
Live Training

eLearning Program

Continuous Growth

Preparing for the MSL-BC Exam?


WHY ONBOARDING TRAINING?
72% of MSLs around the globe reported that their initial onboarding training only consists of a set of journal articles about the product or disease for at-home self study.
Our comprehensive program changes this and is designed to help any new hire onboard regardless of the number of years of prior MSL experience.
What is included?

Part 1
LIVE
TRAINING
5-day live onboarding training with experienced facilitators

Part 2
eLEARNING
PROGRAM

Part 3
CONTINUOUS GROWTH
Who is this program for?
- Recently hired MSLs
- Experienced MSLs (and teams) interested in foundational training
- New MSLs/Medical Affairs professionals
- MSLs preparing for the MSL-BC exam*
*MSL-BC Exam Preparation
The Medical Affairs Foundation eLearning Training Program is ideal for those who wish to prepare for the MSL-BC exam. This training is not a requirement, however it does provide an ideal foundation to ensure you are property equipped for the exam no matter your previous experience or background.

What is the MSL-BC?

Part 1
LIVE
TRAINING
Live MSL & Medical Affairs Onboarding Training
Learn more about the 11 essential topics and learning outcomes to expect from the 5-day live onboarding training program.
MSL 101
- Understand the MSL role and expectations
- Learn how the MSL role integrates with other key functions
- Receive practical advice for beginning a new MSL role
- How to organize for success in a new MSL role
- Exercise: steps when onboarding in new MSL role
MSL Competencies
- Understand the broad array of MSL capabilities needed for success
- Learn how the competency expectations change from entry levels through senior MSL levels
- Understand how competencies can be leveraged from interviews through performance management, development, and beyond
- Exercise to assess current competencies and identify areas for further development
A Practical Approach to MSL Activities and Compliance / Guidelines
- Learn about laws that affect the MSL role
- How can MSLs remain compliant when working in the field
- What MSL activity guidelines are most useful to know and use
- What recent changes in Pharma Code are now in effect
- Understand how to draw appropriate lines with commercial team members
- Use scenarios for small group discussion to identify compliance issues and resolutions
MSL Regional Territory Management & Plans
Learning Objectives:
- Understand key entities for interactions across the MSL region
- Learn how to apply a quadrant approach to MSL region travel
- Manage energy while traveling and prioritizing activities
- Coordinate MSL efforts with Medical Strategies
- Worksheet exercise for KOL engagement planning before a meeting
- Strategic planning exercise on insights gathering during meetings
- How to show value and impact in the MSL region
Personal Branding
Learning Objectives:
- Define a personal brand and why it is important
- Learn what elements make up your personal brand
- Understand how to leverage key techniques for higher impact meetings
- Exercise to practice communication techniques
