Overview
Samuel Dyer, MD, PhD
Dr. Samuel Dyer is a physician, educator, researcher, author, and internationally recognized leader in Medical Affairs and the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) profession. He has more than 26 years of experience spanning academic education, pharmaceutical and biotechnology Medical Affairs, clinical research, leadership development, and professional training. He is the founder and CEO of the Medical Science Liaison Society, the first global nonprofit professional organization dedicated exclusively to advancing the MSL profession.
Dr. Dyer’s academic and educational experience spans undergraduate, graduate, medical, and doctoral education. He has served as an adjunct professor of Anatomy and Physiology, General Biology, and Wilderness Medicine. He led the development of the Medical Affairs/MSL concentration within the Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree program at Northeastern University, helping to shape the curriculum and academic structure of this specialized track.
A major focus of Dr. Dyer’s career has been translating evidence and professional experience into practical education for physicians, healthcare, and life sciences professionals. He has developed and led MSL and Medical Affairs training programs for more than 90 pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and diagnostic companies across 20 countries. These educational programs have focused on scientific communication, critical evaluation of clinical evidence, healthcare leadership, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, actionable insights, artificial intelligence, health economics and outcomes research, and other competencies essential to Medical Affairs.
His research focuses primarily on Medical Affairs, the MSL profession, healthcare leadership, artificial intelligence, professional education, and the measurement and optimization of field medical impact. Dr. Dyer has authored more than 80 published articles, including multiple peer-reviewed articles in medical and scientific journals, as well as industry reports, global benchmarking studies, white papers, and books. His peer-reviewed research has examined topics including the measurement of MSL impact and performance, the adoption of artificial intelligence among Medical Affairs professionals, the role of MSLs in clinical research, and awareness of alternative clinical careers among physicians and medical students.
Dr. Dyer has also played a significant role in developing professional standards for the MSL profession globally. He led the development of the first board certification for Medical Science Liaisons, the MSL-BC®. He also led the development of the first global MSL Activity Guidelines, established International Medical Science Liaison Day, and founded The MSL Journal, the first global publication dedicated specifically to the MSL profession. Through the MSL Society, he has helped establish multiple university student chapters of the MSL Society and created an MSL research internship for students.
Before founding the MSL Society, Dr. Dyer held Medical Affairs leadership positions with several pharmaceutical organizations, including Genentech, Abbott, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Bertek Pharmaceuticals. His international leadership experience has included responsibility for leading Medical Affairs and MSL teams and operations across more than 60 countries. His professional experience encompasses clinical development, Phase III and IV research, investigator-sponsored research, medical strategy, health economics and outcomes research, regulatory and compliance education, product launches, scientific communication, and the development and leadership of global Medical Affairs teams.
Dr. Dyer is also the author of four books related to the MSL profession. His first book, The Medical Science Liaison Career Guide: How to Break Into Your First Role, became an Amazon #1 bestseller and has received multiple national and international publishing awards. He has presented at more than 50 international and national conferences and more than 65 webinars, and has served as a consultant and subject-matter expert to organizations including McKinsey & Company and Bain & Company.
