MSL Talk

Tom Caravela and Amy Everitt explore career progression strategies for Medical Science Liaisons, focusing on self-advocacy and its critical role in career development. Amy shares her experiences and insights on effectively utilizing performance reviews and documenting achievements to advance professionally. They discuss the importance of building relationships and maintaining confidence, while also addressing the potential pitfalls of over-promotion. Practical techniques for self-promotion are examined, including leveraging LinkedIn and creating content, with attention to overcoming common discomforts. The episode concludes with strategies to enhance meetings and resumes, closing with expressions of gratitude.

Tom Caravela welcomes Sandy Ponzek to discuss the nuances of job search timing for MSLs. Sandy shares her extensive background, setting the stage for a deep dive into factors influencing career moves. The conversation covers the importance of timing and mindset, evaluating market readiness, and the role of networking. They explore distinguishing temporary challenges from genuine signs to move on, considering tenure, incentives, and common job search mistakes. Sandy highlights the risks of leaving a job without a backup plan and the dangers of career comparison. The episode concludes with strategies for proactive job searching and advice for new graduates and fellows, offering listeners practical insights for their career journey.

Tom Caravela delves into the principles of the law of attraction, offering insights into its application in both personal and professional contexts. He clarifies common misconceptions and provides strategies for managing negative events, highlighting the importance of maintaining a positive outlook. Tom shares daily practices to shift vibrational frequency and underscores gratitude's role in enhancing the law of attraction's effectiveness. The episode wraps up with his reflections on these principles, a preview of the next episode, and expressions of gratitude for the audience's engagement, encouraging listeners to integrate these concepts into their daily lives.

Tom Caravela is joined by Sanaz Cardoza to discuss the significance of medical affairs and what it means for MSLs to "get a seat at the table." They explore various strategies for career growth and how MSLs can maximize their impact once they achieve this pivotal position. The episode features inspiring stories of successful MSLs and emphasizes the crucial role of leadership in facilitating these achievements. Sanaz shares practical tips for MSLs to stand out and make a significant impact in the new year, offering listeners valuable insights into enhancing their professional journey within the medical affairs landscape.

In this episode, Tom Caravela provides updates on upcoming changes and highlights an AI in Medical Affairs Conference, along with recommending the book "Job Search Mastery." He introduces a transformative question designed to enhance both life and career, demonstrating its versatile application across different scenarios. The discussion emphasizes the importance of empathy and emotional exchange in professional interactions, offering strategies for effectively managing feedback dynamics. Tom explores how this pivotal question can be utilized during interviews and social interactions, concluding with closing remarks and encouragement for listeners to engage and reflect on the episode's content.

In this episode, Tom Caravela is joined by Mahesh Tawney to explore the evolving role of Medical Outcomes Liaisons (MOLs). They delve into the distinctions between MSL and MOL positions, highlighting the unique value narrative MOLs bring to the table. The discussion covers collaboration with market access and reimbursement specialists, as well as the metrics used to gauge MOL success. Tom and Mahesh emphasize effective communication strategies and the importance of both IQ and EQ in liaison roles. The conversation also touches on the collaborative mindset necessary for MSLs, strategies for transitioning from MSL to MOL, and networking. The episode concludes with insights into the future of MOL roles.

Tom Caravela and Lauren Dwyer explore the emerging social media platform Bluesky, examining its potential impact on the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) community. They discuss how Bluesky compares to other platforms and its role in enhancing medical dialogue and MSL activities. The conversation delves into the factors influencing Bluesky's adoption by MSLs and offers strategies for monitoring and engaging on social media. They highlight the importance of adapting to evolving digital trends and provide guidelines for effective social media engagement. The episode also touches on AI's role in shaping the future of MSLs and emphasizes the need for embracing technology and digital proficiency in the field.

In this episode, Tom Caravela welcomes Michael Kahn to delve into decision-making within medical affairs. Michael shares his expertise on how organizational silos and internal politics can affect decisions, offering strategies for dismantling these barriers. They discuss the critical role of medical affairs in decision-making, alongside insights into hiring, team building, and adding value beyond traditional job roles. Michael provides advice on managing tough personnel decisions and emphasizes the importance of being undeniable in one's professional role. The episode concludes with some lighthearted thoughts and a unique discussion on sausage preferences.

In this episode of MSL Talk, Tom Caravela is joined by Vera Kutsenko to explore the AI gap in medical affairs. They discuss the challenges and resistance faced in adopting AI technologies and the current state of AI integration in the industry. Vera shares her insights on the role of culture, governance, and the necessary skills for medical affairs professionals to effectively work alongside AI. The conversation touches on the fear of job replacement by AI and strategies to overcome these concerns. They also emphasize the importance of building a relationship with AI tools and the characteristics of successful AI implementations. The episode concludes with thoughts on leveraging AI for prompt generation and the iterative nature of AI adoption.

In this week’s episode of MSL Talk, we dive into a major pillar of Medical Affairs that is often misunderstood and overlooked... publications. And for the first time on the show, we’re breaking it all down with an expert who lives and breathes this world. My guest, Jolan Rosenthal, is the Executive Director of Publications at Mirum Pharmaceuticals and a 20+ year industry veteran. We explore: - Why publications are essential to credibility, transparency, and scientific exchange - How MSL insights directly influence publication strategy - How publications enhance KOL engagement and support field medical impact - Career pathways: how MSLs can transition into pubs, med comms, training, or strategic roles - Common misconceptions about the publication process - The role of AI today and what the future may look like in the publications landscape