- Exercise to define the MSL personal brand for individuals
Conference Planning
Learning Objectives:
- Understand how to develop a strategy to increase the direct educational and business value of informational insights obtained and communicated from a medical or scientific conference.
- Comprehensive topics related to Scientific Conference Planning, Attendance, and Reporting will be covered
- Planning and Attendance
- Capturing Information and unpublished Insights
- Communicating and Reporting Conference Insights
Effective Virtual KOL Engagement
- Engaging with KOLs virtually
- Researching KOLs before a virtual engagement
- Creating value-based agendas
- Convincing KOLs to meet virtually
- Preparing for a virtual engagement
- During a virtual engagement
- After a virtual engagement
- Zoom fatigue
30-60-90 day - 6 month - 1 year plan
Learning Objectives:
- Document goals and strategies within the first year
- Maximize your activities and productivity
- Understand how to divide your activities into segments that target specific objectives
- Plan of action with timelines to achieve target tasks
- Set achievable goals that deliver and demonstrates value to your company
- Outline of specific learning goals and milestones
- Helps leadership understand your achievements
- Understand how to more effectively add value to your company AND KOLs
Effectively Identifying, Gathering & Communicating Actionable Insights
Learning Objectives:
- The difference between goals, strategy, and tactics
- Why understanding medical strategy drives insights gathering
- The definition of an insight
- Why insights are important
- Categories of insights
- The key components of actionable insights
- How to identify insights
- The difference between what a KOL said and an insight
- Best practices for communicating insights internally
- The key components of actionable insights
- How to compose actionable insights
- Challenges around analyzing and reporting insights
KOL Relationship Development, Communication, & Maximizing Performance
- Effective KOL Interactions
- How to add value to KOLs
- Communication Skills
- Insight Gathering Skills
- Making complex slides simpler to understand
- Dealing with difficult stakeholders more confidently
- Objection Handling Skills
- Building Long Term Relationships
- KOL Pre-Visit Planning
- What does being prepared look like
- How to prepare
- Developing a strategy
- Objection Handling Skills
- KOL Visit
- How to approach
- Difficult vs demanding KOLs
- How to build credibility
- The importance of Communication Skills
- KOL Post-Visit Planning
- Model and tool on how to capture insights
- Next Steps
- Summary
How to Critically Evaluate a Research Paper
Learning Objectives:
- Types of scientific literature
- Structure of scientific papers
- Clinical trial design
- Evaluating study results
- Assessing the value of a scientific paper
- Comparing clinical trials
Meet Some of Our
Experienced Facilitators
The program is facilitated by multiple current MSL managers and Medical Affairs leaders. See some of our past and current facilitators below!

