Kimberly Cremers, PharmD’s Post

Ever been at a loss for words? Perhaps you’ve been challenged or feel disrespected, or you quite simply don’t know the answer. This will happen to even the most seasoned MSL. Therefore, never take things personally, even though it may often feel that way. You could even be barraged with insensitive or embarrassing language or be read out by your manager in public. Or, most dreadfully, you could suffer a sudden firing. Don’t take it personally! Instead, consider what to do about it.   Often a simple “I don’t know but I will check it out” suffices for scientific questions from your KOL. If you are being humiliated in front of your team by Manager Evil, silence is a good strategy. Another pioneered by psychiatrist Dr. Rudolf Dreikurs is to simply say, “Excuse me Manager Evil but I have to go to the bathroom, be right back!” (Few will follow you there!) You can speak to or confront Manager Evil privately later and see what it was all about. Often, they will apologize, make excuses, etc. Don’t stop there. Ask something like, “How can I be assured this won’t happen again?” Don’t take it personally!   And like Chief Medical Officers in health care systems who have a shelf life of 7-9 years, your time may come. Personalities, expectations, third parties, politics, mistakes, and any number of issues can lead to your firing. When it happens, it will be without warning, very sudden, and without appeal. No matter how you feel, switch to negotiation mode for the best severance you can get. Sign nothing under pressure.   Don’t take it personally! But of course, it will very much feel personal and there will be time for you to mourn… Just don’t do it in the moment. Your power resides in your silence. Process your feelings later. Seek whatever explanation you can get (often this will be very unsatisfying compliments of HR). Don’t take it personally!   Insights from a PharmD & an Executive Coach. What are YOUR ideas about the art of being an impactful MSL? Please repost if your network would find this useful. We’ve only scratched the surface, join our LinkedIn MSL community for more: https://lnkd.in/gtYXWB9i and join our mailing list to receive the complete tip series delivered right to your inbox: http://eepurl.com/iYHNjY   #ArtOfBeingAnImpactfulMSL #MedicalScienceLiaison #CareerResilience #ProfessionalDevelopment #WorkplaceSuccess

With preparation, being challenged by a KOL won’t have you running for the door, even when you’re taken by surprise. Be sure your questions are open-ended, requiring the KOL to think critically about their comments and expand on their thoughts. Give them time to respond (3-5 seconds) and don’t interrupt (it’s rude and worse, it confuses the other person) as will derail the KOL’s thought process and the insights you are hoping to gain! Ask-Wait-Listen-Respond. Acknowledge their response with body language (a head nod or by leaning in) and listen closely to hear what they are saying. Avoid thinking about your response as you will miss the nuances of their reply!   Anticipate challenging questions/comments and practice your response aloud with a colleague (they will likely face the same objection), or aloud when you are alone in your car or record a Zoom meeting with yourself answering the question. Multiple practice sessions give you what actors call “muscle memory” which are the options you can go to effortlessly. Practice makes perfect!   Being questioned by a KOL, whether it’s easy or difficult, is an opening for further discussion, and ideally, a more meaningful one! Use this opportunity to strengthen your relationship and prove your value for the company and to your KOL. Their patients will appreciate it.   Insights from a PharmD & an Executive Coach. What are YOUR ideas about the art of being an impactful MSL? Please repost if your network would find this useful. We’ve only scratched the surface, join our LinkedIn MSL community for more: https://lnkd.in/gRautBrZ   #ArtofBeingAnImpactfulMSL #MSL #MedicalScienceLiaison #KOLengagement #PharmaceuticalIndustry

With preparation, being challenged by a KOL won’t have you running for the door, even when you’re taken by surprise. Be sure your questions are open-ended, requiring the KOL to think critically about their comments and expand on their thoughts. Give them time to respond (3-5 seconds) and don’t interrupt (it’s rude and worse, it confuses the other person) as will derail the KOL’s thought process and the insights you are hoping to gain! Ask-Wait-Listen-Respond. Acknowledge their response with body language (a head nod or by leaning in) and listen closely to hear what they are saying. Avoid thinking about your response as you will miss the nuances of their reply!   Anticipate challenging questions/comments and practice your response aloud with a colleague (they will likely face the same objection), or aloud when you are alone in your car or record a Zoom meeting with yourself answering the question. Multiple practice sessions give you what actors call “muscle memory” which are the options you can go to effortlessly. Practice makes perfect!   Being questioned by a KOL, whether it’s easy or difficult, is an opening for further discussion, and ideally, a more meaningful one! Use this opportunity to strengthen your relationship and prove your value for the company and to your KOL. Their patients will appreciate it.   Insights from a PharmD & an Executive Coach. What are YOUR ideas about the art of being an impactful MSL? Please repost if your network would find this useful. We’ve only scratched the surface, join our LinkedIn MSL community for more: https://lnkd.in/gtYXWB9i   #ArtofBeingAnImpactfulMSL #MSL #MedicalScienceLiaison #KOLengagement #PharmaceuticalIndustry

Since we've been talking about accuracy lately, Amandine René, our Head of Clinical and Medical Affairs, has something to share on the subject.  If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to leave us a comment below! We hope you enjoy this new interview format 👇 #secureyourtreatment #beyondaccuracy #SimAndCure

