Medical Science Liaison (MSL)
What is a medical science liaison?
A medical science liaison (MSL) is a position within healthcare companies dedicated to managing relationships with key opinion leaders in life sciences. MSLs also support work with medical products like pharmaceuticals or medical devices.
Medical science liaisons usually work in the following industries:
- Medical devices
- Biotechnology
- Pharmaceuticals
Medical science liaisons may focus on areas such as:
- Women’s health
- Cardiology
- Oncology
- Diabetes
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Like most individuals who work in medical affairs, medical science liaisons often have advanced degrees like MDs, PhDs and PharmDs.
Why are medical science liaisons important to healthcare?
Medical science liaisons are important to healthcare because they identify and engage in critical relationships with key opinion leaders at top clinical and academic institutions. In their role, MSLs offer expertise within companies and the larger medical community. MSLs also ensure the efficacy of medical products in addressing various disease states or therapeutic areas.