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Enhancing KOL Engagement Through Strategic Presentation Opportunities

  • Writer: SAKS MedComms Team
    SAKS MedComms Team
  • Jun 25
  • 3 min read
Enhancing KOL Engagement Through Strategic Presentation Opportunities SAKS Health Blog Post_Image of a microphone bullhorn coming out of a desktop monitor.

In the pharmaceutical industry, Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) play a pivotal role in communicating scientific insights about emerging and established therapies to healthcare providers (HCPs) and, increasingly, to patients. When executed effectively, KOL engagement elevates both the credibility and reach of scientific messaging. Presentations that reflect best practice while ensuring scientific rigor and maintaining the authenticity and clinical voice of the KOL are instrumental in shaping therapeutic perception and accelerating adoption.


Strategic presentations by respected experts not only foster informed discussions within the medical community but also influence clinical practice and therapeutic direction. Aligning compelling speakers with the most effective presentation platforms is key to maximizing the impact and return on investment (ROI) of these initiatives. Below, we examine traditional and digital venues that can amplify KOL-driven communication efforts.

Traditional Venues

Scientific congresses and symposia consistently represent high-impact opportunities for KOL engagement. Annual meetings hosted by major associations provide ideal forums for presenting clinical trial data, delivering therapeutic insights, and sharing real-world clinical experience.


For more tailored engagements, smaller venues such as regional conferences, dinner meetings, advisory boards, and closed-door strategy sessions offer valuable spaces for dialogue. These settings allow KOLs to interact with peers and pharmaceutical stakeholders, often generating insights that shape clinical development and commercial strategy.


Investor meetings are another strategic forum where KOLs lend credibility and clarity by explaining pivotal data or developmental milestones. Including a KOL speaker ensures the delivery of scientifically accurate, compelling messages to a highly influential audience.


In-person presentations can also be supplemented with recorded educational content. Video presentations that explain mechanisms of action, treatment pathways, or clinical relevance are particularly effective for reaching broader HCP or patient audiences and extending the shelf life of key messages.

Digital Engagements

While traditional formats remain foundational, digital channels offer expanded opportunities to engage broader audiences on their own schedules. Live or on-demand webcasts led by KOLs are increasingly popular for sharing timely insights and fostering interaction. Additional formats such as recorded speaker sessions and podcasts allow for continued engagement and content reuse.


One digital KOL engagement that we facilitated involved a steering committee (SC) of neurology KOLs charged with informing Medical Affairs on clinical trial development, long-term sustainable improvements to healthcare, and ongoing research in the category. Our mid-size pharmaceutical client was seeking a user-friendly tool allowing the SC to asynchronously connect, communicate, and engage on a wide range of topics and challenges. So we implemented our proprietary platform SAKSiNTERACTiVE within 4 weeks, which created a collaborative workspace and virtual community. It allowed the already recruited SC members to interact more effectively with one another by providing them with materials and resources, self study modules, case studies and opportunities for live virtual discussions and individual and group activities.


Social media has emerged as a powerful extension of medical communications, led by a growing cohort of Digital Opinion Leaders (DOLs). These trusted voices use platforms such as LinkedIn and YouTube to synthesize and share the latest scientific findings, aiming to educate both peers and the broader healthcare community, ultimately with the goal of improving patient care.


One of the key advantages of DOL-driven content is its immediacy. Unlike congress presentations or peer-reviewed publications, which often require long lead times, digital updates—whether via blog posts, email newsletters, or platforms like X (formerly Twitter)—can be shared within hours or days. This speed enables real-time engagement with HCPs, meeting them where they are and reinforcing key messages through repeated exposure.


These digital platforms, like SAKSiNTERACTiVE, are increasingly preferred by HCPs and pharma sponsors due to their flexibility, accessibility, and relevance.

The Future of KOL Presentations

As the industry advances toward more personalized and data-driven healthcare, KOL-led presentations will remain a cornerstone of effective medical communication. A hybrid approach that combines the credibility of in-person events with the scalability of digital engagement continues to be essential. Strategically integrating these channels ensures KOLs continue to drive clinical adoption, support therapeutic innovation, and contribute to our ability to enable a Better Healthcare Tomorrow™.


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