Beyond the Stethoscope As a healthcare provider with more than 15 years of experience, I have encountered numerous challenges and witnessed many miracles in the medical field. I understand that each person's journey is unique, and I believe that by documenting and sharing my experiences, I can not only help others but also promote my own self-reflection and personal growth. I have decided to write to explore the medical topics that interest me, share my perspectives, and connect with individuals who share similar interests. Whether I am sharing professional knowledge, clinical experiences, or personal insights, my goal is to inspire others, provoke thought, and document my own development and evolution. Throughout my career, I have come to realize the importance of sharing my experiences and insights, as well as addressing common questions from patients. Through my writing, I hope to engage with my colleagues in the medical community to learn from past mistakes and provide basic medical information to the general public. Writing is not only a creative outlet for me but also a journey of self-discovery and self-expression, where continuous input and output enhance my logical thinking and communication skills. There are also many touching stories from my medical career that I believe are worth sharing, and through writing, I aim to overcome my perfectionism and embrace the idea of 'progress over perfection,' challenging myself and seizing new opportunities.

🎙️ Repost Alert! 🚀 Excited to share an insightful interview with Amandine from the Sim&Cure team! Dive deep into the conversation covering pivotal topics in the realm of medical software development. From the significance of accuracy to the broader clinical impact, Amandine René sheds light on key aspects shaping the future of healthcare technology. Check out the interview below! 🔍 Topics Covered: 1️⃣ The Importance of Accuracy 2️⃣ Defining and Demonstrating Accuracy 3️⃣ Realistic Expectations for Accuracy 4️⃣ Moving Beyond Technical Performance 5️⃣ Future of SaMD development in Healthcare 👉 Don't miss out on these thought-provoking insights! Let's elevate the conversation together. 💡 #HealthTech #MedicalSoftware #SaMD #ClinicalImpact

The below type of situation occurs not only with “medical” experts, but with experts of any nature who are being audited. Have you as an auditor experienced something similar when auditing other experts such as in IT infrastructure, cloud, or AI? How about in the lab or on the manufacturing line?

👀 Curious about the ironic parallels between being a Medical Science Liaison versus being a Medical Affairs recruiter? Both share stronger similarities than you may initially see on the surface… 👀 ▶ Both MSLs and recruiters have to cultivate an innate sense of persistence and perseverance. Just as KOLs sometimes require multiple touchpoints to build a relationship, recruiters have to do the same with their candidates. ▶ Both MSLs and recruiters have to take unexpected changes in stride – and ADAPT! Between flight cancellations / travel plans gone awry or a candidate deciding to withdraw the day before a final interview, both career paths take flexibility, adaptability, and grit. ▶ Both MSLs and recruiters experience a high degree of autonomy in crafting their day-to-day game-plan – and functioning remotely. This can feel great/liberating sometimes, but it also can feel pretty isolating at other times. It is very important to take care of your mental AND physical health in both of these roles. These are not easy jobs... but they are very worthwhile, highly rewarding careers that will challenge you and foster personal and professional growth. Our team at The Carolan Group understands the MSL path quite well (😉), and we are here to support you on your industry journey! Wishing you the highest degree of success and positivity, always! Tom Caravela, Sarah Snyder, Rachel Strauss, Arielle Perrusio, George Riedel, Danielle Bartsch #CGTeam #MSLs #WeLoveMedicalScienceLiasons #MedicalAffairsRecruitment

What is your gut reaction to objections and challenges (sometimes with emotion or worse, cold logic!) from a KOL? The art of being an impactful MSL involves turning uncomfortable moments when challenged by a KOL into meaningful insights that are valuable to your company and more so to the physician’s patients. Gaining a deeper understanding of the actual concern can strengthen your KOL relationships by turning this objection into a meaningful discussion by asking the right questions. The best MSLs shine through these times and gain valuable insights in the process. In fact, those MSLs want the physician to object! Nora Dunne, actress, director, and SNL alum said, “Your job is not to please the audience, your job is to engage the audience.” And it is in the engagement that is when they will be pleased. Don’t shrink, engage! Here are some ideas how.   When faced with a challenging question, your first step is to gain clarity. You could start by using the skill of paraphrasing (this traditional approach gets you in sync and signals that you understand). You can then ask clarifying questions to get additional facts: ·        I want to be sure I understand your comment, it seems the essence of your concern is _______ (safety, price, formulary, etc.)? ·        What aspect of the data led you to that statement? ·        What are you using for comparison? ·        Tell me more. This and the “what else?” question helps the physician begin to teach you…become a willing student…you are in the professor’s office!   Insights from a PharmD & an Executive Coach. What are YOUR ideas about the art of being an impactful MSL? Please repost if your network would find this useful. We’ve only scratched the surface, join our LinkedIn MSL community for more. Link is in the comments! #ArtofBeingAnImpactfulMSL #MSL #MedicalScienceLiaison #KOLengagement #PharmaceuticalIndustry

🔍 Attention Clinical Research Professionals! 🔍 I’m curious to hear your thoughts – how do you structure your CV to highlight your expertise and achievements in clinical research? I’ve noticed different approaches: some add tables at the end showing the number of site visits, audits, and therapeutic areas, while others list therapeutic areas right at the top. Some don’t mention these specifics at all. What works best in your experience? How do you make your CV stand out? Let’s share insights to help each other shine! 🌟 #ClinicalResearch #CRO #MedTech #CareerTips