MSL Talk

Tom Caravela

For MSLs and Medical Affairs Professionals

  • 20 minutes 24 seconds
    How to Succeed in Any Area of Your Life
    In this episode, Tom Caravela explores the transformative power of self-commitment, focusing on the importance of making promises to oneself. He delves into the concept of promises and plans, examining the psychological underpinnings that drive effective self-promises. Listeners are guided on how to craft a strategic plan to ensure promises are kept, emphasizing the crucial role of execution in this process. The discussion also addresses overcoming cognitive dissonance and decision automaticity, supported by empirical evidence on the effectiveness of promises. The episode concludes with actionable insights and a call to action, encouraging listeners to harness the power of self-commitment for personal growth and success. (0:00) Introduction and conference announcement (1:01) The power of self-commitment: Making a promise to yourself (2:32) Understanding the promise and plan concept (4:11) The psychology of making promises (5:27) How to effectively make a promise to yourself (8:09) Crafting a strategic plan for your promise (14:06) The critical role of execution in fulfilling promises (15:16) Overcoming cognitive dissonance and decision automaticity (17:31) Empirical evidence on promise effectiveness (18:47) Final thoughts and call to action
    14 January 2025, 5:00 am
  • 35 minutes 30 seconds
    Top 5 MSL Frustrations and How to Overcome Them
    In this episode, Tom Caravela and guests Sarah Snyder and Patrina Pellett discuss the common frustrations faced by Medical Science Liaisons, exploring the top challenges and offering practical solutions. The panelists delve into frustrations such as access to KOLs, information overload, role clarity, and impostor syndrome, with an additional focus on time management and communication challenges. They offer strategies to overcome these hurdles, emphasizing the importance of addressing self-doubt. The episode concludes with communication and time management tips. (0:00) Introduction and special guest announcements (0:46) AI in medical affairs conference notice (1:01) Sponsor: MSL Mastery (1:21) Success stories and community in job searching (2:42) Top five frustrations for MSLs introduction (3:36) Frustration 1: Access to KOLs (5:32) Frustration 2: Information overload (7:24) Frustration 3: Role clarity and Impostor syndrome (13:37) Bonus frustration: Time management and communication challenges (15:23) Strategies for overcoming MSL frustrations (25:13) Addressing impostor syndrome and self-doubt (29:27) Communication and time management tips (34:15) Closing remarks and holiday wishes (35:08) Outro and listener appreciation
    7 January 2025, 5:00 am
  • 25 minutes 39 seconds
    Filler Words-Fix the Problem You Didn't Know You Had
    In this episode, Tom Caravela delves into the significance of eliminating filler words in professional as well as personal communication. He highlights the impact of these verbal fillers on perceived competence and interview performance, supported by revealing statistics. Tom explores the demographic differences in the use of filler words and their effects on audience engagement. He provides practical strategies for reducing filler words, emphasizing the importance of preparation, practice, and the power of slowing down and pausing. The episode concludes with insights on mindfulness and self-awareness in speech, encouraging listeners to refine their communication skills for enhanced professional presence. (0:00) Introduction to MSL Talk and Filler Words Impact (0:42) AI and Medical Affairs Conference Announcement (1:10) Sponsor: MSL Mastery (1:30) Importance of Eliminating Filler Words (2:07) Statistics and Professional Impact of Filler Words (4:02) Demographic Differences and Perceived Competence (6:17) Interview Performance and Audience Engagement (7:02) Strategies to Eliminate Filler Words (11:03) Emphasizing Preparation and Practice (15:18) The Power of Slowing Down and Pausing (19:41) Mindfulness and Self-awareness in Speech (24:15) Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts
    18 December 2024, 5:00 am
  • 33 minutes 40 seconds
    The Struggle With KOL Access in Todays World
    Carsten Schnatwinkel and Jeanna Cooper join Tom Caravela to discuss the evolving landscape of KOL access in medical affairs. They address challenges in securing KOL access and the role of AI and digital tools in overcoming these barriers. The conversation explores the hybrid model's significance, the impact of virtual engagement on key performance indicators, and strategies for building strong KOL relationships. They also examine geographic and therapeutic variations, persistence and resilience strategies, and the importance of follow-up. The episode concludes with practical tips for increasing face time with KOLs and utilizing social media effectively. (0:00) Welcome and Introduction of Guests (0:34) KOL Access Challenges and AI in Medical Affairs (1:54) Securing KOL Access and Virtual Engagement Impact (5:27) The Hybrid Model and Digital Tools for KOL Relationships (10:21) Virtual Engagement's Effect on KPIs and Standing Out to KOLs (16:49) Building Relationships Through Virtual Engagement (18:27) Geographic and Therapeutic Area Variations in KOL Access (22:20) Strategies for Persistence and Resilience in KOL Engagement (25:35) Tips for Increasing FaceTime with KOLs (28:12) Social Media Utilization for KOL Engagement (30:27) Demonstrating MSL Value to KOLs (32:03) The Importance of Follow-Up in MSL-KOL Dynamics (32:23) Conclusion and Acknowledgements (33:18) Outro and Call to Action
    10 December 2024, 5:00 am
  • 34 minutes 18 seconds
    No “D”…No Problem: Finding Success WITHOUT a Doctorate
    In this episode, Greg Auclair from Cytokinetics shares his journey into medical affairs and insights into the MSL role. He discusses his transition, the evolving career paths for MSLs, and the importance of personal branding and networking. Greg offers valuable advice for aspiring MSLs, emphasizing persistence and the creation of a personal development plan. He also highlights non-doctorate paths into the field and addresses changing hiring trends. The episode concludes with Greg reflecting on his career highlights and expressing gratitude, followed by a call to action for listeners to subscribe and provide feedback.

