MSL Benchmarking Reports

What is your current role?

What is your gender?

Which of the following best describes you (Ethnicity)? (You may select more than one) (USA Only)

What is your age range?

How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

How would you classify your company?

What is your highest academic background?

How many non-people management employment levels are available within the MSL function (or equivalent) at your organization such as Sr. MSL, Level 1 etc.?

What Therapeutic Area best describes your responsibility? (You may select more than one.)

In which country do you work?

In which state do you live? (USA Only)

How many states does your territory include? (If your territory includes part of a state – count that as one) (USA Only)

How many MSLs do you directly manage (only include MSLs on your team that report directly to you)?

How many MSLs (FTEs) are there on your team?

Do you utilize the MSL Society’s annual MSL Salary & Compensation Survey as part of your salary benchmark data? (Yes / No)

Does the state or region where an MSL is located impact the base salary they are offered or paid at your company? (i.e. is an MSL paid a higher base salary based on where they are geographically located, for example living in NY vs Missouri) (USA Only) (Yes / No)

In which currency is your compensation (i.e. base salary, bonus, etc.) paid?

What is your current pre-tax annual base salary in the currency you selected previously? (If part-time, please select the full-time equivalent yearly base salary. DO NOT include any other compensation (i.e. company car allowance, bonus, etc.).

Did you negotiate the most recent base salary you were offered (even if it was a merit increase for the same company/role)?

As a result of negotiating, what was the percentage increase you received in your final base salary offer?

Did you receive a SIGN-ON bonus as part of your new hire compensation?

What was the amount of the SIGN-ON bonus you received as part of your new hire compensation?

Have you had a base salary increase in the past 12 months? If yes, please select the closest percentage (%) range to your actual salary increase.

Did you receive a (year-end, quarterly, semi-annual, etc.) bonus in the last 12 months?

What was the total bonus amount (pre-tax) paid in the last 12 months? (If part-time or in the role for less than 12 months, please select the equivalent of a yearly bonus.)

Please indicate as a percentage of your base salary, the maximum bonus you are eligible for annually (not the actual bonus you received).

As part of your compensation package, during the last 12 months, did you receive any company stock or stock options?

Indicate the value of stock options you received during the last 12 months as part of your compensation, based on the value IF they all vested today. 

As part of your compensation, how many Paid Time Off (vacation time) days do you receive each year? (do not include personal days, sick days, company holidays, local/country holidays, religious holidays, etc.)

Which of the following benefits do you receive as part of your overall compensation? (Select all that apply)

Which of the following are benefits that you currently DO NOT receive as part of your overall compensation but would like to receive? (Select all that apply)

How satisfied are you with the following? (Your pre-tax annual base salary. Your overall annual compensation. The benefits your employer provides you.)

How many KOLs do you maintain a relationship with (i.e. how many KOLs are on your “list” that you engage with regularly throughout the year)?

On average, how many in-person live KOL engagements do you have per week?

On average, how many live/virtual (i.e. Zoom, MS teams, Webex, etc.) KOL engagements do you have per week?

What was the primary reason for leaving your most recent MSL/MSL leader position? (Select One)

Should salary information for your title (or equivalent role) be transparent (i.e. public) at your company? (Yes / No)

Should salary details be included in all job postings/advertisements for roles within Medical Affairs (i.e., MSL, MSL Manager / Director, Vice President of Medical Affairs, etc.)? (Yes / No)

Do you discuss your salary with coworkers in the same role at your company or others in similar roles at other companies? (Yes / No)

I have a clear understanding of what I must accomplish to increase my salary at my company. (True / False)

Changing companies is the only way to obtain a meaningful increase in my salary and/or total compensation. (True / False)

On my team, the requirements for promotion to a Sr. MSL position (or equivalent promotion) are clearly defined. (True / False)

Is the company planning to expand (i.e. an increase in the number of FTE’s) the size of the MSL team that you manage during the next 12 months? (Yes / No)

Is the company planning to expand the size (i.e. increase the number of FTE’s) of your MSL team within the next 12 months? (Yes / No)

Which of the following activities do you participate in? (select all that apply)

What is the OVERALL ANNUAL budget PER MSL (salary, travel, benefits, training, etc.) at your company in the currency you selected previously? (only include MSLs on your team that report directly to you.) 

What is the ANNUAL TRAINING budget PER MSL at your company in the currency you selected previously? (only include MSLs on your team that report directly to you)

What is the ANNUAL TRAVEL (flights, hotel, food, car rental, etc.) budget PER MSL at your company in the currency you selected previously? (only include MSLs on your team that report directly to you)

Australia Results

Brazil Results

Canada Results

Colombia Results

France Results

Germany Results

Global Results

India Results

Italy Results

Mexico Results

Portugal Results

Spain Results

Turkey Results

UK Results

USA Results 

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Are you experiencing burnout (resulting from chronic workplace stress)?

On average, how frequently do you experience a high level of stress at work?

Which of the following is the primary source of stress in your role? (Select one)

MSL burnout is a significant issue on my MSL team.

Having unmanageable amounts of stress or frustration negatively impacts the quality of my work. (True / False)

Burnout from work can negatively impact my personal relationships. (True / False)

Generally, I am able to maintain a healthy work-life balance. (Yes / No)

My company is doing enough to prevent or alleviate burnout. (True / False)

Have you ever considered leaving your current role as a result of job burnout? (Yes / No)

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Currently, what is your ratio (or for the MSLs on your team) between virtual and in-person MSL/KOL meetings?

Going forward, what would you prefer the ratio be between virtual and in-person MSL/KOL meetings?

How many total virtual (Zoom, MS teams, Webex, etc.) KOL engagements do you (or the MSLs on your team) have in a typical week?

When you (or the MSLs on your team) have a virtual engagement with a KOL, how long do they typically last?

How many total live In-Person KOL engagements do you (or the MSLs on your team) have in a typical week?

In general, has the length of a typical virtual KOL engagement increased over time during the COVID-19 Pandemic? (Yes / No)

If given a choice, would you prefer to primarily engage with KOLs live In-Person (as opposed to virtually)? (Yes / No)

Can MSLs be effective without face-to-face KOL engagements (i.e. relying exclusively on virtual KOL engagements)? (Yes / No) 

The necessity of virtual KOL engagements (during the Covid-19 pandemic) has had a negative impact on my job satisfaction. (True / False)

In general, is it easier to gain access to KOLs today when compared to earlier during the COVID-19 Pandemic? (Yes / No) 

Are relevant and appropriate Digital Opinion Leaders (DOLs) more difficult to identify than traditional KOLs? (Yes / No)

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Typically, on average, how many MSLs from your team attend the major (in-person) Medical Conferences in the therapeutic area and/or disease state that the team supports (e.g., ASCO, ESMO, ASH, AAN, AUA)?

Typically, on average, how many (in-person) Medical Conferences do the MSLs from your team attend annually?

On average, how early do you begin planning MSL / Medical Affairs coverage for an (in-person) Medical Conference?

What is YOUR primary challenge when planning and preparing for Medical Conference coverage?

Typically, there are clearly defined team and individual objectives when attending Medical Conferences. (True / False)

Typically, does your company provide training (verbal / written / SOP review) for MSLs, prior to working in a medical booth during a Medical Conference? (Yes / No) 

What is YOUR primary challenge during Medical Conferences regarding meeting management and KOL engagement?

