Medical Advisor After BDS: Job Roles, Salary & Growth Potential
Who is a Medical Advisor?
A medical advisor is a medical expert who works for pharmaceutical, medical device, animal-health, or biotech companies.
The main role of an advisor is to give expert opinion, helping the company develop and market medical and healthcare products.
Understanding the Medical Advisor Role in the Healthcare Industry
Medical Advisors play several crucial roles, such as:
Source: ncbi(1)
Can a BDS Graduate Become a Medical Advisor?
Yes, you can become a medical advisor after BDS, especially if you are interested in:
- Healthcare
- Clinical research
- Pharmacovigilance
- Medical device industries
- Product or drug development
Transitioning into the role of an advisor may not always require an additional degree. The skills taught in dental/medical school are often sufficient to land a job in this field.
However, supplementing your degree with an MBA in Hospital Management, a clinical research diploma, or a free certification course can give you an edge.
Strong communication skills, an analytical mindset for evaluating clinical data, and the ability to plan and coordinate medical activities matter the most.
Watch this podcast and see how one of our clients landed a role as a medical advisor with no extra qualifications but a BDS degree.
What are the Career Scopes for a Medical Advisor in India?
The role of a medical advisor is dynamic in India, offering a wide array of opportunities across the healthcare, pharmaceutical, insurance, biotech, and medical device industries.
Different Types of Medical Advisor Roles Across Industries
Here’s a breakdown of the career scope for different medical and dental clinical advisors:
Educational and Professional Requirements for the Medical Advisor Role in India After BDS
Ideally, pharma companies prefer pharma graduates or an MD in pharmacology. Apart from this, various companies also hire BDS and MBBS graduates.
BPharma and MPharma graduates also have a great scope in this field.
The requirements usually differ from organisation to organisation. There is no specific qualification criterion.
Are There Any Necessary Qualifications After BDS?
There are no necessary qualifications for the medical advisor role after BDS. Many companies hire dental graduates with strong clinical knowledge.
Hence, it is advised that you keep yourself up-to-date with the medical industry.
Relevant Certifications and Courses
There are numerous free courses available that you can take to get that extra edge. At Odigio, we don’t recommend taking paid courses until necessary.
Our clients did not undergo special training for the medical advisor role; they were hired based on their clinical skills and knowledge.
What are Some of the Personal Skills Required for the Role?
According to our subject experts, the skills required to land a role as a medical advisor in the healthcare industry are:
- Networking
- Strong communication skills
- Ability to collaborate across teams
- Analytical thinking to interpret clinical data
- Strategic thinking to organise medical activities
What are the Key Responsibilities of a Medical Advisor in India After BDS?
- Train internal teams like sales and marketing.
- These professionals also develop strategies related to various healthcare products and therapies.
- They also conduct advisory board meetings and provide insights on the latest clinical developments.
- Interpret clinical data and hand it over to the product team for new product development and launch.
- Medical advisors play a critical role by providing clinical and scientific expertise to internal departments like marketing, sales, and external stakeholders.
Difference Between a Medical Advisor, a Medical Science Liaison, and Medical Affairs
Read the table below to know the difference:
| Criteria | Medical Advisor | Medical Science Liaison (MSL) | Medical Affairs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Role | In-house medical expert providing scientific and strategic guidance to pharma/healthcare companies | Field-based role building relationships with doctors, researchers, and KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders) | Umbrella department responsible for medical accuracy, strategy, and ethical compliance |
| Work Location | Office-based (HQ or regional office) | Field-based (frequent travel to hospitals, conferences, etc.) | Both office and field-based, depending on the role |
| Core Responsibilities | In-house medical expert providing scientific and strategic guidance to pharma/healthcare companies. | Engage with KOLs- Present data on products- Gather insights from the field- Medical education support | Manage medical strategy- Approve scientific content- Oversee compliance and communication across teams |
| Interaction With | Internal teams (marketing, sales, regulatory, R&D) | External stakeholders (doctors, researchers, KOLs) | Cross-functional teams + both internal and external experts |
| Typical Background | MBBS, BDS, BPharm, MPH, MSc, PhD + experience in pharma or medical content | Similar to Medical Advisor; often MBBS/PhD/MSc/BDS/BPharm + strong communication | Diverse — includes MDs, PhDs, PharmDs, MPH, life sciences grads |
| Skills Required | Scientific communication, compliance, cross-functional collaboration | Strong interpersonal skills, scientific knowledge, and field communication | Strategic thinking, communication, and regulatory awareness |
| Goal | Ensure medical/scientific accuracy in company activities | Build scientific credibility and foster clinical relationships | Maintain scientific integrity and drive ethical medical strategy |
| Growth Path | → Senior Medical Advisor → Medical Affairs Manager → Medical Director | → Senior MSL → Regional MSL Lead → Director of Field Medical Affairs | → Medical Director, Therapeutic Area Head, Global Medical Affairs Lead |
What Kind of Companies Hire Medical Advisors?
Mainly, pharmaceutical companies hire medical advisors because they have a dedicated team and require a lot of expert clinical advice.
Many product manufacturing, biotech, and AI-based health-tech companies also require healthcare professionals as advisors.
What do Companies Look for in a Potential Candidate?
Companies look for the following skills:
- Strong communication skills.
- The candidate should have great networking skills.
- Presentation skills are important because while presenting the product at a conference, you act as the face of the company.
What is the Average Salary of a Medical Advisor?
A candidate’s salary depends on how well they present their clinical knowledge and other skills mentioned above in front of the recruiter.
You can expect a salary between 8 Lakhs and 15 Lakhs per annum at an entry level. The salary increases subsequently with time, exposure, and experience level.
What is the Scope of Growth in This Field?
After BDS in India, a medical advisor gets promoted to Head of Medical Affairs or a Senior Medical Advisor based on their expertise.
Conclusion
Becoming a medical advisor after BDS in India is a promising role and is possible for dental graduates who want to build a career beyond clinics.
These roles allow you to combine your medical/clinical knowledge with strategic thinking, research abilities, networking, and communication skills across the healthcare ecosystem.
This role helps you serve people on a broader spectrum. The role of a medical advisor is very diverse and allows you to explore different domains in healthcare.
Like product development, scientific communication, or shaping healthcare strategy, it offers significant career growth.
You don’t necessarily require an additional degree to start with this role; your clinical skills, background, and willingness to learn will take you far.
This might be your ideal path if you want to make a larger impact on healthcare while still staying connected to science.
Book a call with our field expert and start with the transition.