Samuel Dyer, PhD
CEO and Chairman


Cherie Hyder, PharmD, MSL-BC
Senior Director Global Medical Excellence & Operations


Larry Dollar, PharmD, MS, MSL-BC
Vice President, Medical Affairs


Linda Traylor, PhD, MSL-BC
VP, Head of Medical Excellence


Maria Abunto, MD, MPH
2021 MSL of the Year USA
Regional MSL Lead


Sarah Rodriguez, PharmD, BCPS
2020 MSL of the Year USA
Executive MSL


Part 2
eLEARNING TRAINING
Comprehensive Medical Affairs Foundation eLearning Program
As part of the Onboarding Training Program, you will get 1 year access to the
“Medical Affairs Foundation eLearning Training Program”

DURATION
AVAILABILITY
Available for 1 year
ASSESSMENT
Final assessment at the end of each course
1. Overview of the Pharmaceutical Industry
- Define and describe the pharmaceutical industry
- Summarize the steps involved in drug discovery and development
- Outline the challenges facing the pharmaceutical industry
2. Understanding Clinical Reprints
- Discuss issues related to clinical trial reporting and publication
- List the purposes and typical content of a clinical reprint’s Title, list of Authors, Abstract, and Introduction section
- Discuss important aspects of study population and study design that are presented in the Methods section of a clinical reprint
- Define primary and secondary study endpoints
- Discuss statistical analyses used to evaluate study endpoints
- Describe the types of efficacy and safety findings typically presented in the Results section of a clinical reprint
- List the purposes and typical content of the Discussion and Conclusion sections of a clinical reprint
3. Drug Development
- Identify the main approaches to drug discovery
- Explain the role of preclinical studies in drug development and describe procedures involved
- Outline the role of clinical trials in drug development
- Discuss challenges, strategy and trends in drug development
4. Drug Discovery
- Define a drug and describe five possible drug functions
- Understand the differences between a small molecule and large molecule drug
- Explain eight processes used in drug discovery
- Describe the role of biotechnology in the pharmaceutical industry
5. Pharmaceutical Research and Development
This learning program focuses on the Pharmaceutical Research & Development process. Throughout this program, you will learn about the pharmaceutical industry, the drug discovery and development processes, and challenges surrounding research and development in the industry. The program begins with an overview of the organization and management of research and development (R&D) and continues with an in-depth look at the issue of competition among pharmaceutical companies. You will also learn about the various external interactions that pharmaceutical companies have with other organizations and individuals. After completing this program, you will be able to:
- Summarize important organization and management issues involved in R&D
- Explain the types of competition among pharmaceutical companies and its effects
- Understand the government regulations that guide drug discovery and development
- Describe the internal and external interactions that are important to pharmaceutical companies
6. Clinical Trials
- Describe the purpose of clinical trials
- Discuss the criteria for selection of subjects
- Specify major parameters of trials, such as phase, endpoints, and controls
- Describe means of eliminating bias
- Describe the design of clinical trials
- Identify documentation required for a trial
- Apply for authorization to conduct clinical trials
- Understand the importance of Good Clinical Practice
- Outline the roles of the sponsor’s staff and investigational site personnel; and
- Discuss data analysis and the reporting and interpretation of results
7. Medical Terminology
- Describe the origins of medical terminology
- List the 3 main word elements used in medical terminology
- Identify anatomy terms and their key elements
- Identify location and direction terms
- Identify pathology terms and their key elements
- Identify diagnosis terms and their key elements
- Identify therapy terms and their key elements
8. MSL Role and Activity Guidelines
- Articulate the operations and activities of Medical Science Liaisons
- Know the typical activities and responsibilities of MSLs and the established standards of the profession
- Foster ethical relationships with KOLs
- Facilitate the exchange of valid, unbiased, fair, and balanced scientific information within the context of a medical product or device and the therapeutic area that the MSL supports.
9. Defining a Drug and Its Classification
This learning program aims to introduce you in detail to drugs – their function, composition, and characteristics, and the implications of those characteristics for sales, marketing, and promotion. After completing this program, you will be able to:
- Define what a ‘drug’ is
- Outline mechanisms of action
- Describe components of a drug product
- Specify routes of administration and their effects on bioavailability
- Identify studies of the interaction of drug and body
- Describe various ways in which drugs are characterized
- Outline implications of drug characteristics for sales, marketing, and promotion
10. Pharmacokinetics
- Define pharmacokinetics
- Recall the basic concepts in pharmacokinetics
- Identify the key factors underlying the process of drug absorption
- Describe the factors affecting distribution of drugs in the body
- Identify the mechanisms and consequences of drug metabolism
- Recall the mechanisms and measurement of drug excretion
11. Pharmacodynamics
- List the major types of drug receptors
- Identify the types of effects drugs can exert on receptors
- Recall the measurements used to quantify the dose-response relationship
- Understand the measurements used to quantify drug affinity