What is YOUR primary challenge during Medical Conferences regarding gathering and synthesizing intelligence?

What is YOUR primary challenge during Medical Conferences regarding reporting and sharing data?

What is the most useful output from an MSL (or team) attending Medical Conferences?

In general, I find it valuable to attend Medical Conferences. (True / False)

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Does your company develop annual Medical Affairs plans which include KOL engagement?

Do you have a clear understanding of how utilizing “Share of Scientific Voice” enables your company to measure and gain strategic insights that will improve the impact of MSLs? (Yes / No)

Does the creation of an annual engagement plan for each KOL (which includes specific activities and objectives) help to ensure MSL/KOL engagements are impactful? (Yes / No)

Should the number of MSL engagements/discussions with KOLs over a specified period of time (i.e., quarter, bi-annual, annual) be a primary measure of their effectiveness in KOL engagement? (Yes / No)

Should pre, during, and post-interaction planning be expected activities for MSLs for EVERY KOL engagement/discussion they have? (Yes / No)

My company effectively measures the impact of MSL/KOL engagements.

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Do the MSLs on your team participate in Medical Advisory Boards?

Who should primarily be responsible for recommending which KOLs are invited to participate in Medical Advisory Boards?

Typically, on average, how many Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) participate during Medical Advisory Boards (virtual or in-person) conducted by your team?

Typically, on average, how long are live (in-person) Medical Advisory Boards conducted by your team?

Typically, on average, how long are virtual (Zoom, WebEx, etc.) Medical Advisory Boards conducted by your team?

Who should moderate Medical Advisory Boards conducted by your company?

Should commercial (i.e., sales, marketing, etc.) colleagues be allowed to ATTEND Medical Advisory Boards? (Yes / No)

During a Medical Advisory Board, should commercial colleagues (i.e., sales, marketing, etc.) be allowed to participate in DISCUSSIONS with KOLs? (Yes / No)

Should MSLs participate in Commercial Advisory Boards? (Yes / No)

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Recently, on your MSL team or within the Medical Affairs department, has there been an increased focus on engaging with Digital Opinion Leaders (DOLs)? (Yes / No)

Is your company actively monitoring online discussions relevant to a compound, TA, etc. in order to understand awareness, sentiment, impact of these discussions across various stakeholders (physicians, advocacy groups, patients, etc.)? (Yes / No)

Global and USA Results

In which country do you work?

In which state do you live? (USA only)

What is your current role?

What is your age range?

What is your gender?

How many states does your territory include? (if your territory includes part of a state – count that as one) (USA only)

Do you think MSL managers (those that directly manage MSL teams) should have prior MSL experience?

In which currency is your compensation (i.e. base salary, bonus, etc.) paid?

How many states does your territory include? (if your territory includes part of a state – count that as one) (USA only)

Does the state or region where an MSL is located impact the base salary they are offered or paid at your company? (i.e. is an MSL paid a higher base salary based on where they are geographically located, for example living in NY vs Missouri) (USA only)

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

Which of the following best describes you? (Ethnicity)

What is your highest academic background?

What Therapeutic Area best describes your responsibility?

How many MSLs do you directly manage (only include MSLs on your team that report directly to you)?

How many non-people management employment levels are available within the MSL function (or equivalent) at your organization such as Sr. MSL, Level 1 etc.?

How many MSLs (FTEs) are there on your team?

How many KOLs do you maintain a relationship with (i.e. how many KOLs are on your “list” that you engage with regularly throughout the year)?

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, on average, how many in-person live KOL engagements did you have per week?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, on average, how many live/virtual (i.e. zoom, teams, webex, etc.) KOL engagements do you have per week?

Do you utilize the MSL Society’s annual MSL Salary & Compensation Survey as part of your salary benchmark data?

Did you negotiate the most recent base salary you were offered (even if it was a merit increase for the same company/role)?

As a result of negotiating, what was the percentage increase you received in your final base salary offer?

If you received a SIGN-ON bonus as part of your new hire compensation, what was the amount of the bonus?

Have you had a base salary increase in the past 12 months? If yes, please select the closest percentage (%) range to your actual salary increase.

If you received a (year-end, quarterly, semi-annual etc.) bonus, what was the total amount pre-tax paid in the last 12 months? (If part-time or in the role for less than 12 months, please select the equivalent of a yearly bonus.)

Please indicate as a percentage of your base salary, the maximum bonus you are eligible for annually.

As part of your compensation package, during the last 12 months, did you receive any company stock or stock options?

Indicate the value of stock options you received during the last 12 months as part of your compensation, based on the value IF they all vested today.

Which of the following benefits do you receive as part of your overall compensation? (Select all that apply)

Which of the following are benefits that you currently DO NOT receive as part of your overall compensation but would like to receive? (Select all that apply)

As part of your compensation, how many Paid Time Off (vacation time) days do you receive each year? (do not include personal days, sick days, company holidays, local/country holidays, religious holidays, etc.)

How satisfied are you with your pre-tax annual base salary?

How satisfied are you with your overall annual compensation?

How satisfied are you with the benefits your employer provides?

What was the primary reason for leaving your most recent MSL/MSL leader position? (select one)

On average, MSL salaries are _______ for the value they provide to a company?

Which of the following activities do you participate in? (select all that apply)

Was the size of the MSL team that you manage expanded (i.e. an increase in the number of FTEs) during the last 12 months?

Was the size of the MSL team at your company expanded (i.e. an increase in the number of FTEs) during the last 12 months?

Is the company planning to expand (i.e. an increase in the number of FTEs) the size of the MSL team that you manage during the next 12 months?

Is the company planning to expand the size (i.e. increase the number of FTEs) of your MSL team within the next 12 months?

What is the OVERALL ANNUAL budget PER MSL (salary, travel, benefits, training, etc.) at your company in the currency you selected previously? (only include MSLs on your team that report directly to you)

What is the ANNUAL TRAINING budget PER MSL at your company in the currency you selected previously? (only include MSLs on your team that report directly to you)

What is the ANNUAL TRAVEL (flights, hotel, food, car rental, etc.) budget PER MSL at your company in the currency you selected previously? (only include MSLs on your team that report directly to you)

Australia Results

Brazil Results

Canada Results

Chile Results

Colombia Results

France Results

Germany Results 

Global Results

India Results

Italy Results

Mexico Results

Portugal Results

Russia Results

Spain Results

Turkey Results

UK Results

USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

What is your gender?

On AVERAGE, how long have you stayed in an MSL or MSL leader position during your career?

Which of the following has been the MOST COMMON reason you left an MSL or MSL leader position?

Are you planning (or would like to) leave your current role within the next 12 months?

Is MSL retention an issue/concern for the MSL Team(s) that you manage?

Currently hiring MSLs is ______ when compared to prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The best way to advance in my career is to find a job with a NEW company. (True / False)

I PRIMARILY define career advancement by a salary increase. (True / False)

I PRIMARILY define career advancement by being promoted. (True / False)

Your direct manager has the greatest influence on your job satisfaction at the company. (True / False)

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

What do you anticipate will be the ratio between virtual and in-person MSL/KOL meetings for the remainder of 2021?

What would you prefer the ratio be between virtual and in-person MSL/KOL meetings for 2022?

As an MSL, does your current content management and distribution process serve your needs to effectively and efficiently engage with KOLs in-person AND in a virtual environment?

