What Aspiring MSLs Think the MSL Role Is vs. What It Actually Is

By Patrina Pellett, PhD

Sarah Snyder always says one of the biggest misconceptions that aspiring MSLs have about the MSL role is that it is an educator role. Folks tell her they love educating and that's why they want to land their first MSL role. Many envision themselves as educators, sharing the latest scientific data with HCPs.

While education is a part of the job, the reality is that the MSL role is far more nuanced and centered around building and maintaining relationships. In this post, we'll explore what aspiring MSLs think the MSL role is vs what it actually is.

The Common Misconception: MSLs are Educators

Expectation: Many aspiring MSLs start their job search with the belief that their job will be to educate doctors on science.

Reality Check: While providing education is an important aspect of the role, it is not the primary focus. At its core the MSL role is all about building and maintaining relationships. Without strong relationships, the educational component of the role can fall flat.

Get an example of this in this article about data dumping.