Intern Perspective: Ramez Rizk, AMCP Foundation/AbbVie Specialized Internship

This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to fly to Chicago for my AMCP/AbbVie Health Outcomes internship, and honestly, it ended up being one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had so far in my PharmD journey. I went in without many expectations, anticipating some projects, some meetings, and maybe a couple presentations. However, what I experienced was way more than that: real responsibility, real mentorship, and a community that genuinely wants you to grow!

Living in Chicago was its own adventure. I stayed in the northern suburbs, which meant balancing city weekends with quiet weekday evenings. I met so many people, including interns, full-timers, and fellows who were all open to building friendships and professional connections. There’s something about the culture at AbbVie that makes you feel like you belong from day one. People would grab coffee with you just to hear about your goals. Directors remembered your name. Even during huge brand strategy workshops that I was involved in, you never felt like “just an intern,” but more like a true member of a team.

My projects were a mix of HEOR, market access, and real-world evidence projects. I was exposed to Manufacturer Fair Pricing (MFP), a relatively new topic in the managed care world. I completed the Instant Health Data (IHD) certification, which was my first real exposure to using big real world evidence (RWE) datasets in a practical way. Additionally, my capstone project consisted of a full systematic literature review focused on ibrutinib and second-generation BTK inhibitors. I ultimately had the opportunity to present my findings in a formal presentation, where discussions were brought up and true impact was made. It is surreal going from learning about these drugs in class to discussing them with actual experts!

On the other hand, the AMCP experience was unmatched. I had the opportunity to be involved in a series of learning interactive sessions that were managed by Pfizer. My favorite part was when I learnt about allocating innovative clinical trial funding in Oncology research and development (R&D) through an interactive simulator. Additionally, I had the chance to gain certification in the fundamentals of managed care, and also present a journal club of my own to the AMCP leaders and interns.

The rigorous professional learning environment within AbbVie and AMCP, coupled with the great community and opportunities to have fun in Chicago, was an amazing experience that I am incredibly grateful for. I want to thank the AMCP internship coordinators, Anne Fentress and Ebony Clay, as well as my AbbVie preceptor Bhavini Srivastava. Looking back, the whole experience gave me clarity about what I want for my career. But beyond the projects and certifications, what I’ll remember most is the people: the conversations, the openness, the support, and the sense that everyone genuinely wanted me to succeed!

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