Intern Perspectives: Jiwon Oh, AMCP Foundation/Sanofi Internship in Specialty Care

This summer, I had the privilege of serving as an AMCP Foundation/Sanofi Intern in Specialty Care at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. Over ten weeks, I was able to dive into the world of managed care pharmacy, where I learned so much, contributed to meaningful projects, and grew both personally and professionally.

At Excellus BCBS, I had the chance to experience various sides of managed care. While working with the Pharmacy Strategy and Policy Development team, I evaluated new-to-market drugs, analyzed their clinical data, and compared them with agents already available. This work culminated in drafting policy recommendations and presenting my findings to the entire Pharmacy Strategy & Policy team. Being part of discussions that determine patient access to medications was an eye-opening experience; it gave me insight into the wide range of variables considered in policy development. I also worked closely with utilization management pharmacists, where I processed prior authorization claims and saw how policy translates into practice. Evaluating the clinical appropriateness of drug requests allowed me to strengthen both my critical thinking and clinical decision-making skills.

Beyond these core experiences, I rotated through other departments across the organization, gaining exposure to quality measures, specialty pharmacy operations, and patient support programs. It was fascinating to see how each team’s work connects, and how departments collaborate cross-functionally. This holistic perspective helped me appreciate the larger ecosystem of managed care pharmacy and the shared mission of providing affordable, equitable health care.

The highlight of my internship was my capstone project on primary non-adherence to biologic therapies in patients with moderate to severe asthma, which I will be presenting at AMCP Nexus 2025. This project allowed me to collaborate with data analysts, design a research methodology, and interpret real-world results in the context of managed care decision-making. It was an incredibly rewarding experience that brought together my interests in data-driven decision-making, patient access, and health outcomes.

What made this internship truly transformative were the people I had the privilege of working with. I am deeply grateful to my mentors, Christopher Diehl, PharmD, MBA, Alyssa Tutino, PharmD, and Christopher Dubik, PharmD, who guided me with patience, insight, and encouragement. I would also like to thank the Sanofi team, Debra Vickers, PharmD, Nirav Patel, PharmD, and Caresse Campbell, PhD, for their support and the opportunity to learn more about the Sanofi Medical Value & Outcomes team. Their mentorship provided invaluable insights and incredible networking opportunities with team members across the organization. Finally, thank you to the AMCP Foundation team, Ebony Clay, PMP, and Anne Fentress, MS, for creating a program that so thoughtfully invests in student pharmacists and supports the next generation of leaders in our field.

This internship reaffirmed my passion for managed care and my commitment to a career focused on improving medication access, value, and equity. I’m leaving this program with a stronger sense of direction, a bigger network of support, and a lot of excitement for what’s ahead. This summer was more than just an internship – it was a pivotal step in my journey as a student pharmacist and future managed care professional.

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