- Define the therapeutic window and therapeutic index
- Identify the pharmacodynamic factors that can introduce variability to drug response
12. Prescribing Information (PI)
This learning program aims to introduce you to the Prescribing Information, also known as package insert, drug labeling, drug product insert, professional labeling, the label or simply PI. It provides detailed drug information assembled by the drug manufacturer, which is distributed by a particular company after review and approval by a regulatory authority (for example, the FDA in the U.S.). Although medical devices also have labels, the focus of this program is on the Prescribing Information for prescription drugs.
After completing this program, you will be able to:
- Explain the purpose of the Prescribing Information
- Identify various ways in which information on medicines is provided to healthcare providers and patients
- Outline the required sections of the Prescribing Information in the U.S.
- Describe important contents of the Prescribing Information in the U.S.
- Outline the sections of the summary of product characteristics in Europe
- Discuss international differences in drug labeling
- Understand how to access prescribing information online
13. Overview of the Medical Device Industry
This learning program focuses on the Medical Device industry, which develops and manufactures a vast range of non-medicinal products used in the treatment and diagnosis of illness. This particular course will first define medical devices and give examples, followed by an outline on how medical devices are regulated, and finally describe commercial characteristics of the industry.
After completing this program, you will be able to:
- Define medical devices and give examples
- Outline how medical devices are regulated, particularly in the U.S. and Europe
- Describe commercial characteristics of the medical device industry, such as market dominance by a small number of large players, the much larger number of small players, the making of frequent incremental changes to product design, and the influence of healthcare professionals on product design and uptake
14. Overview of Medical Affairs
This learning program introduces you to Medical Affairs, an important entity within a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or other healthcare company. It is a department that focuses on communicating accurate information to other stakeholders in the healthcare industry, which include healthcare professionals and leaders.
After completing this program, you will be able to:
- Summarize the role of Medical Affairs within a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or other healthcare company
- Outline the ways in which Medical Affairs benefits the company
- Identify typical activities of Medical Affairs
- Discuss the contributions of Medical Affairs to clinical research and development
- Discuss the contributions of Medical Affairs to health economics and outcomes research
- Describe medical education and training activities
- Describe medical communications activities
- Discuss the role of Medical Science Liaisons, especially the cultivation of relationships with Key Opinion Leaders; and
- Describe Medical Information activities
15. Introduction to Hospital Systems
This learning program is designed to introduce you to the hospital system in the United States. In this program, you will learn about the different types of U.S. hospitals and about the services they provide. The program also covers the administrative structure of a hospital.
After completing this program, you will be able to:
- Differentiate between the different types of hospitals in the U.S. system
- Describe the function of various hospital committees
- Describe the management of the hospital supply chain
- And outline the administrative structure of a hospital
16. Overview of Regulatory Affairs
This learning program gives you an overview of the Regulatory Affairs industry, which revolves around overseeing drugs, medical products, and food from their development stages up to their distribution to ensure that they meet specific standards for human use and consumption.
After completing this program, you will be able to:
- Define the regulatory affairs function, list responsibilities of regulatory affairs professionals, and outline the legal and regulatory framework within which the drug industry operates in the U.S. and the European Economic Area (EEA)
- Describe possible consequences of non-compliance with regulations
- Distinguish different categories of drugs
- Recognize the characteristics of the drug discovery stage
- Outline the main characteristics of the preclinical studies stage
- Recognize the functions of the four phases of clinical development and be aware of the regulatory requirements that apply
- Outline regulatory requirements from the onset of a drug’s development
- Describe procedures for gaining and maintaining authorization to conduct clinical trials
- Outline the principles of Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
- Describe requirements on applications for marketing approval, and the procedures to be followed, in the U.S. and EEA
- Define Orphan Drugs and identify incentives for their development
- Specify naming conventions for a new medicinal product
- Identify circumstances in which a new product may be used outside clinical trials before it receives marketing approval
- Describe how to apply for a supplement to a New Drug Application (NDA) or Biologics License Application (BLA) in the U.S.
- Explain what pharmacovigilance measures need to be taken and what would happen if these were not implemented
- Outline the function and validity of patents and market exclusivity
- Summarize key points about advertising drugs
- Describe how to apply for a variation to a marketing authorization in the EEA

