Field Medical

Definition & Scope

Field Medical — sometimes called Field Medical Affairs or the MSL (Medical Science Liaison) function—is the externally facing branch of a life-science company’s Medical Affairs team.

Field-based scientists meet healthcare professionals (HCPs), payers, and clinical investigators to exchange balanced, non-promotional scientific information, collect real-world insights, and support clinical evidence generation. Their work is governed by Good Clinical Practice, company compliance policies, and local regulations, ensuring that all conversations remain strictly scientific.

Why It Matters

Because they operate outside the walls of headquarters, Field Medical teams serve as a two-way conduit: they translate complex study results into practical clinical language for HCPs, and they relay unmet-need signals, treatment-pattern shifts, and competitive intelligence back to R&D, Commercial, and HEOR groups. When done well, this feedback loop accelerates trial feasibility, sharpens launch messages, and ultimately improves patient outcomes.

Core Responsibilities

• Scientific Exchange – Hold balanced discussions on disease state, mechanism of action, and new evidence.

• Insight Capture – Document and route external feedback that can influence strategy or study design.

• Evidence Support – Help identify trial sites, validate feasibility, and facilitate patient recruitment.

• Medical Education – Plan advisory boards, symposia, and peer-to-peer programs that raise scientific literacy.

Day-to-Day Activities

A typical week blends in-person hospital visits, virtual KOL meetings, and congress attendance. Between trips, MSLs review new literature, craft slide decks tailored to each discussion, and file concise insight reports that feed internal dashboards. Travel often accounts for 60 percent of working time; the balance goes to preparation, cross-functional planning, and mandatory compliance training.

Stakeholder Landscape

• Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs)—clinical or academic experts who influence treatment guidelines and peer practice.

• Investigators—physicians or researchers running trials that generate pivotal or real-world data.

• Payers & HTA Bodies—decision makers who evaluate evidence for coverage, reimbursement, and formulary status.

• Internal Teams—Medical Information, Pharmacovigilance, HEOR, and Marketing rely on field-gathered insights to refine strategy.

Lifecycle Impact & Success Metrics

Robust Field Medical engagement can build scientific credibility before launch, accelerate guideline adoption at launch, and surface new evidence that extends a product’s value in maturity. Key performance indicators typically include the quality of insights turned into concrete actions, the number of evidence-generation initiatives supported, and the scientific reach achieved within priority accounts — all tracked under strict compliance oversight.