Are you a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) dedicated to staying ahead of the curve, impacting patient care, and driving scientific exchange?
Research shows that a large majority of healthcare professionals (HCPs) still value congresses as a critical source of scientific information. However, let’s be honest, these major conferences draw a HUGE crowd! This means your KOL will be in high demand and respecting KOLs’ time is MSL 101!
Have you done your research, planned meetings, always carry an extra charger and have your material ready? And THEN found that your laptop suddenly went blank? Or you’re drowning in information overload?
Don’t let your next congress be a missed opportunity!
To maximize your congress attendance as an MSL, focus on strategic pre-planning, efficient execution during the event, and thorough follow-up.
Pre-Congress: Planning is Paramount
- Do your research: Identify well in advance which KOLs on your roster will be present at the congress. Identifying the right KOLs relevant to your company’s therapeutic area and products is crucial.
- Create a personalized schedule: Identify and focus on sessions aligned with your goals and therapeutic area. Take advantage of digital platforms for scheduling, reminders and real-time insight capture. Conference management software, CRM Systems, communication tools, tracking software and AI powered platforms are all tools used by MSLs for more efficient management. Conference management software, CRM Systems, communication tools, tracking software and AI powered platforms are all tools used by MSLs for more efficient management.
- Organize Resources: Have company materials like abstracts and presentations ready to share.
- Plan meetings: Strategically schedule meetings with KOLs as the conference approaches. To maximize convenience, arrange meetings at your company’s booth. Ensure that you have their contact information to facilitate ongoing communication and relationship building.
- Draft discussion points: Develop precise and convincing talking points, including your elevator pitch, to make the most of your interactions.
During the Congress: Invest Your Time Wisely
- Network actively: Don’t focus only on scheduled meetings. Initiate conversations with other attendees, KOLs, and even vendors during breaks, networking events, and poster sessions.
- Engage effectively with KOLs: Have your MSL elevator pitches ready, highlighting key scientific information and your company’s value proposition. Posters/poster sessions offer an excellent opportunity to connect and engage with KOLs.
- Document insights: Actively listen and use digital tools during sessions, networking events and interactions with KOLs, to capture key insights, action items, and potential opportunities. A conference management software like inVision can help to capture meaningful data and drive engagement long after the event.
- Meet with vendors: Connect with vendors at the conference to stay updated on new technologies, latest industry trends, and solutions relevant to your therapeutic area.
- Utilize the congress app: Leverage the app’s features to access presenter information, session content, and connect with fellow attendees.
Post-Congress: Follow-up & Reporting
- Immediate Debriefs: Share and review notes and insights with your team to discuss key takeaways, action items, and next steps.
- Prepare a detailed report: Collate, analyze, and share the key insights and information gathered at the congress in a report with your Medical Affairs team and other relevant internal stakeholders.
- Follow-up with KOLs: Send personalized follow-up emails to KOLs and other stakeholders, expressing gratitude and reinforcing your connections.
- Relationship Building: Nurture relationships with KOLs by providing ongoing support, sharing relevant information, and inviting them to participate in future activities. Sharing a quick summary with relevant highlights to a KOL (who was not able to attend an event) is a great way to start building a relationship.
A conference is a blur of activity!
By following these steps, MSLs can transform congress attendance into a highly productive and impactful experience, maximizing their contribution to their organizations and the medical community.
Our inVision AI-driven, cloud-based system provides the tools needed to manage conference planning and execution efficiently for teams seeking to streamline their processes. Contact us to get a personalized demo and see how we can help you elevate your congress event strategy in 2025 and beyond.
