Intern Perspectives: Jackson Yu, AMCP Foundation/Pfizer, Inc. Managed Care Internship

This summer, I joined the Blue Cross NC team as the AMCP Foundation/Pfizer managed care intern. It was my first time working in managed care, and over 10 weeks I’ve gained invaluable insight and experience. 

I was drawn to managed care because it combines clinical judgment with the business side of pharmacy. I've seen how often patients are priced out of their medications and I wanted to understand how decisions made upstream shape that experience. At BCBSNC, I worked with the prior authorization and utilization management team, took part in annual criteria review, and helped the Blue Premier pharmacists prepare updates for our ACO partners. Much of that work involved looking through claims data for savings opportunities, such as brand-to-generic changes or shifts in clinical guidelines and providing recommendations. 

My capstone project looked at immunization gaps in oncology patients. Our internal claims data suggested that many of these patients were missing routine respiratory vaccines, even though their treatment often leaves them more vulnerable to serious infections. I surveyed clinicians in the North Carolina region to better understand the various obstacles and barriers they faced. Clinicians weren't opposed to vaccinating these patients; rather, the challenges include patient hesitancy, limited time during visits, and uncertainty regarding timeline around treatment. I’m looking forward to presenting my findings at AMCP Nexus 2026 in San Diego this October. 

Working with my Pfizer team showed me how a manufacturer approaches decisions. We had productive discussions about my project, and the Pfizer education sessions covered topics like real-world evidence, budget impact models, and specialty pharmacy, to name a few. Seeing the same problem from both the payer and pharma side changed how I think about problem solving. 

What I enjoyed most was getting to contribute to so many different projects and working alongside such a supportive team. Thank you to my preceptor and mentor, Brenden O'Hara, for his guidance throughout the summer, and to Spenser Smith and Chris Woodward, the Blue Premier pharmacists I worked with most closely, for including me in their work, always making time for my questions, and for providing me with valuable pieces of advice as well as constructive feedback to help me become a more well-rounded and inquisitive student pharmacist. I'm also grateful to my Pfizer team of Nicole Abolins, Lori Blackner, and Courtney Patrick for their support and insight. They were extremely welcoming and provided numerous learning opportunities beyond the capstone project. 

Finally, thank you to the AMCP Foundation for making this experience possible. This past summer has been one of continuous learning and growth, and I'm leaving with a much clearer idea of where I want to take my pharmacy career. 

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