MSL Travel Tips

The Medical Science Liaison (MSL) is an iconic role in the pharmaceutical industry and remains one of the most competitive positions for PharmDs, PhDs, MDs, and NPs looking for better work-life balance, higher pay, or broad impact. Among the many pros and cons of being an MSL, there is one aspect of the job that is unavoidable: travel.

As a Senior MSL in oncology with years of experience, I've gotten quite good at traveling. So, whether you're a new MSL or just looking for travel tips, I've compiled my advice below.

Food: RxTeach remains a source for health and wellness advice, so let's start with nutrition while traveling. MSLs often put on weight during their first year(s) in role because of the wild abundance of interesting food now at their fingertips. You'll travel to cool cities, experience new places, and all of your food is paid for by your company! Amazing though it is, the consequences can be real. You overeat, drink too much, and buy more food just because you can. The calories stack up, and you feel like crap in the morning. You get back home to your scale and realize you're up 7 lbs of water weight and would probably benefit from a dose of Lasix. This process gets repeated over and over throughout the year as you travel around to interact with KOLs. Next thing you know, you've gained 15 lbs and have never felt worse!

This is all too common with MSLs, but it can be easily negated with a little bit of discipline and preparation. Here's what I do.

1. Always keep breakfast small and drink caffeine in the morning for energy/appetite suppression. Exercising in the morning is essential. Get a short run or lift in if you can.
2. Lunch should be light, protein-rich, and just enough food to get you to dinner. Think grilled chicken salad with light dressing, salmon with quinoa, etc. I personally shoot for 500-750 calories. Keeping breakfast and lunch light will keep your mind sharp throughout the day, which is essential as an MSL.
3. Always have healthy snacks in your bag for when you inevitably get a little hungry in the afternoon, depending on when your dinner is scheduled. I like RXBARs and protein bars with a maximum of 200 calories.
4. Dinner is for exploration. You're in a cool place and have access to new things, so branch out! Just don't go crazy on food volume and stop eating when you're full. Just because you can get huge meals doesn't mean you should every time.
5. Drinking is subjective, but I try to limit alcohol to every other night when traveling, and I limit myself to 2 drinks on those nights. This way, I can try new cocktails, enjoy myself (especially at conferences with colleagues), and still get my morning run in. Of course, this is more of a guideline than a rule. I often drink less when traveling alone and occasionally more when traveling with co-workers.
6. Hard stop at 10:00 pm. Many of my coworkers enjoy a late night on the town, which can be very fun. When I join them, I tend to drink more and sleep less, which can really disrupt the following day. I'll have a late night from time to time, but it's very rare. It is important to connect with your co-workers, so you may find yourself out late early in your career and then taper off as you become established.

Flights: First, pick an airline and sign up for its loyalty program. The airline you select will be dependent on your location, but I suggest picking the one with the most relevant direct flights from your home base. When traveling by air, try to avoid checking a bag if you can. I have a 4-day rule. If I am gone for at least 4 days, I will check a bag. If fewer than 4 days, I pack a carry-on only. I end up checking a bag only 1-3 times per year.

The checked bag becomes required after 4 days because of multiple suit jackets, workout clothes, running shoes, etc.

If your checked bag gets stuck somewhere, don't panic. The airline will retrieve it eventually. However, given this risk, I wear decent clothes on flights where I check a bag in case I am forced to meet with a KOL in that outfit.

Make sure to check in for your flight and pre-purchase checked bags before you get to the airport. This will save you tons of time. For checked bags, make sure they are easily recognizable and distinct! I had my bag mistakenly picked up by other travelers twice in my first year as an MSL.

If you like Starbucks, put your online order in BEFORE you get to the airport. The line in the airport can be insanely long, so you might as well have them make your drink and egg white bites while going through security.

Lastly, TSA Precheck is an absolute necessity! It is 100% worth it, and some companies even cover the cost for you. CLEAR is less essential but can also be well worth the cost if flying frequently.

Hotels: Again, pick a hotel chain and stick to it. The most popular among MSLs is probably Marriott, which I highly recommend. The loyalty rewards are decent, and the hotels can be very nice.

When you get into your room, check for any obnoxious noises or significant discomforts, like a terrible bed or a squeaky fan. If you find anything, don't hesitate to ask for another room! Your second room is often an upgrade anyway, and it is not worth getting 2 hours of sleep just because you got stuck in the room with a thin wall next to the elevator machinery. Also, bring a water bottle with you as there is often no great water source in your room. I personally don't mind tapwater, but I have many colleagues who would never. Also, make sure the bedside alarm isn't set for 4:00 am the next morning.

Once I get settled into my room, I typically spend 15-30 minutes ironing/steaming my clothes for the next day. That way, when I finish my morning workout, my work clothes are already good to go. It's also good to know where the gym is located, when the restaurant and bar close, and when room service stops. You can ask about hotel breakfast, but I always try to find a local coffee shop instead.

If you like to run in the mornings, use Strava, Garmin, or a similar app to plan your running routes from your hotel. If you're in your company car, it can sometimes be worth driving a short distance to a local park to get your run in. Keep these things in mind when booking your hotel in the first place!

Cars: Honestly, don't rent a car unless you have to. Uber and Lyft are significantly easier to use. If you find yourself needing a car, which will happen eventually, just do your best. Make sure you select the correct airports for pick-up and drop-off and fill the gas tank as required. Also, don't assume you'll actually get the rental car that you originally selected. It's less like a box of chocolates and more like Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. At some point, you'll get earwax.

Packing: Many MSLs have a travel bag that is always ready to go and prepacked with the essentials. This is a reasonable approach, especially if your territory requires a lot of travel. Some of my recommended essentials are as follows: chargers, chewing gum, headphones, sunglasses, NSAIDs/Tylenol, pseudoephedrine, cough drops, and a book. I also recommend purchasing a phone case with a built-in stand so that you can stand it up and watch whatever you want during a layover or on the plane. It's surprisingly life-changing.

Make sure to charge everything before you leave! headphones, tablet, phone, etc. I also recommend downloading entertainment for the flight, because in-flight wifi sucks. Download podcasts, audiobooks, and movies to keep you entertained, or use in-flight time to study new materials and stay up to date on recent data.

Invest in a decent travel bag (backpack, shoulder bag, etc.) It will be well worth it! The more you can fit into a well-made carry-on bag and personal item, the less often you'll have to check a bag.

I purposely use a bag without any straps so that I'm forced to carry it in my hand. Most people probably think this is insane, and that's a reasonable conclusion. I just like training my grip strength passively throughout the day and actually enjoy it when my bag is heavy and requires more effort to hold. I know, I'm strange.

Miscellaneous: If you're an MSL who needs to document expenses, I recommend taking photos of all receipts immediately! You will inevitably lose them later, so best to have a photo on your phone. Then you can just throw away or recycle the paper. There are many integrations available now that auto-upload receipts from Uber/Lyft and can even automatically turn a receipt photo into an expense in your documentation system. Make sure to check these things out.

It's also important to put your loyalty numbers and TSA Precheck KTN into the traveling booking systems your company uses. That way, everything is added automatically, and you'll earn your points without any extra effort.

Lastly, make sure to add your company card to your phone's wallet. If you forget your card in the hotel or at home, you won't have to use a personal card! It can also make everything easier when ordering online. I add my company card to my favorite food apps including Starbucks, Uber Eats, and DoorDash.

*Information presented on RxTeach does not represent the opinion of any specific company, organization, or team other than the authors themselves. No patient-provider relationship is created.