    This episode is sponsored by MSL Mastery, helping Medical Science Liaisons and aspiring MSLs to excel in their careers and lives through courses, coaching, and community. For more details, please visit MSLmastery.com.

    The MSL Talk Podcast is available on all podcast platforms and the MSL Talk YouTube Channel.

    MSL Talk is a podcast that features helpful information for current Medical Science Liaisons, Medical Affairs leaders, job seekers looking to break into the pharmaceutical industry in their first MSL role as well as anyone interested in hearing good industry conversations and medical affairs discussions.

    (0:00) Welcome and introduction to MSL Talk with guest Greg Auclair (2:06) Greg Auclair's transition into medical affairs and early career insights (6:27) Career progression, overcoming challenges, and roles in various companies (13:32) The role and value of contract MSL positions (17:03) Strategies for networking, personal branding, and breaking into medical affairs (22:13) Hiring trends and establishing credibility as an MSL without a doctorate (25:32) MSL certification programs and their impact (28:14) Leveraging prior experiences for MSL roles (31:31) Navigating career progression with patience and persistence (33:16) Final thoughts and the importance of individual development plans (33:57) Encouragement to share and subscribe, thanks, and future episode teaser
    3 December 2024, 5:00 am
  • 17 minutes 38 seconds
    What is the ONE Word?
    This week is a solo episode, Tom Caravela, Founder and Managing Partner at The Carolan Group presents a special Thanksgiving episode on the ONE word. Tom introduces the concept of choosing a single word to guide personal and professional growth in the New Year. He provides examples of impactful words and their significance, encouraging listeners to establish their own word for the year and explore its potential influence on their lives.

    This episode is sponsored by MSL Mastery, helping Medical Science Liaisons and aspiring MSLs to excel in their careers and lives through courses, coaching, and community. For more details, please visit MSLmastery.com.

    The MSL Talk Podcast is available on all podcast platforms and the MSL Talk YouTube Channel.

    MSL Talk is a podcast that features helpful information for current Medical Science Liaisons, Medical Affairs leaders, job seekers looking to break into the pharmaceutical industry in their first MSL role as well as anyone interested in hearing good industry conversations and medical affairs discussions.

    (0:00) Introduction and Conference Announcement (0:45) Episode Focus and Host Background (1:57) Thanksgiving Reflections and Gratitude (4:00) New Year Goals and the Concept of One Word (6:43) Personal One Word Examples and Meanings (11:29) Establishing Your One Word and Its Impact
    26 November 2024, 5:00 am
  • 30 minutes 29 seconds
    Surround to Succeed: Building a Motivational Network
    This week’s guest is Sarah Snyder, MSL Recruiter with The Carolan Group who discusses the importance of surrounding yourself with a motivational network.

    This episode is sponsored by MSL Mastery, helping Medical Science Liaisons and aspiring MSLs to excel in their careers and lives through courses, coaching, and community. For more details, please visit MSLmastery (dot) com.

    In this episode, Sarah discusses…

    👉 Why monitor who we surround ourselves with 👉 How to perform an internal audit of our relationship and peer groups 👉 Advice for job seekers looking to get an edge 👉 How MSLs can find professional connections and avoid isolation 👉 Advice for using LinkedIn as a resource for networking and mentors

    The MSL Talk Podcast is available on all podcast platforms and the MSL Talk YouTube Channel. 

    MSL Talk is a podcast that features helpful information for current Medical Science Liaisons, Medical Affairs leaders, job seekers looking to break into the pharmaceutical industry in their first MSL role as well as anyone interested in hearing good industry conversations and medical affairs discussions.