Do your internal systems provide MSLs with timely access to data which contributes to effective KOL engagements?

What type of data is the MOST useful for your role?

For your role, how satisfied are you with the quality of data your internal systems are able to provide?

Could you or the MSLs that you manage, benefit from additional training related to optimizing both in-person AND virtual KOL engagements?

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

When does (or did) your company begin hiring an MSL team?

What is the optimal time to begin hiring an MSL team?

What is the primary driver your company utilizes (or did utilize) to determine the size of the MSL team needed to support a product?

What is the secondary driver your company utilizes (or did utilize) to determine the size of the MSL team needed to support a product?

At which phase of clinical development of a product is ideal for launching an MSL team?

Does your company typically utilize a vendor to design and/or recommend the appropriate size of the MSL team needed to support a product?

What is (or has been) the biggest challenge in convincing others at your company regarding the need for an MSL team?

What is the MOST important factor in determining WHY your company is considering (or considered) an MSL team?

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Do you have a clear understanding of what medical claims data is?

Do you currently have access to medical claims data?

Do you share medical claims data with commercial teams?

Would access to medical claims data enhance the impact of MSLs?

Do you feel patient-level data will improve the impact of scientific exchange?

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

During the Covid-19 Pandemic, what has been YOUR primary challenge as a result of the lack of face-to-face KOL engagements?

During the Covid-19 Pandemic, what has been your MSL TEAM’s primary challenge as a result of the lack of face-to-face KOL engagements?

During the Covid-19 Pandemic, on average, how many total hours in a typical week do you spend on virtual engagements (Zoom, MS teams, Webex, etc.) with KOLs?

During the Covid-19 Pandemic, on average, what percentage of your virtual KOL engagements during a typical month occur on camera/video (as opposed to just using the audio feature)?

The digital solutions and platforms provided by my company allow me to manage my time efficiently and effectively (Strongly agree, Somewhat agree, Somewhat disagree, Strongly disagree)

Does your team utilize digital solutions designed specifically for KOL identification and tracking?

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

What is the primary barrier which prevents your company from adopting new solutions that enable MSLs to personalize their engagements with KOLs?

What is the primary barrier to incorporating social media as part of your Key Opinion Leader or Digital Opinion Leader engagement strategy?

In the absence of in-person scientific meetings such as Medical Conferences and Symposia, what is the primary way you are expanding your KOL network?

What is the most effective method that your company utilizes to support MSL/KOL engagement?

During virtual KOL engagements, which of the following is MOST important in generating targeted discussions?

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

In which country do you work?

In which state do you live? (USA only)

How many states does your territory include? (if your territory includes part of a state – count that as one) (USA only)

How would you classify your company?

What is your highest academic background?

What Therapeutic Area best describes your responsibility?

What is your gender?

What is your age range?

Which of the following best describes you? (Ethnicity)

How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

How many non-people management employment levels are available within the MSL function (or equivalent) at your organization such as Sr. MSL, Level 1 etc.?

Do you think MSL managers (those that directly manage MSL teams) should have prior MSL experience?

How many MSLs do you directly manage (only include MSLs on your team that report directly to you)?

How many MSLs (FTEs) are there on your team?

How many KOLs do you maintain a relationship with (i.e. how many KOLs are on your “list”)?

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, on average, how many in-person live KOL engagements did you have per week?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, on average, how many live/virtual KOL engagements do you have per week?

Do you utilize the MSL Society’s annual MSL Salary & Compensation Survey as part of your salary benchmark data?

What is your current pre-tax annual base salary? Please use this currency converter to convert to US Dollars. (If part-time, please select the full-time equivalent yearly base salary. Please round to the nearest $1000 ) DO NOT include any other compensation (i.e. company car allowance, bonus, etc.)

Did you negotiate the most recent base salary you were offered (even if it was a merit increase for the same company/role)?

As a result of negotiating, what was the percentage increase you received in your final base salary offer?

If you received a SIGN-ON bonus as part of your new hire compensation, what was the amount of the bonus? (Please use this currency converter to convert to US Dollars.)

Have you had a base salary increase in the past 12 months? If yes, please select the closest percentage (%) range to your actual salary increase.

If you received a (year-end, quarterly, semi-annual etc.) bonus, what was the total amount paid in the last 12 months? (If part-time or in the role for less than 12 months, please select the equivalent of a yearly bonus.)

Please indicate as a percentage of your base salary, the maximum bonus you are eligible for annually (not the actual bonus you received)

As part of your compensation package, during the last 12 months, did you receive any company stock or stock options?

Indicate the value (Please use this currency converter to convert to US Dollars) of stock options you received during the last 12 months as part of your compensation.

Which of the following benefits do you receive as part of your overall compensation?

Which of the following are benefits that you currently DO NOT receive as part of your overall compensation but would like to receive?

As part of your compensation, how many Paid Time Off (vacation time) days do you receive each year? (do not include personal days, sick days, company holidays, local/country holidays, religious holidays, etc.)

How satisfied are you with your pre-tax annual base salary?

How satisfied are you with your overall annual compensation?

How satisfied are you with the benefits your employer provides?

Australia Results

Brazil Results

Canada Results

Colombia Results

France Results

Germany Results 

Global Results

India Results

Italy Results

Mexico Results

Portugal Results

South Africa Results

Spain Results

Turkey Results

UK Results

USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Is email exchange considered a “KOL engagement” during the COVID-19 pandemic at your company?

PRIOR to the COVID-19 pandemic were email exchanges with KOLs counted towards an MSLs Metrics/KPIs at your company?

Are email exchanges with KOLs during the COVID-19 pandemic counted towards an MSLs Metrics/KPIs at your company?

Should email exchange be considered a “KOL engagement” during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Should email exchanges with KOLs during the COVID-19 pandemic be counted towards an MSLs Metrics/KPIs at your company?

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

How do you utilize social media?

Which social media platform do you primarily use to identify KOLs?

Which social media platform do you primarily use to track KOLs?

What is the most important measure that makes a KOL influential on social media?

On average, how much time do you spend on social “listening” of KOLs?

Do you use automated social listening tools? (e.g., keyhole, Brand24)

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Have all or some KPIs and metrics been adjusted for the MSLs on your team as a result of COVID-19?

How much of your time is being spent on internal vs external activities?

Do you primarily spend most of your time in proactive or reactive discussions with the KOLs you engage with?

Global and USA Data

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Which Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool are you utilizing to identify/establish relationships with KOLs?

What resource are you primarily utilizing to build new KOL relationships?

How is your company capturing and leveraging KOL insights?

Does your CRM effectively help you to prepare for meetings with KOLs?

Does your current system integrate KOL data (background, insights etc.) from multiple sources (i.e. CRM, PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov etc.)?

Is your company considering a new solution to integrate KOL data (background, insights etc.) from multiple sources?

Global and USA Data

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Do you feel confident during a virtual interview?

Have you interviewed for an MSL/Medical Affairs role virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic?

As a hiring manager, have you interviewed candidates virtually for an MSL/Medical Affairs role during the COVID-19 pandemic?

As a hiring manager, what is the single best piece of advice you would offer to someone interviewing virtually:

How would you describe the virtual interview experience?

As a hiring manager, are you concerned about selecting the right candidate without meeting them in person?

Global and USA Data

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

What label does your organization use for feedback or opinions from KOLs /HCPs?

