Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) will tell you there are certain things they wish that other pharmaceutical professionals understood about what could be possible triggers for MSLs. After all, these are their cross-functional colleagues who should know better. Here are the top 10 suggestions for pharmaceutical professionals to avoid getting under an MSL’s skin:

• Confuse them with a pharmaceutical sales rep.
• Ask them to communicate ‘messages.’
• Ask “How many scripts has this doctor written for Drug ABC?”
• Ask them, “What is it MSLs do exactly?”
• Provide no ‘new’ data for at least 6 months.
• Require a certain number of ‘KOL interactions’ per month. (Calling them ‘touches’ is particularly irksome)
• Ask them how they feel now that they work on the ‘dark side.’
• Stump them scientifically (especially in front of colleagues).
• When an MSL manager/director doesn’t explain ‘why‘ they’re asking them to do certain things.
• When the home office reaches out to an MSL’s External Experts (EE) or Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and doesn’t inform them.

Pharmaceutical professionals, including those in medical affairs, need to develop a well-rounded, broad skillset to communicate complex scientific details about the products that their companies are currently developing and launching. Earning a credential like the Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) is a great step for pharmaceutical professionals to enhance their career development.