    #msl #medicalaffairs #medicalscienceliaison #networking #careers

    (0:00) Introduction of guest Sarah Snyder and episode topic (1:15) Sarah Snyder's introduction and role at The Carolan Group and MSL Mastery (2:01) Sponsor: MSL Mastery (2:15) Discussion on the challenging job market and the importance of networking (5:07) Personal vs. professional influence of your network (6:47) Strategies for auditing and enhancing your inner circle (9:42) The importance of surrounding yourself with the right people (15:04) Learning from mentors and top performers (17:24) Networking impact for job seekers and MSLs (22:02) Aligning with like-minded people and building successful habits (24:46) Community and support within the Aspire MSL program (27:29) Leveraging LinkedIn for networking and career development (29:08) Final words of advice from Sarah Snyder
    19 November 2024, 5:00 pm
  • 22 minutes 55 seconds
    Leveraging Real-World Evidence (RWE) in MSL Activities
    This week's guest is Elizabeth Pash, Medical Affairs Executive Leader who shares insights on how to leverage real-world evidence (RWE) in MSL activities.

    This episode is sponsored by MSL Mastery, helping Medical Science Liaisons and aspiring MSLs to excel in their careers and lives through courses, coaching, and community. For more details, please visit MSLmastery (dot) com.

    In this episode, Beth discusses…

    👉 What is Real World Evidence and how it is different from Clinical Trial Data 👉 How MSLs can effectively incorporate RWE into their discussions with healthcare professionals and key opinion leaders (KOLs) 👉 Challenges MSLs typically face when presenting RWE to stakeholders, and how can they overcome them 👉 Ways RWE can be used to enhance the strategic value of MSL activities 👉 Key skills MSLs need to develop in order to effectively understand and communicate RWE to diverse audiences

    The MSL Talk Podcast is available on all podcast platforms and the MSL Talk YouTube Channel.  

    MSL Talk is a podcast that features helpful information for current Medical Science Liaisons, Medical Affairs leaders, job seekers looking to break into the pharmaceutical industry in their first MSL role as well as anyone interested in hearing good industry conversations and medical affairs discussions.

    #msl #medicalaffairs #medicalscienceliaison #thoughtleaderliaison #careers

    (0:00) Introduction of guest Elizabeth Posh and episode topic (0:36) Elizabeth Posh's background and experience (2:43) Sponsor: MSL Mastery (3:22) Understanding real world evidence in the pharmaceutical industry (6:30) Utilizing real world evidence in MSL roles and conversations (8:38) Overcoming challenges with real world evidence (10:49) Best practices for staying updated with real world evidence (13:02) Demonstrating the value of real world evidence in Medical Affairs (16:45) Enhancing clinical trial data with real world evidence (17:59) Projecting the future impact of real world evidence for MSLs (20:03) Strategies and advice for newcomers to the MSL field
    12 November 2024, 5:00 pm
  • 30 minutes 11 seconds
    All About Thought Leader Liaison
    This weeks guest is Jim Hahn, Senior Business Director, Thought Leader Engagement at EMD Serono who discusses the role of the Thought Leader Liaison and how it fits into the pharma world.

    This weeks guest is Jim Hahn, Senior Business Director, Thought Leader Engagement at EMD Serono who discusses the role of the Thought Leader Liaison and how it fits into the pharma world.

    This episode is sponsored by MSL Mastery, helping Medical Science Liaisons and aspiring MSLs to excel in their careers and lives through courses, coaching, and community. For more details, please visit MSLmastery (dot) com.

    In this episode, Jim discusses…

    👉 The role of the Thought Leader Liaison (TLL) and how it fits into an organization (as it relates to medical affairs and commercial)? 👉 The strategic objectives for TLLs 👉 How TLLs are evaluated (metrics or key performance indicators) 👉 How TLLs collaborate with MSLs, and what are the most effective ways for these roles to work together to engage KOLs and other key stakeholders 👉 What are the key skills, competencies and backgrounds that make for a successful TLL

    The MSL Talk Podcast is available on all podcast platforms and the MSL Talk YouTube Channel. 

    MSL Talk is a podcast that features helpful information for current Medical Science Liaisons, Medical Affairs leaders, job seekers looking to break into the pharmaceutical industry in their first MSL role as well as anyone interested in hearing good industry conversations and medical affairs discussions.

    #msl #medicalaffairs #medicalscienceliaison #thoughtleaderliaison #careers

    (0:00) Introduction and welcome to Jim Hahn (2:06) Defining and understanding the role of a thought leader liaison (5:58) Background and qualifications for becoming a thought leader liaison (7:42) Strategic objectives for thought leader liaisons and TLL teams (9:07) The synergy and collaboration between TLLs and MSLs (14:25) Addressing potential conflicts and the importance of communication (18:58) TLL engagement strategies and healthcare professional access (21:08) Variability in the TLL role across different therapeutic areas (23:17) Key hiring considerations for thought leader liaison roles (24:24) The significance of face-to-face interactions in the industry (25:07) Discussing the impact of AI on MSL and sales roles (26:43) Predictions for the future of field interactions in pharma (28:01) The changing landscape for thought leaders and influencers (28:39) Closing thoughts and thanks to Jim Hahn
    5 November 2024, 5:00 pm
  • 30 minutes 58 seconds
    Product Safety and its Role in Medical Affairs
    This week's guest is Juan Daccach, MD, VP Global Product Safety at Merz Aesthetics who discusses Safety and its role in Medical/Product Safety and the interaction between safety physicians and medical affairs physicians (for both pharma and device)

    This episode is sponsored by MSL Mastery, helping Medical Science Liaisons and aspiring MSLs to excel in their careers and lives through courses, coaching, and community. For more details, please visit MSLmastery (dot) com. 

