The Future of KOL Engagement and new strategies that will emerge

In this episode, Joan Cannon shares her journey into the MSL role and the operational shifts faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation covers adjustments in performance metrics, face-to-face interaction guidelines, and virtual engagement with KOLs. Joan provides insights into the evolving landscape of scientific congresses and the essential skills MSLs need post-COVID. She addresses travel hesitancy, meeting settings with HCPs, and offers comprehensive advice for MSLs and leaders navigating the current climate. The episode concludes with reflections on changes since 2020, end-of-year predictions, and the importance of taking mental breaks.

Today we have Joan Cannon, Senior Director Scientific Affairs at Lundbeck. Joan discusses the future of KOL engagement and what changes as well as new strategies will emerge. 

In this episode we discuss:

• Joan’s background and her current career


• How she landed her first MSL role


• Her MSLs and team in the midst of COVID


• Their current plan for KOL engagement given the travel bans, etc


• How she handled the lack of facetime


• What adjustments did they make within their organization regarding metrics


• What she anticipates the future to look like and the ideas that she and her team are working on to maintain and continue building KOL relationships


• What new skills are now mandatory for MSLs given the effect of COVID 19


• Her thoughts on travel hesitancy amongst her team 


• Her advice for MSLs and MSL Leaders as we look to the future

(0:00) Introduction and Joan Cannon's career background
(3:29) Transition into the first MSL role
(5:28) MSL team operations during COVID-19
(7:31) Face-to-face interaction guidelines during COVID-19
(10:31) MSL performance metrics adjustments due to the pandemic
(13:10) Virtual engagement with KOLs
(16:07) The future of scientific congresses and virtual events
(18:12) Post-COVID essential skills for MSLs
(21:42) Managing travel hesitancy among MSLs
(24:15) Post-COVID meeting settings with HCPs
(25:24) Comprehensive advice for MSLs and leaders in the current climate
(28:34) Reflections on changes since early 2020 and end-of-year predictions
(29:55) Emphasizing the importance of mental breaks
(30:37) Final thoughts from Joan Cannon
(31:00) Episode closing and listener call to action