How often are “insights” gathered from MSL interactions?

Is there a formal, stated KOL engagement strategy (separate from the Medical Strategy) for field medical teams? (MSLs, etc.)

What type of Artificial Intelligence tools or services are used by the MSL teams?

Do field teams or MSLs work with Patient Engagement or Advocacy personnel at your company?

Global and USA Data

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Based on your perspective and the understanding that we may remain virtual for the unforeseen future, what is the MOST important training and guidance that companies should provide their MSLs?

Learning agility is the ability to figure out what to do when you don’t know what to do. Which aspect of learning agility are you MOST interested in developing?

Which of the following best describes your perception of mobility in field medical at your company?

What does next gen medical affairs mean to you?

What competency outside of scientific acumen, do you feel is Most important for an MSL to have?

Global and USA Data

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Global and USA Data

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

During the Covid-19 Pandemic, has your overall level of engagement with KOLs (increased, stayed the same, decreased)?

Global and USA Data

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Does your organization have a formalized approach to strategic engagement planning?

When strategic engagement plans are created and utilized, how are they communicated?

What type of metric is primarily used to measure the success or impact of a strategic engagement plan?

Do your strategic engagement plans reflect the needs and objectives of KOLs, (i.e. scientific requests, engagement activities, and support)?

Do your strategic engagement plans include activities that would be executed by your commercial colleagues?

Global and USA Data

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Global and USA Data

KOL Specialty

Prior to Covid-19 pandemic, on average, how many Medical Science Liaison in-person visits did you have per month?

During the Covid-19 pandemic, on average, how many MSL virtual visits do you have per month?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, how would you rate the effectiveness of the typical virtual scientific discussion with MSLs?

In your opinion, how valuable are virtual medical booths during virtual Medical Conferences/ Congresses?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, have you viewed the information shared by MSLs during virtual scientific discussions to be “fair balanced”?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, how often would you say that MSLs have acted in your best interest or your patients’ best interest?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, in general, how satisfied have you been with the interactions that you have had with MSLs?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, what specific information shared by MSLs do you find most valuable?

What makes a really good MSL stand out from other MSLs?

Infographic

USA Results 

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have? 

How important are KOL (or other HCP) speakers to the success of a product?

Do you IDENTIFY KOLs (or other HCPs) to be speakers for the product(s) you support?

Do you PREPARE/TRAIN KOLs (or other HCPs) to be speakers for the product(s) you support?

Is IDENTIFYING KOLs (or other HCPs) to be speakers a valuable use of an MSLs time?

Is PREPARING/TRAINING KOLs (or other HCPs) to be speakers a valuable use of an MSLs time?

Should MSLs be involved with IDENTIFYING KOLs (or other HCPs) to be speakers?

Should MSLs be involved with PREPARING/TRAINING KOLs (or other HCPs) to be speakers?

Global and USA Results 

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have? 

If you have participated in a virtual Medical Congress, were you required to write or contribute to a congress report?

Are reports for virtual Medical Congresses valuable?

If you have participated in a virtual Medical Congress, were you able to have valuable scientific engagements with KOLs during the event?

Have you participated in a medical booth during a virtual Medical Congress?

Should MSLs be required to participate in medical booths during virtual Medical Congresses?

How valuable are virtual medical booths during virtual Medical Congresses?

How many virtual Medical Congress sessions or events are optimal to cover per day to maximize value and productivity of attendance and insights captured?

Global and USA Results 

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Are you familiar with what an integrated stakeholder plan is?

Does your company utilize an integrated stakeholder plan?

Do you align KOL engagement strategies for your region with other MSLs in other regions (on your team within the same TA)?

Does your company allow you to contribute to an integrated stakeholder plan?

Where do you see the MOST value of an integrated stakeholder plan?

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Having a high level of Emotional Intelligence is crucial to the success of an MSL. (True / False)

Having a high level of Emotional Intelligence is crucial to building effective long-term MSL/KOL relationships. (True / False)

Have you had any formal training on Emotional Intelligence?

Does your company offer Emotional Intelligence training?

Would you like to receive Emotional Intelligence training/coaching?

Do you think you have a high degree of Emotional Intelligence?

Do you think your manager has a high degree of Emotional Intelligence?

Is Emotional Intelligence or IQ more valuable to the success of an MSL?

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Does your MSL team have a KPI or metric for the number of MSL/KOL interactions per month?

How many MSL/KOL interactions per month IS currently required?

How many MSL/KOL interactions per month SHOULD BE required?

According to a global survey, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the median number of KOL relationships maintained by MSLs is 40. As a result of the pandemic, the number of KOLs should: (Be increased, Be decreased, Stay the same)

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, what was the ideal number of KOL Relationships that MSLs should maintain?

Now as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, what is the ideal number of KOL Relationships that MSLs should maintain?

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Has the purpose of MSL/KOL scientific exchange changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, should additional functions be identified for MSLs to perform?

Have you attended a VIRTUAL medical conference/meeting recently as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?

If you have attended a VIRTUAL medical conference/meeting recently as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, did it contribute to your ability to add value to the KOLs you engage with?

If you have attended a VIRTUAL medical conference/meeting recently as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, did it contribute to your ability to add value to your company?

Do you think attending a VIRTUAL medical conference/meeting is an effective use of an MSLs time?

Should MSLs be required to attend/participate in VIRTUAL medical conferences/meetings?

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL experience do you have?

Which, if any, of the following communication tools is the most successful in communicating with KOLs during the COVID-19 pandemic?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, what time of the day do KOLs prefer to engage virtually (i.e. through Skype, Webex, phone calls etc.) with MSLs?

How important is it for KOLs to maintain contact with Medical Science Liaisons during the COVID-19 pandemic?

In general, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, how frequently do KOLs prefer to communicate with a Medical Science Liaison?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, how valuable have KOL engagements been with MSLs?

How receptive are KOLs to engaging virtually (Zoom, Skype, Webex, etc.) with MSLs?

Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, should MSLs continue to utilize virtual technology to engage with KOLs?

Global and USA Results

Infographics Global

Infographics USA 

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Does your company have a formal Field Medical Strategic Plan for individual products?

Have you ever reviewed or seen the Field Medical Strategic Plan at your company for the product you support?

Should cross-functional team members (i.e. sales/marketing etc.) have input into creating the Field Medical Strategic Plan for a product?

Is your field engagement plan reflective of your broader Field Medical Strategic Plan?

What is the primary benefit for creating a Field Medical Strategic Plan?

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Should companies develop new ways to measure the value and impact of MSLs?

Overall, does your company have a clear understanding of the value that an MSL provides?

In general, do the members of the commercial (sales reps/marketing managers) teams you collaborate with have a clear understanding of the value that an MSL provides?

Do you think your direct manager does a good job in explaining to upper level management and others within the company, the value that you provide?

In general, do KOLs have a clear understanding of the value that an MSL provides?

What source of information is most important in helping to demonstrate the value of MSLs to the company?

 Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Does your company have a clearly defined definition of what is an actionable insight?

Do you know the difference between an actionable insight vs something that a KOL shared?

How often has there been no action / follow up from the company with regards to an actionable insight you gathered from a KOL?

Does your company have a clearly defined process for analyzing insights gathered from KOLs?

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Does your company have a clear definition for a “precision medicine expert?”