    In this episode, Juan shares…

    👉 The role of product safety in the biotech medical device industries, and how it fits with medical affairs 👉 How  product safety differs in a pharma company vs a device company 👉 The key challenges medical affairs professionals face when communicating safety information to healthcare providers (HCPs) 👉 How MSLs might proactively engage with key opinion leaders (KOLs) regarding emerging safety data for a product 👉 What trends are emerging for MSLs and medical affairs as it relates to product or device safety.

    The MSL Talk Podcast is available on all podcast platforms and the MSL Talk YouTube Channel. 

    MSL Talk is a podcast that features helpful information for current Medical Science Liaisons, Medical Affairs leaders, job seekers looking to break into the pharmaceutical industry in their first MSL role as well as anyone interested in hearing good industry conversations and medical affairs discussions.

    #msl #medicalaffairs #medicalscienceliaison #MSLtalk #careers

    (0:00) Introduction of Wong Takash and his role at MERS Aesthetics; Welcome Juan Daccach (1:10) Juan Daccach's career background in medical safety (2:39) Sponsor: MSL Mastery (3:08) Medical and product safety overview in biotech and medical affairs (5:11) Defining medical and product safety (7:42) Safety differences in pharma vs medical devices (10:40) Pharmacovigilance and medical monitors' roles (13:45) Safety complexities in medical devices (14:08) MSLs' understanding of safety reporting protocols (16:00) Communicating safety information challenges (18:27) MSLs engaging KOLs with safety data (21:53) Support for MSLs in safety and pharmacovigilance (22:52) Managing safety concerns as an MSL (27:01) Trends in safety impacting MSLs and medical affairs (28:05) AI and machine learning's role in medical safety (29:09) Pharma-device collaboration on combination products (30:12) Closing remarks and listener appreciation
    29 October 2024, 4:00 pm
  • 35 minutes 5 seconds
    The Future of MSL Roles: Skills and Competencies for Tomorrow’s Challenges
    This week’s guest is Stephanie Otis, Vice President Global Medical Excellence at Ferring Pharmaceuticals discusses future trends in the MSL field including the skills and competencies that will be essential for success.

    This week's guest is Nandini Sabharwal, Director, Migraine and Women's Health, Field Medical Group at Pfizer and we discuss the role of artificial intelligence in every day MSL life.

    This episode is sponsored by MSL Mastery, helping Medical Science Liaisons and aspiring MSLs to excel in their careers and lives through courses, coaching, and community. For more details, please visit MSLmastery.com

    In this episode, Nandini shares…

    👉 The learning process and getting started with AI 👉 How MSLs can upskill with AI tools 👉 What Prompt Engineering is and how to master the art of “prompts” 👉 The challenges to be aware of when adopting AI 👉 The many benefits of using AI and what the future holds

    The MSL Talk Podcast is available on all podcast platforms and the MSL Talk YouTube Channel. 

    MSL Talk is a podcast that features helpful information for current Medical Science Liaisons, Medical Affairs leaders, job seekers looking to break into the pharmaceutical industry in their first MSL role as well as anyone interested in hearing good industry conversations and medical affairs discussions.

    #msl #medicalaffairs #medicalscienceliaison #artificialintelligence #careers

    (0:00) Introduction and guest introduction (0:19) Reminder to follow and share (1:12) Stephanie Otis' career journey and current role (3:22) Core competencies of future MSLs and role evolution (4:12) Sponsor: MSL Mastery (7:33) Incorporating digital and analytics tools in MSL work (11:10) Developing technical skills, business acumen, and digital literacy (20:29) Changes in KOL/KEE engagement and patient centricity (23:23) Future-proofing MSL careers and enterprise leadership (26:33) The future of MSL hiring, recruitment, and required competencies (29:32) The role of storytelling in MSL interviews (31:26) Proving the value of medical affairs and shift in performance metrics (34:03) Conclusion and key takeaways (34:21) Closing remarks and favorite quote (34:30) Thanking the guest and wrapping up
    22 October 2024, 4:00 pm
  • More Episodes? Get the App
© MoonFM 2025. All rights reserved.