Summer Intern Perspectives: Michael Sporck

Preceptor: Vaishali Patel
Virtual Preceptor: Destin Sampson  

When I started pharmacy school, I knew my career interests lied in non-traditional areas of pharmacy. My areas of focus are managed care and a variety of positions in the pharmaceutical industry that are not concentrations of pharmacy school curriculum. This is why the AMCP Foundation/Allergan Plc Specialized Summer Internship in Health Outcomes was such an invaluable experience for me. I had the opportunity to work within the Global Health Economics and Outcomes Research (GHEOR) department for 9 weeks. During this time, I worked with a multidisciplinary team that interacts with individuals in HEOR, Medical Affairs, External Communications, Medical Information, and Payer Marketing. Not only did I receive mentoring from my preceptors, Vaishali Patel and Mousam Parekh, I also learned how HEOR fit within the broader goals and functions of the company. My experience this summer supported my interest in health outcomes and helped me develop an appreciation for the other roles pharmacists can apply their skillset to in the pharmaceutical industry.

During my summer at Allergan, I completed a project focused on clinical outcomes and patient reported outcomes in breast reconstruction. I enjoyed the challenge of learning and understanding a completely new therapeutic area and found it fascinating there is focused research being conducted in areas I had never considered prior to this internship. This project helped me develop the skillset of an HEOR researcher through conducting a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. This experience is invaluable to my career development. In addition, it is particularly rewarding to know that my work will be used in the field to present the value of Allergan’s products. In addition to the 9 weeks I spent at Allergan in Irvine, CA, I also spent a week in Alexandria, VA at AMCP Headquarters. I worked with AMCP and the Foundation while I was there and it gave me a better appreciation for all of the work that goes into planning the events and educational opportunities provided by AMCP.

I am extremely thankful to Allergan and AMCP Foundation for making this opportunity possible. During my time at Allergan, I made new friends, mentors, and experiences that will be an important part of my life moving forward. Some of these mentors and friends who contributed to my experience include my preceptors at Allergan, Vaishali Patel and Mousam Parekh, as well as, Patrick Gillard, Justin Yu, Destin Sampson at Xcenda, and Christine Cooper and Brittany Vogel at AMCP Foundation. In addition to these individuals, all of the professionals at Allergan and AMCP added value to my experience. I am appreciative that so many people were willing to spend time explaining their role and telling me their story. I am excited to build on the skills developed this past summer and I look forward to reconnecting with colleagues and presenting our work at the AMCP Nexus conference in Orlando this fall.