Part 3
CONTINUOUS
GROWTH
Opportunities for Continued Professional Development
Part 3 of the comprehensive Onboarding Training Program ensures you get the support and resources needed to continue your growth after the live and virtual training.

1 year Professional Level Membership to the MSL Society
A Professional Level Membership gives you access to the following:
Eligibility to our dedicated mentoring program for MSLs
Access to more than 225 original research reports including benchmark reports
Member discounts for conferences, trainings, shop items, and other perks
Access to MSL Society expert webinar recordings
Access to Annual MSL Society Conference presentations
Discounted rates for Career Center
Global Networking Opportunities
Access to the Global MSL directory

1 year enrollment in the MSL Mentor Program
Each group will consist of 4 to 6 mentees paired with 2 co-mentors to provide guidance, support, professional development, and knowledge sharing
The mentors are encouraged to share their experiences, feedback, and provide insights related to career guidance and/or career advancement
Member discounts for conference, training, shop items, and other perks
This group mentoring setup approach affords opportunities for mentees not only to benefit from mentors, but also from their mentee peers
Ultimately, the mentoring group will have the opportunity to develop a community and strong peer network

Waived Fees for the MSL-BC Exam, the ONLY board certification for MSLs
The MSL-BC will be FREE within 1 year after participating in Part 1 of the MSL Onboarding Training Program. This certification is optional, and is ONLY available for those with 1 year of cumulative experience as an MSL or MSL Leader. See more about eligibility here.
Some of the Benefits of the MSL-BC:
A visible credential which validates knowledge base and competence
Personal and professional accomplishment
Recognition amongst fellow MSLs or managers
Recognition for KOLs and healthcare professionals
Demonstrates commitment to the profession
4
unique benefits
for MSL managers
4
unique benefits
for MSLs

Expedited Onboarding
Proper onboarding reduces the amount of time that managers or mentors have to dedicate in training a new hire, freeing them to focus on their own responsibilities.

Training from an IACET-Accredited Provider
The MSL Society is an IACET-accredited training provider and adheres to international training standards, ensuring the knowledge learned is of assured quality and value.

Save Company Resources
This comprehensive 3-Part training program eliminates the need to create company training materials from scratch, or to update them according to the latest developments.

Gain Foundational Knowledge
The 3-Part format ensures MSLs learn all necessary foundational knowledge and skills, from the live training with experienced facilitators, to the eLearning with assessments, up to the opportunities for growth including virtual mentoring and taking the MSL-BC.

Comprehensive Progress Tracking
As the team undergoes the same onboarding training program, MSL leaders are assured of consistent and comprehensive training which also gives them a clear system for tracking individual members’ progress. This consistency of training also lets them set clear expectations for the team.

Learn from Industry Experts
Current MSL leaders and trainers from top companies will facilitate the live training, sharing unique knowledge and best practices based on actual experience. Moreover, Parts 2 and 3 of the program were also created with the involvement of experts from the field.

Consistent Training
MSLs of the same company who will enroll in the program undergo the same essential training and learn the same foundational knowledge, skills, relevant laws, industry guidelines, and regulations concerning the profession thus allowing consistency as they onboard.

Accelerate Professional Growth
The Onboarding Training Program teaches MSLs the necessary foundational knowledge and valuable skills, making sure they are equipped and ready for the MSL role, eliminating the need to learn things for the first time.
4
unique benefits
for MSL managers

Expedited Onboarding
Proper onboarding reduces the amount of time that managers or mentors have to dedicate in training a new hire, freeing them to focus on their own responsibilities.

Save Company Resources
This comprehensive 3-Part training program eliminates the need to create company training materials from scratch, or to update them according to the latest developments.

Comprehensive Progress Tracking
As the team undergoes the same onboarding training program, MSL leaders are assured of consistent and comprehensive training which also gives them a clear system for tracking individual members’ progress. This consistency of training also lets them set clear expectations for the team.

Consistent Training
MSLs of the same company who will enroll in the program undergo the same essential training and learn the same foundational knowledge, skills, relevant laws, industry guidelines, and regulations concerning the profession thus allowing consistency as they onboard.
4
unique benefits
for MSLs

Training from an IACET-Accredited Provider
The MSL Society is an IACET-accredited training provider and adheres to international training standards, ensuring the knowledge learned is of assured quality and value.

Gain Foundational Knowledge
The 3-Part format ensures MSLs learn all necessary foundational knowledge and skills, from the live training with experienced facilitators, to the eLearning with assessments, up to the opportunities for growth including virtual mentoring and taking the MSL-BC.

Learn from Industry Experts
Current MSL leaders and trainers from top companies will facilitate the live training, sharing unique knowledge and best practices based on actual experience. Moreover, Parts 2 and 3 of the program were also created with the involvement of experts from the field.

