Intern Perspectives: Ronald Watson Jr., AMCP Foundation/Pfizer, Inc. Managed Care Internship

This summer, I had the honor of serving as the 2025 AMCP Foundation/Pfizer Managed Care Intern at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City. As a third-year PharmD candidate at Florida A&M University, this ten-week experience was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that not only exceeded my expectations but also laid the foundation for my future in managed care and the pharmaceutical industry. Coming from Jacksonville, Florida, I was struck by how welcoming Kansas City was, both in terms of the people and the culture, and it quickly felt like a place where I could thrive personally and professionally.

My time at Blue KC placed me among some of the most intelligent, personable, and inspiring individuals I have had the privilege to work alongside. From day one, the pharmacy team made me feel like a true member of their family. My preceptor, Amy Christensen, provided invaluable guidance and constant support, while leaders such as Danny Weiss, Kim Gerbandt, and Teresa Haile invested time in sharing their knowledge and experiences. The caliber of professionals I was surrounded by encouraged me to grow daily and challenged me to think critically about managed care pharmacy.

During the internship, I gained hands-on experience with prior authorization reviews, utilization management strategies, formulary management, and pharmacy legislation. These responsibilities deepened my technical knowledge while sharpening my ability to apply classroom learning in real-world scenarios. I also had the opportunity to present a journal club to the pharmacy team, an experience that strengthened my public speaking skills and boosted my confidence in professional presentations. In addition, completing the Foundations of Managed Care course offered by the AMCP Foundation provided me with a structured framework to better understand the broader landscape of payer–provider–pharmacy collaboration.

A highlight of the summer was my capstone research project, Identification of factors that may contribute to vaccine hesitancy in at-risk members of a commercial health plan. This project pushed me to explore population health challenges at the payer level, and I look forward to presenting the findings at AMCP Nexus 2025. Beyond my work at Blue KC, I benefited from cohort meetings and educational sessions hosted by AMCP Foundation and Pfizer. These sessions, along with my mentor group—Lori Blackner, John Boyd, John Glover, and Shannon Meece from Pfizer—were instrumental in helping me refine my professional identity and career aspirations.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my preceptor, Amy Christensen, and to all of my mentors at Pfizer and Blue KC, including Danny Weiss, Kim Gerbandt, and Teresa Haile, for their unwavering support and encouragement. I am also incredibly thankful for the guidance of Ebony Clay and Anne Fentress from AMCP Foundation, who played a central role in ensuring this program was both educational and enriching.

This internship has equipped me with practical skills, a stronger professional network, and a clearer vision of how I can contribute to managed care pharmacy. It has been an experience I will carry with me throughout my rotations and future career, and I am proud to be part of the AMCP Foundation’s legacy of developing the next generation of pharmacy leaders.

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