
Summary
Are you ready to step into a career that's both rewarding and accessible? Becoming a phlebotomist could be your ticket into the thriving world of healthcare. It's not just about drawing blood; it's ab
Teaser
MedicalContent Type
ArticlePublished
20/11/2023
Summary
In the tapestry of healthcare, where expertise meets innovation, individuals like Marissa, a Senior Nurse Advisor at IQVIA, play a pivotal role. Marissa has not only learned from challenges but has e
Teaser
SalesContent Type
ArticlePublished
13/11/2023
Summary
A guide to excelling in Key Account Manager jobs in healthcare In the dynamic landscape of the healthcare industry, the role of a Key Account Manager (KAM) is pivotal. Experienced account managers con
Teaser
Medical Affairs & ServicesContent Type
ArticlePublished
10/11/2023
Summary
The role of medical science liaisons has never been more pivotal. Why? As catalysts for change and advocates of cutting-edge advancements, these professionals play a crucial role in fostering collab
Teaser
Medical Sales & ServicesContent Type
ArticlePublished
25/10/2023
Summary
In an industry where cutting-edge innovations and life-changing treatments are introduced every day, the role of ethics in medical device sales is critical. Bridging the gap between groundbreaking m
Teaser
Clinical OperationsContent Type
ArticlePublished
06/10/2023
Summary
Need some guidance on how to get a job in clinical research?Clinical research is a dynamic and rewarding field that transcends borders, offering professionals worldwide the chance to contribute to m
Teaser
SalesContent Type
ArticlePublished
06/10/2023
Summary
In the dynamic and competitive world of medical sales, the path to success is not just about knowing your products or having an impressive CV. Instead, amongst key skills, it's often the abili
Content Type
ArticlePublished
31/08/2023
Summary
Are you one of the 788,638 registered general nurses in the UK? Are you looking for a new challenge, with opportunities to grow and make a real impact in the world of healthcare? A unique and transf
Recently viewed jobs