Does your company have a process for identifying “precision medicine experts?”

Which of the following non-traditional experts do you primarily engage with in regards to precision medicine?

At your company, how are “precision medicine experts” identified?

What skill/characteristic is most important for you in a “precision medicine expert?”

Global and USA Results

Are you a professional that regularly interacts with medical science liaisons (MSLs) from industry partners like pharmaceutical companies?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, what time of the day do you prefer to engage virtually with Medical Science Liaisons (i.e through Skype, Webex, phone calls etc.)?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, how valuable have your engagements been with MSLs?

How important is it for you to maintain contact with Medical Science Liaisons during the COVID-19 pandemic?

In general, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, how frequently do you prefer to communicate with a Medical Science Liaison?

How receptive are you to engaging virtually (Zoom, Skype, webex, etc.) with MSLs?

Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, should MSLs continue to utilize virtual technology to engage with you?

Which, if any, of the following communication tools do you prefer to communicate with Medical Science Liaisons during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Demographics – Specialty

Report Results and Infographic

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

Does your company have a clear definition of an Emerging KOL or “rising star”?

At your company, how are Emerging KOLs or “rising stars” primarily identified?

Which of the following is the main criterion that you use to identify Emerging KOLs or “rising stars”?

What is the number one reason to disqualify an individual as an Emerging KOL or “rising star”?

How important is the digital presence of an Emerging KOL or “rising star”?

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

Does your company have an established process for KOL engagement planning?

At your company, do those in Medical Affairs and Commercial roles utilize the same platform or different platforms to document and track interactions with HCPs and KOLs?

Do you create an engagement plan for each KOL on your list?

What is the primary benefit for creating an annual KOL engagement plan?

How effective is the collaboration between Medical Affairs and Commercial at your company?

When considering global KOLs, do you have visibility/access to all their interactions with your company?

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

Do you know the difference between traditional KOLs and Digital Opinion Leaders (DOLs)?

Are you currently using social media data for any scientific engagement?

What is your main reason for engaging Digital Opinion Leaders (DOLs)?

Does your company provide a tool to specifically track Digital Opinion Leaders (DOLs)?

What percentage of your KOL list are Digital Opinion Leaders (DOLs)?

Does your organization have a specific strategy for engaging with Digital Opinion Leaders (DOLs)?

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

How important is social media to your organization’s strategy for engaging opinion leaders?

Does your organization identify and engage with Digital Opinion Leaders (DOLs)?

Does your organization have a clear definition of the Digital Opinion Leaders they want to engage with?

Does your organization have a process for identifying Digital Opinion Leaders (DOLs)?

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

Do you think utilization of virtual KOL engagements will become standard after the COVID-19 pandemic?

If virtual KOL engagements become more prevalent and / or standard after the COVID-19 pandemic ends, will this have a positive or negative impact on the MSL / KOL relationship?

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, do you think the responsibilities and job description of the MSL role will change?

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

As an MSL or MSL Leader, what resource do you primarily utilize for professional development?

How much time per month, if any, do you devote to developing MSL skills?

Do you have an individual professional (skills) development plan?

How often in your professional development (skills) plan assessed throughout the year?

Do you think virtual KOL interactions will increase, decrease, or stay the same BEYOND the COVID-19 pandemic?

What percentage of interactions with KOLs will be virtual BEYOND the COVID-19 pandemic?

From the perspective of KOLs, how has the value of MSLs changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?

How has your company’s perception of the value of MSLs changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Have KOLs become more receptive to engaging virtually as the COVID-19 pandemic has continued?

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, have you ever conducted a virtual engagement with a KOL?

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

Should there be industry recognized standards for the MSL profession determined by a large group of independent MSL leaders?

Should MSLs be expected to pass an independent examination which evaluates their knowledge, skills, and competencies based upon a predetermined standardized criteria for the MSL profession?

As an MSL Manager, would you give preference to an applicant (MSL) that held the MSL-BC® Credential?

Do you think the MSL-BC® is valuable to the MSL profession? (Global only)

Do you think the MSL-BC® will have a positive impact on the MSL profession? (Global only)

Do you think there should be a hiring preference given to those that have earned the MSL-BC® Credential? (Global only)

Do you think earning the MSL-BC® Credential could possibly benefit your career? (Global only)

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

How receptive are KOLs and/or other healthcare providers to virtual interactions via WebEx or Skype or other virtual platforms?

When you have a virtual engagement with a KOL or other healthcare providers, how long do they typically last?

On average, how many virtual KOL engagements do you have per week, as a result of COVID-19?

What alternative activities and projects are/should MSLs be focusing on as a result of travel restrictions/bans and reduced KOL engagements?

Do you think there will be any permanent long-term impact or changes to the MSL profession as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?

As a result of COVID-19, are you worried about your job security?

Has the information you received regarding the impact of COVID-19 on your company, been timely, transparent, and clear?

Global & USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

As a result of COVID-19 and reduced KOL engagements, SHOULD new KPIs and metrics be introduced to reflect this new environment?

Do you think there are potential positive impacts on the MSL profession as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Would you like additional training on how to effectively conduct virtual KOL engagements?

Global Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

Does your company have a clearly defined process for analyzing insights gathered from KOLs?

Do you have influence/input on which KOLs are on your list?

Does your KOL list align with the medical strategy for your product?

Does participating in a Journal Club strengthen your ability to have value added conversations with KOLs?

Global Results

What is your current role?

In which country do you work?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

What Therapeutic Area best describes your responsibility?

How many MSLs are there on your immediate team (within the same TA, supporting the same product/indication, including yourself, if appropriate)?

How many MSLs do you directly manage (only include MSLs on your team that report directly to you)?

Has all interviewing/hiring for all vacant MSL positions on your team been temporarily halted as a result of COVID-19?

Has COVID-19 specifically reduced INTERVIEWING for vacant MSL positions?

Has COVID-19 specifically reduced HIRING new MSLs for your team?

Are MSLs at your company utilizing virtual meetings to lead ROUNDTABLE discussions with KOLs and other healthcare providers?

Are MSLs at your company utilizing virtual meetings to lead Advisory Boards with KOLs and other healthcare providers?

How receptive are KOLs and/or other healthcare providers to virtual interactions via WebEx or Skype or other virtual platforms?

Does your company allow MSLs to share/project a journal article etc. via virtual meeting platforms such as WebEx, Zoom, etc., if appropriate for the meeting?

What virtual technologies are your organization using for communicating and/or engaging with KOLs and/or other healthcare providers?

Overall, what percentage of KOL engagement or access (phone, virtual, in-person) has been REDUCED as a result of COVID-19?

WHEN you have a virtual engagement with a KOL or other healthcare providers, how long do they typically last?

On average, how many virtual KOL engagements do you have per week, as a result of COVID-19?

As a result of COVID-19, are you getting less time, on average, during a virtual KOL engagement versus your typical in-person meetings?

Has the MSL team been provided adequate and specific training to effectively conduct virtual KOL engagement meetings and interactions?

Have all or some KPIs and metrics been paused as a result of COVID-19?

Have any new KPIs and metrics been introduced as a result of COVID-19?

What alternative activities and projects are/should MSLs be focusing on as a result of travel restrictions/bans and reduced KOL engagements?

Select the THREE (3) alternative activities/ projects you spend the most time on as a result of travel restrictions/bans and reduced KOL engagements?