Accelerate Professional Growth
The Onboarding Training Program teaches MSLs the necessary foundational knowledge and valuable skills, making sure they are equipped and ready for the MSL role, eliminating the need to learn things for the first time.

TRAINING FEE & INCLUSIONS
Members
Individuals
Established Countries*
Members
Individuals
Emerging Countries**
Members
(3 or more participants)
INCLUSIONS & EXTRA BENEFITS
- MSL-BC Exam Fee is included in the Training Fee. Please note only eligible MSLs will be able to take the MSL-BC Exam. Learn more about the MSL-BC here. The MSL-BC Exam is optional.
- Complimentary access to the 45+ hour comprehensive eLearning program, “Medical Affairs Foundation Training Program”.
- 1 year Professional Level Membership to the MSL Society
- 1 year enrollment in the MSL Mentor Program
LIVE TRAINING SCHEDULE

DATE

LOCATION
Fort Lauderdale Sawgrass Mills/Sunrise
1870 Sawgrass Mills Cir, Sunrise, FL 33323
HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS
To ensure the safety of all attendees and facilitator, proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be required for everyone attending the in-person live training. Additional information about on-site safety protocols will be posted on the page Health and Safety Protocols for Live MSL Society Trainings & Events.
*Established Countries include the following: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, China (SAR), Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic of), Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States.
** Emerging Countries include all other countries not mentioned in the list above. Please reach out to Heliana Sula at heliana.sula@themsls.org for your discounted rate promo code.
PLEASE NOTE-The “Emerging Countries” membership level is NOT available for those living or working in an “Established Country”. All applications will be verified.
Some of the MSL teams that we have trained



















































































































What Some MSLs Say About The Onboarding Training Program

Patrick J. Fleming Jr., PharmD
Medical Science Liaison – Hematology/Oncology
Servier Pharmaceuticals

Michelle Zubrycki, MSN
Medical Science Liaison
Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Andrew J. Rennekamp, PhD
Medical Science Liaison
SCSL Sequirus

Brandon Young, PhD
Medical Science Liaison Mid-Atlantic Region,
Seqirus

Alice C. Pong, PhD
Medical Science Liaison
Gossamer Bio

Kerry Whitaker, DHSc
Senior Director, Medical Affairs
Biodesix, Inc.

Vruti Patel, PharmD
Regional Medical Affairs Director- Midwest
Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Dawn O Reilly, PhD
Oncology Enterprise Research Medical Science Liaison
Abbvie
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we conduct the Onboarding training at our location, exclusively for our team?
Yes! We can also train your MSL team at your preferred location, exclusively for your team. If you are interested, reach out to Heliana Sula at heliana.sula@themsls.org for more details.
Can I register for just the eLearning portion without the live training?
Yes, you can register for just the eLearning portion of the training program. Reach out to Heliana Sula at heliana.sula@themsls.org to learn more.
Do I need to bring any materials with me during the 5-day virtual training?
Yes. Please come prepared with your laptop/charger, notebook, and an eagerness to learn!
What skills will I acquire after attending the program?
You will learn about multiple topics including the introduction to the MSL role, MSL competencies, legal/compliance guidelines for MSL activities, effective planning and management of regional territories, personal branding, conference planning, effective virtual KOL engagements, gathering of insights, fostering strong KOL relationships, and how to critically evaluate a research paper. All these topics have clear learning objectives and subtopics which could help you build the essential skills to succeed in the MSL profession.
Can aspiring MSLs participate in the Onboarding Training Program?
No. The Onboarding Training Program is only available to those who have been hired as an MSL. However, the MSL Society offers a few different IACET accredited training programs for aspiring MSLs including How to Break Into the MSL Role – a 13+ hour eLearning program that will teach you everything you need to land your first role, and a 3 Day Live Presentation and Communication Skills Training Program.
How do I get help for a question that is not under FAQ?
You may reach out to Heliana Sula at heliana.sula@themsls.org for any additional questions.