Feeling stretched thin as an MSL? Between KOL meetings, conferences, internal deliverables, and staying up to date on clinical data. It’s easy to feel like you’re drowning in details.
Fortunately, the right tools can simplify your day-to-day workflow, help you stay organized, and even improve how you collaborate and communicate.
Here are 5 game-changing tools every MSL should be using to stay ahead and reduce stress:
1. ChatGPT – Your Smart Scientific Assistant
ChatGPT is a powerful resource for Medical Science Liaisons. Whether you need to:
- Summarize journal articles or clinical trials
- Draft personalized KOL outreach messages
- Create follow-up email templates
- Role-play potential Q&A scenarios
ChatGPT can save you valuable time while keeping your communication sharp and scientifically sound. It’s like having a medical writing assistant in your back pocket.
2. OneNote or Evernote – Keep Your MSL Life Organized
Both of these digital note-taking apps are ideal for keeping field notes, insights, and follow-ups neatly organized:
- Create notebooks for each KOL, academic center, or geography
- Track conference insights, presentation summaries, and meeting highlights
- Set reminders and tag important notes for quick retrieval
Whether you’re documenting MSL/KOL engagements or preparing for a follow-up, these tools help keep your workflow efficient and your insights accessible.
3. Calendly – Schedule Smarter, Not Harder
Calendly is perfect for streamlining your calendar:
- Share availability with KOLs, colleagues, or vendors
- Automatically sync meetings to your work and personal calendars
- Reduce back-and-forth scheduling emails
You can even create separate scheduling links for different types of meetings—like 15-minute intros or 45-minute-deep dives.
Bonus: Block personal time for life outside work (soccer games, workouts, dinner plans- you name it).
4. Canva – Create Beautiful Slide Decks in Minutes
Need to build an engaging presentation on short notice? Canva makes it easy:
- Access professionally designed templates for scientific or medical presentations
- Customize fonts, color schemes, and branding elements
- Export your slides directly to PowerPoint or PDF
It’s a great way to make your decks look polished without needing a graphic designer.
5. Otter.ai – Real-Time Transcription for Conferences and Meetings
Otter.ai is a transcription tool that converts spoken words into text in real time, which is perfect for:
- Capturing insights during KOL meetings
- Recording and transcribing medical congress sessions
- Reviewing key takeaways from internal team calls
It ensures you never miss important details, especially when you need to report insights or summarize discussions post-event.
Reminder: Always confirm compliance and consent before recording external meetings.
These five tools can help you manage the fast-paced and ever-evolving life of an MSL with more ease, clarity, and confidence. Whether you’re in the field or prepping for your next big advisory board, having the right support can make all the difference.
What tools do you swear by as an MSL?
Drop your go-to resources in the comments. We’d love to hear what’s working for you!
-Ashley