Correspondence: Peter Dumovic, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, One Health Plaza, East Hanover, NJ 07936, USA. Tel: + 1 862 778 8685; Fax: + 1 973 781 5209; e-mail: peter.dumovic@novartis.com

¹is Head of Medical Information & Communications at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and is the North American Editor of the Journal of Medical Marketing. He has an extensive breadth and depth of pharmaceutical industry experience in Marketing, Sales, Clinical Research and Development, Key Opinion Leader support and New Product Development.

²is President of Medical Science Liaison Institute, LLC and founder of the Medical Science Liaison Quarterly. She has pharmaceutical industry experience in Analytical Research and Development, Sales and Key Opinion Leader support.

Received 1 May 2008; Revised 1 May 2008; Published online 6 June 2008.

Abstract

Medical science liaisons (MSLs) are the pharmaceutical company's clinical representatives who interface with thought leaders and other key healthcare decision makers. The authors offer a description of the strategically important characteristics of tomorrow's most valuable MSLs.