The Office of Biomedical Research Education and Training hosted a Ph.D. Career Stories presentation focused on medical affairs and the role of medical science liaisons on November 8. The event, moderated by Vanderbilt University Medical Center postdoctoral research fellow Leah Mann, featured Vanderbilt University alums Casey (Butrico) Hatfield and Todd Townsend. They provided insights into their career paths, responsibilities, and experiences as medical science liaisons working to provide and connect scientific and medical knowledge with stakeholders such as healthcare providers.
Hatfield, currently a scientific affairs manager at Kuros Biosciences—a biopharmaceutical company that commercializes and develops technologies for tissue repair and bone regeneration—earned her Ph.D. in microbe-host interactions in 2023.
As a recent grad, she told the audience, “Imposter syndrome is real!” garnering a laugh from the crowd. Despite that, she already has a plethora of experience under her belt—she has worked at the pharmaceutical company Janssen and biotech giant Pfizer. Hatfield emphasized the importance of effective communication in bridging the gap between healthcare providers and the pharmaceutical industry—something she has learned quickly in her roles. She highlighted her responsibility in building relationships with key opinion leaders and educating trainees in orthopedic and neurosurgical specialties.
Townsend, who serves as the regional medical scientific director for cardio-metabolic diseases at Merck, where he has worked since 2017, received his Ph.D. in pharmacology in 2008 under the tutelage of Joey Barnett. Before joining Merck, Townsend was a staff fellow and principal investigator at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s National Center for Toxicological Research, where he was honored with the 2016 Individual Award for Outstanding Service. He discussed his transition from regulatory roles to medical affairs, underscoring the value of adaptability and continuous learning in career development.
To attendees, he said, “You can link your scientific experience so many positions,” adding that he recommends soon-to-be graduates to “cast a broad net” when looking for jobs as medical science liaisons or similar roles.
Not only did Hatfield and Townsend provide attendees with a comprehensive understanding of the medical science liaison profession, including the challenges and rewards of careers in medical affairs, but they also discussed the pros and cons of working for larger or smaller companies, when to apply for jobs, measuring success in their roles, and more. Participants engaged in a dynamic Q&A session, exploring topics such as salary and benefits, the skills that have served them, work-life balance, and more.
The pair had great advice for attendees. Hatfield recommends that students nearing graduation and looking for a job should “think about what [they] are doing on a day-to-day basis, and reflect on what aspects [they] enjoy doing.” Townsend also added that his job search including looking for “what I didn’t enjoy,” explaining that that knowledge can be just as useful when looking for a job.
In the end, one of the biggest pieces of advice that Hatfield had was “being around people who challenge you and teach you.” Townsend added his own parting wisdom. “Enjoy what you are doing and immerse yourself,” he said. “If you are happy in life, it shows.”