Do you think there will be any permanent long-term impact or changes to the MSL profession as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?

As a result of COVID-19, are you worried about your job security?

Has the information you received regarding the impact of COVID-19 on your company, been timely, transparent, and clear?

What tactics have worked for you to obtain virtual engagements with a KOL or other healthcare providers?

As a result of COVID-19 and the evolving business environment, what are you doing to demonstrate value to the company and/or your team?

How have MSLs found additional ways/opportunities to support KOLs and/or other healthcare providers?

As a result of COVID-19, and the need for virtual engagements with a KOL, are there additional training topics that would be beneficial?

What do you think will be the long-term impact or changes to the MSL profession as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Global, USA & Spain Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Are you using a database provided by an external vendor to identify KOLs?

How important is the digital footprint of a KOL?

How important are Emerging KOLs or “rising stars” for you compared to top KOLs?

What is the MOST IMPORTANT reason that you or your company work with or plan to work with Emerging KOLs or “rising stars”?

Which of the following is the MOST CHALLENGING aspect regarding key opinion leader (KOL) engagement that you or your MSL team is facing?

What experts are the most difficult for you to identify?

How do you collaborate internally on selecting KOLs?

Global & USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

Does your MSL Team utilize a Journal Club to critically evaluate articles?

How frequently does your team conduct Journal Club meetings?

Global & USA Results

What is your current role?

How many non-people management employment levels are available within the MSL function (or equivalent) at your organization such as Sr. MSL, Level 1 etc.?

In which country do you work?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

What is your highest academic background?

What Therapeutic Area best describes your responsibility?

What is your gender?

How many MSLs do you directly manage (only include MSLs on your team that report directly to you)?

Do you utilize the MSL Society’s Global MSL Salary & Compensation Survey as your primary salary benchmark data?

What is your current annual base salary?

Did you negotiate the most recent base salary you were offered (even if it was a merit increase for the same company/role)?

As a result of negotiating, what was the percentage increase you received in your final base salary offer?

If you received a SIGN-ON bonus as part of your new hire compensation, what was the amount of the bonus?

Have you had a base salary increase in the past 12 months? If yes, please select the closest percentage (%) range to your actual salary increase.

If you received a (year-end, quarterly, semi-annual etc.) bonus, what was the total amount paid in the last 12 months?

Please indicate as a percentage of your base salary, the maximum bonus you are eligible for annually (not the actual bonus you received).

As part of your compensation package, during the last 12 months, did you receive any company stock or stock options?

Indicate the value of stock options you received during the last 12 months as part of your compensation

Which of the following benefits do you receive as part of your overall compensation? 

Which of the following are benefits that you currently DO NOT receive as part of your overall compensation but would like to receive? 

As part of your compensation, how many Paid Time Off (holiday or vacation time) days do you receive each year? 

USA Results

Global Results

Australia Results

Brazil Results

Canada Results

France Results

Germany Results

India Results

Italy Results

Mexico Results

Netherlands Results

Portugal Results

Spain Results

Switzerland Results

Turkey Results

UK Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL Management experience do you have?

What is the most common way you learn about a KOL’s new piece of work (new publication, new Clinical Trials etc.)?

When there is new information available (new publication, new Clinical Trials etc.) from a KOL, do you share it with your MSL colleagues and HQ Medical Affairs team?

Identify the primary way your company identified KOLs in your therapeutic area.

What activity most often triggers a conversation with your Key Opinion Leaders?

For which of the following activities do you spend most of your time?

Global and U.S. Results

Quick reference to 240 of Most Common MSL Related Acronyms and Terms

Global Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL management experience do you have?

In your experience, how long does it typically take for a newly hired MSL (an individual without prior MSL experience) to learn/fully understand the MSL role and be an effective MSL?

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/ MSL Management experience do you have?

If your company allows MSLs to engage with KOLs remotely, which of the technology platforms is most commonly utilized?

Does the technology platform, used by MSLs to engage with KOLs remotely, have the ability for KOLs to initiate remote interactions for MSL?

Does your company utilize a technology platform such as a CRM that was created specifically for the needs of MSLs?

Does the technology platform (ie CRM) utilized by MSLs have the capability to access data offline / without an internet connection?

Global Results

What is your current role?

How many non-people management employment levels are available within the MSL function (or equivalent) at your organization such as Sr. MSL, Level 1 etc.?

In which country do you work?

How would you classify your company?

There are numerous alternative titles for “Medical Science Liaison”. What term does your organization use?

What term do you think should be used?

How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

What is your highest academic background?

What Therapeutic Area best describes your responsibility? (You may select more than one if appropriate.)

What is your gender?

How many MSLs do you directly manage (only include MSLs on your team that report directly to you)?

Do you utilize the MSL Society’s Global MSL Salary & Compensation Survey as your primary salary benchmark data?

What is your current annual base salary?

As a result of negotiating, what was the percentage increase you received in your final base salary offer?

If you received a SIGN-ON bonus as part of your new hire compensation, what was the amount of the bonus?

Have you had a base salary increase in the past 12 months? If yes, please select the closest percentage (%) range to your actual salary increase.

If you received a (year-end, quarterly, semi-annual etc.) bonus, what was the total amount paid in the last 12 months?

Please indicate as a percentage of your base salary, the maximum bonus you are eligible for annually (not the actual bonus you received).

As part of your compensation package, during the last 12 months, did you receive any company stock or stock options?

Indicate the value of stock options you received during the last 12 months as part of your compensation

Which of the following benefits do you receive as part of your overall compensation? 

Which of the following are benefits that you currently DO NOT receive as part of your overall compensation but would like to receive? 

As part of your compensation, how many Paid Time Off (holiday or vacation time) days do you receive each year? 

USA Results

UK Results

Spain Results

Portugal Results

France Results

Germany Results

Canada Results

Australia Results

India Results

Switzerland

Singapore

Brazil Results

Italy Results

Mexico Results

Global Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many KOLs do you maintain a relationship with? 

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL Management experience do you have?

What device do you primarily use when researching a KOL’s background?

Of the following, which is the MOST important resource when preparing to meet a KOL for the FIRST TIME?

Global Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL Management experience do you have?

What term does your organization use to describe clinical studies initiated and managed by KOLs, physicians, individual investigators, etc.?

What term do you think should be used?

Global and USA Results

 What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL Management experience do you have?

As an MSL, which of the following is THE MOST challenging aspect when engaging with KOLs?

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL Management experience do you have?

How confident are you that you are always using the latest version of company approved materials when engaging with KOLs?

Which hardware do you prefer to use during face-to-face engagements with KOLs:

How many total slides are in the approved PowerPoint deck for the product you support which your company provides for formal presentations and/or face-to-face meetings with KOLs?

How would you describe your ability to quickly find and share company approved materials (PowerPoint slides, etc.) with KOLs when needed?

How would you rate the different software solutions provided to you by your company (CRM, tablet, software, etc.)?

Global and USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many MSLs are there on your immediate team (within the same TA, supporting the same product/indication, counting yourself if appropriate)?

Does your company provide you an approved PowerPoint slide deck(s) for formal presentations and/or face-to-face meetings with KOLs?

Via which channel do you typically receive company approved PowerPoint slide deck(s)?

Is it difficult to keep track of the latest/most up to date version of the company provided PowerPoint slide deck(s)?

How many PowerPoint Presentations do you present to KOLs in a typical week?

For a typical visit with a KOL, how long does it take you to reorganize/adapt the company provided PowerPoint Slide deck(s) for your presentation?

For a typical interaction with a KOL, I tend to use:

Global and USA Results

Is there a Gender Pay Gap Among U.S. MSLs or MSL Managers?

Is there a Gender Pay Gap Among U.S. MSLs?

Did you negotiate the most recent base salary you were offered?

Is there a Gender Pay Gap Among U.S. MSL Managers?

USA Results

What is your current role?

How would you classify your company?

How many years of MSL/MSL Management experience do you have?

Typically, how well do your company resources prepare (in terms of profile information) you for engaging with a KOL for the first time?

Typically, how much time do you spend conducting external research (i.e. not company resources) utilizing internet searches of a KOL’s profile and background prior to meeting in person for the first time?

What is THE MOST important detail to know about a KOLs’ profile and background prior to meeting them for the first time?

What is the 2nd MOST important detail to know about a KOLs’ profile and background prior to meeting them for the first time?

Global and USA Results

What term does your company use when referring to the physicians and other health care providers whose opinions are highly regarded and influence other physicians (i.e. sometimes referred to as KOL)?

What term do you think should be used?

Do you think “Key Opinion Leader (KOL)” is the best Term for describing these individuals?

Should the healthcare industry (Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Medical Device, Diagnostic, CRO etc.) use a single universal term for describing these individuals?

Global and USA Results 

MSL Excellence Study

Participant Demographics – What is your current role?

Participant Demographics – How many non-people management employment levels are available within the MSL function (or equivalent) at your organization such as Sr. MSL, Level 1 etc.?

Participant Demographics – In which country do you work?

Participant Demographics – How would you classify your company?

Participant Demographics – How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

Participant Demographics – What is your highest academic background?

Participant Demographics – What Therapeutic Area best describes your responsibility? (You may select more than one if appropriate.)

Participant Demographics – What is your gender?

What is your current annual base salary?

Did you negotiate the most recent base salary you were offered (even if it was a merit increase for the same company/role)?

As a result of negotiating, what was the percentage increase you received in your final base salary offer?

If you received a SIGN-ON bonus as part of your new hire compensation, what was the amount of the bonus?

Have you had a base salary increase in the past 12 months? If yes, please select the closest percentage (%) range to your actual salary increase.

If you received a (year-end, quarterly, semi-annual etc.) bonus, what was the total amount paid in the last 12 months?

Please indicate as a percentage of your base salary, the maximum bonus you are eligible for annually.

As part of your compensation package, during the last 12 months, did you receive any company stock or stock options?

Indicate the value of stock options you received during the last 12 months as part of your compensation

Which of the following benefits do you receive as part of your overall compensation?

Which of the following are benefits that you currently DO NOT receive as part of your overall compensation but would like to receive?

As part of your compensation, how many Paid Time Off (holiday or vacation time) days do you receive each year?

USA Results

UK Results

Spain Results

Portugal Results

France Results

Germany Results

Canada Results

Australia Results

India Results

Netherlands Results

Turkey Results

Taiwan Results

Brazil Results

Italy Results

Mexico Results

Global Results

Is there a Gender Pay Gap Among U.S. MSLs or MSL Managers?

2016 MSL Salary Survey: Gender Pay Gap

Participant Demographics – Are you currently a Medical Science Liaison or do you manage MSLs?

Participant Demographics – What is your current role?

Participant Demographics – How many non-people management employment levels are available within the MSL function (or equivalent) at your organization such as Sr. MSL, Level 1 etc.?

Participant Demographics – In which country do you work?

Participant Demographics – How would you classify your company?

Participant Demographics – How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

Participant Demographics – What is your highest academic background?

Participant Demographics – What Therapeutic Area best describes your responsibility? (You may select more than one if appropriate.)

Participant Demographics – What is your gender?

 What is your current annual base salary range?

Have you had a base salary increase in the past 12 months? If yes, please select the closest percentage (%) range to your actual salary increase.

If you received a bonus, what was the amount paid in the last 12 months? (If part

-time or in the role for less than 12 months, please select the equivalent of a yearly bonus.)

Please indicate as a percentage of your base salary, the maximum bonus you are eligible for annually.

As part of your compensation package, during the last 12 months, did you receive any company stock or stock options?

Which of the following benefits do you receive as part of your overall compensation? (Select all that apply)

Which of the following are benefits that you currently DO NOT receive as part of your overall compensation but would like to receive? (Select all that apply)

USA Results

Canada Results

France Results

Germany Results

Australia Results

Italy Results

Portugal Results

Spain Results

Switzerland Results

UK Results

Brazil Results

Global Results

Participant Demographics – Are you currently a Medical Science Liaison (or equivalent title) or do you manage MSLs?

Participant Demographics – What is your current role?

Participant Demographics – How long have you been in your current role?

Participant Demographics – In which country do you work?

Participant Demographics – How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

Participant Demographics – How would you classify your company?

Participant Demographics – What is your highest academic background?

Participant Demographics – What Therapeutic Area best describes your responsibility? (You may select more than one if appropriate.

Participant Demographics – How many MSLs are there on your immediate team (within the same TA, supporting the same product/indication, counting yourself if appropriate)?

Participant Demographics – Is your MSL team or the MSL function new (less than 1 year) to your company, product or TA?

Does your company have a formal MSL onboarding program?

Is the program as comprehensive as it should be?

What are the primary reasons a formal onboarding program is not offered?

What are the primary reasons the onboarding program is not as comprehensive as it should be?

How has the onboarding training budget changed over the past five years?

Did YOU receive any type of formal onboarding training?

Did your initial or onboarding training primarily consist of being given a set of reprints, journal articles or other materials related to the product or disease state for self-study?

What other types of training materials did YOU use?

What type of training method(s) did YOU utilize?

Which training method(s) do you prefer?

Which type of technology was utilized for your onboarding training program?

Which type of technology do you prefer to use for training?

What topics were covered during your initial or onboarding training?

Which topics are most important to cover for newly hired MSLs? Please rank at least the top 3

Were you required to take any assessments or exams to evaluate your knowledge on any part of your initial onboarding training?

Which topic(s) were you required to take any assessment(s) or exam(s) to evaluate your knowledge?

How should the effectiveness of training programs be evaluated?

Who primarily conducted your initial onboarding training?

How long did your initial formal MSL onboarding training last?

In general, what is the total duration of the initial onboarding training program for newly hired MSLs

How satisfied are you overall with your initial onboarding training program?

How satisfied are you with each of the following aspects of your training?

• The initial (onboarding) training about disease state, therapeutic area, and/or product that the company provided to you?
• The ongoing internal training this company has provided to you?
• The initial (onboarding) training related to the MSL role, the company, compliance, and other business related issues that the company provided to you?
• Funding for ongoing external training and seminars to help with your career development?

How effectively did your initial onboard training prepare you for the role?

How effectively did your initial onboard training prepare you to engage with KOLs and other healthcare providers?

Is progress tracked or monitored during the onboarding training program to ensure the training took place as designed?

Is formal feedback (e.g. surveys) collected from new hires regarding the effectiveness of the training program for the purpose of evaluating and revising the onboarding program?

Does your company have a formal ongoing MSL training program?

How often should MSLs participate in ongoing training?

Have you ever completed formal MSL / KOL interaction or engagement skills training?

Do you think it would be valuable if the company were to offer formal MSL / KOL interaction or engagement skills training?

As part of your initial onboarding training, did you receive specific training on compliance including on-label vs off-label discussions as an MSL?

Were you required to take any assessments/exams to evaluate your knowledge of the compliance training?

Is ongoing compliance training including on-label vs off-label discussions available from your company?

Are you able to define off-label promotion?

Do you have a clear understanding of the difference between “scientific exchange” of information and illegal promotion?

Are there specific compliance policies (ex. Standard Operating Procedures) in place specifically for on-label vs off-label discussions at your company?

Do you have a clear understanding what you can and can not proactively or reactively speak about to KOLs and other healthcare providers?

As part of your initial onboarding training, did you receive specific training on how to legally and properly use re-prints when in discussions with KOLs and other healthcare providers?

USA MSL Results

USA MSL Manager Results

Overall Results

Global MSL Results

Global MSL Manager Results

Participant Demographics – Gender and Role

Participant Demographics – Years of Experience

Participant Demographics – Company Type

Participant Demographics – Education

Participant Demographics –MSL levels (Sr. MSL, Level 1 etc.) at company

Participant Demographics – Therapeutic Areas

What is your gender?

What is your highest academic background?

How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

How would you classify your company?

What Therapeutic Area best describes your responsibility?

Did you negotiate the most recent base salary you were offered (even if it was a merit increase for the same company/role)?

As a result of negotiating, what was the percentage increase you received in your final base salary offer?

If you received a SIGN-ON bonus as part of your new hire compensation, what was the amount of the bonus?

Have you had a base salary increase in the past 12 months?

If you received a bonus, what was the total amount paid in the last 12 months?

As part of your compensation package, during the last 12 months, did you receive any company stock or stock options?

As part of your compensation, how many Paid Time Off (holiday or vacation time) days do you receive each year?

Which of the following benefits do you receive as part of your overall compensation?

Which of the following are benefits that you currently DO NOT receive as part of your overall compensation but would like to receive?

USA Results

UK Results

Spain Results

Italy Results

Germany Results

France Results

Canada Results

Brazil Results

Australia Results

Global Results

Are you currently a Medical Science Liaison (or equivalent title) or do you manage MSLs?

Overall, how satisfied are you with your current employer?

How likely are you to recommend working here to a colleague or a friend?

How long have you been with your current employer?

How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

In which functional area do you report?

What company do you work for?

Overall, how satisfied are you with your current job?

How satisfied are you with the information you receive from management on what is going on with your team or within your department?

How important is your role to the success of the company?

Do you feel the travel expectations for your role are…?

Do you feel the number of relationships that you are expected to manage with KOLs, Thought Leaders, and Physicians are…?

How much do you trust what your manager is telling you?

How satisfied are you with the company culture?

How satisfied are you with each of the following aspects of your professional development?

Do you understand what is expected for your career advancement at your company?

Is there a formal MSL career growth plan in place within your company (e.g., MSL to Sr. MSL, MSL 1 to MSL 2)?

Is there a formal MSL career growth plan in place within your company (e.g., MSL to Sr. MSL, MSL 1 to MSL 2)?

How well do you understand how your performance is measured?

How satisfied are you with each of the following aspects of your salary and benefits?

Are you proud to work for this company?

Do you feel your job provides you with a sense of meaning and purpose?

Do you look forward to going to work?

Do you feel this company has created an environment where you can perform your best?

How much of a difference do you feel your job makes in the lives of patients?

How likely are you to continue your career with this company for at least two more years?

Why might you consider a career or company change?

USA Results

Full Report

Global Results

Europe Results

Asia Results

Participant Demographics – Are you currently a Medical Science Liaison (or equivalent title) or do you manage MSLs?

Participant Demographics – What is your current role?

Participant Demographics – In what country do you work?

Participant Demographics – How would you classify your company?

Participant Demographics – How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

Participant Demographics – What is your highest academic background?

Participant Demographics – What Therapeutic Area best describes your responsibility? (Select all that apply.)

Participant Demographics – What is your gender?

How many drugs and/or devices do you or your MSL team support?

In what stage is the drug that you or your MSL team spend most of the time supporting?

How would you explain to senior management the value that you produce for your organization?

How satisfied are you with how MSL performance is measured in your organization? Why?

Which quantitative metrics ARE used in evaluating the MSLs within your organization?

Which quantitative metrics SHOULD BE used to clearly demonstrate the value that MSLs

provide to the organization?

What qualitative measures ARE used for evaluating the MSLs within your organization?

Which qualitative measures SHOULD BE used to clearly demonstrate the value that MSLs provide to the organization?

On average, how many times do you interact with KOLs and other physicians via each of the following channels in a typical quarter? (Face-to-face, Telephone, Email, Other)  

On average, what percentage of time do you spend on interacting with KOLs and other physicians via each of the following channels in a typical quarter? (Face-to-face, Telephone, Email, Other)  

On average, what percentage of your time is spent in proactive versus reactive

engagement with the KOLs you engage with?

How often do MSLs in your team communicate formally within the team/department (e.g., team meetings, department meetings) regarding field activities?

How often do MSLs in your team communicate formally with commercial or brand teams (e.g., inter-departmental meetings) regarding field activities?

How often are your MSL team meetings held in each of the following formats? [Virtual face to face meeting using online video (e.g. Facetime, Skype), Live in person face to face meetings, WebEx or teleconference meetings)

How often does your organization conduct performance reviews for MSLs on your team (i.e., evaluation of each individual MSL)?

What time period is most typically used for tracking KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)?

What are the challenges you see of measuring the value of the MSL role?

USA Results

Full Report

Global Results

Europe Results

Asia-Pac Results

Are KOLs becoming less accessible to MSLs?

How can MSLs compete more effectively?

What does an Excellent Communicator do exactly?

Full Report

Participant Demographics – Gender and Role

Participant Demographics – Years of Experience

Participant Demographics – Company Type

Participant Demographics – Education

Participant Demographics –MSL levels (Sr. MSL, Level 1 etc.) at company

Participant Demographics – Therapeutic Areas

What is your gender?

What is your highest academic background?

How many years of MSL and/or MSL management experience do you have?

How would you classify your company?

What Therapeutic Area best describes your responsibility?

Did you negotiate the most recent base salary you were offered (even if it was a merit increase for the same company/role)?

As a result of negotiating, what was the percentage increase you received in your final base salary offer?

If you received a SIGN-ON bonus as part of your new hire compensation, what was the amount of the bonus?

Have you had a base salary increase in the past 12 months?

If you received a bonus, what was the total amount paid in the last 12 months?

As part of your compensation package, during the last 12 months, did you receive any company stock or stock options?

As part of your compensation, how many Paid Time Off (holiday or vacation time) days do you receive each year?

Which of the following benefits do you receive as part of your overall compensation?

Which of the following are benefits that you currently DO NOT receive as part of your overall compensation but would like to receive?

Full Combined Global Results (6 separate regions)

MSLs play growing role in patient care

Trends in Tablet Computer Use Among MSLs

The Sunshine Act

The Critical Role of the MSL in KOL Relationship

Testing times for Medical Science Liaison Compensation

Is it Time for a Globally-recognized MSL Certification

Does the Digital Footprint Match the KOLs Real

Medical Affairs – The Role of MSL