Get to Know AMCP Foundation's 2023 Summer Interns
We are celebrating 30 years of developing leaders and are thrilled to warmly welcome the AMCP Foundation Class of 2023 summer interns. These aspiring pharmacists are embarking on a valuable journey of gaining practical experience through our internships at various host sites, which include health plans, PBMs, and industry.
AMCP Foundation is committed to creating transformative leadership opportunities for student pharmacists. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our esteemed funding partners: Pfizer, AbbVie, Sanofi, and Genentech. Their generous support makes these internships possible and contributes to the professional development of these future health care leaders.
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Lexie Bennett
School/College: Drake University College of Pharmacy and Science
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2025
Internship Site: AMCP Foundation/Pfizer Managed Care Internship at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City
Zodiac sign: Scorpio
Predictive Index Behavioral Assessment: Altruist
Why did you choose to go to pharmacy school?
I love the variety of areas pharmacists are able to provide clinical knowledge, education, and patient care as valuable assets to the healthcare team.
What is your favorite pharmacy school class?
Principles of Drug Action (pharmacology series)
Why did you choose this internship, and what do you hope to gain from your experience?
I chose the AMCP/Pfizer Managed Care Internship for its unique opportunity to learn about core aspects in managed care while researching ways to improve health outcomes at a public health level. With a background in medication therapy management, I hope to gain a new perspective on managed care to optimize patient benefit and healthcare resources.
What is your hidden talent?
Leatherworking
At what job would you be terrible?
Sports announcer
If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Why?
My late grandfather, passed away just before I was born on his birthday, and he raised his son and eleven daughters (one being my mom) to be a fun-loving family
If you had to choose only 3 adjectives to describe yourself, which would you choose?
Dependable, Efficient, and Driven
Nikhil Bhatia
School/College: University of Georgia College of Pharmacy
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2024
Internship Site: AMCP Foundation/Genentech, Inc. Evidence for Access Internship
Zodiac sign: Libra
Predictive Index Behavioral Profile: Operator
Why did you choose to go to pharmacy school?
I wanted to serve patients in a healthcare setting with an opportunity to take on several different roles. I am interested in biochemistry and drug discovery.
What is your favorite pharmacy school class?
Pharmacokinetics/Pharmaceutics
Why did you choose this internship, and what do you hope to gain from your experience?
I really loved being part of the AMCP Foundation program last year, and so I wanted to continue to grow in a setting in which I knew I would be supported. Medical affairs became an interest over the previous AMCP Foundation internship I completed, and I could not resist an opportunity to get direct experience in the field along with the amazing support system.
What is your hidden talent?
I love to play poker (legally, of course)
At what job would you be terrible?
Artist
If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Why?
Gordon Ramsey; I like to cook, so his opinion would be a great benchmark!
If you had to choose only 3 adjectives to describe yourself, which would you choose?
Loyal, Spontaneous, and Amicable
Marianna Calvet
School/College: University of Florida College of Pharmacy
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2025
Internship Site: AMCP Foundation/Pfizer Managed Care Internship at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
Zodiac sign: Taurus
Predictive Index Behavioral Profile: Promoter
Why did you choose to go to pharmacy school?
I wanted a good work-life balance while still helping patients in every facet of my career.
What is your favorite pharmacy school class?
Infectious Diseases
Why did you choose this internship, and what do you hope to gain from your experience?
Managed care is such a niche area of pharmacy, and I am excited to learn about the cohort of interns and different areas of managed care.
What is your hidden talent?
I am a great dog trainer, I love to foster dogs from my local humane society and train them to increase their chances of becoming adopted.
At what job would you be terrible?
Anything related to technology is not in my forte. I would not excel at being a software engineer mostly because code is not a language I think I could ever understand.
If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Why?
I would love to meet Ina Garden, her style of cooking and hosting is an art I would love to ask her about and integrate into my cuisine.
If you had to choose only 3 adjectives to describe yourself, which would you choose?
Curious, Compassionate and Intuitive
Raquel Erb
School/College: University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2024
Internship Site: AMCP Foundation/Sanofi Internship in Specialty Care at Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina
Zodiac sign: Taurus
Predictive Index Behavioral Profile: Collaborator
Why did you choose to go to pharmacy school?
I chose to go to pharmacy school because pharmacy offers a unique combination of science, patient care, and medication management, aligning with my interests and strengths.
What is your favorite pharmacy school class?
Pharmacoeconomics
Why did you choose this internship, and what do you hope to gain from your experience?
My background in managed care is working with the Medicare population and supporting member adherence to medications for chronic conditions. I chose this internship to learn more about specialty medications, and I hope to broaden my understanding of specialty pharmacy operations in a managed care setting.
What is your hidden talent?
I can pick up dances or choreographed movements quickly, in undergrad I was on the school’s cheer team!
At what job would you be terrible?
Personal Chef – I’m more of a meal prep and protein shake person so I would not have the creativity or energy to cook several different meals a day…
If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Why?
Courtney Dauwalter because she is a highly accomplished ultramarathon runner known for her incredible endurance and mental strength. She embodies the spirit of perseverance and serves as a role model for individuals pursuing their goals and pushing the boundaries of what they thought was possible.
If you had to choose only 3 adjectives to describe yourself, which would you choose?
Dedicated, Adaptable, and Empathetic
Lucy Evans
School/College: University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2024
Internship Site: AMCP Foundation/Pfizer Managed Care Internship at Humana
Zodiac sign: Libra
Predictive Index Behavioral Profile: Collaborator
Why did you choose to go to pharmacy school?
I was intrigued by the profession having both clinical/patient care aspects as well as being able to utilize a background in chemistry and biology. I was interested in drug discovery research and was able to be involved in a medicinal chemistry lab
for the past few years. Pharmacy is an expansive field with many career possibilities, a unique aspect of the profession I love!
What is your favorite pharmacy school class?
Medicinal chemistry and Pharmacology
Why did you choose this internship, and what do you hope to gain from your experience?
I have always been interested in nontraditional careers in pharmacy, and this internship offers a truly unique experience for students. I am excited to explore these possibilities by gaining experience and perspective of the various pharmacist’s roles in a managed care and industry setting.
What is your hidden talent?
Gardening
At what job would you be terrible?
Any construction job that requires heavy lifting, I have very limited upper body strength.
If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Why?
Steven Levitt or Stephen Dubner, co-authors of Freakonomics, they have a unique perspective on everyday phenomena and show how economics can be applicable to almost everything!
If you had to choose only 3 adjectives to describe yourself, which would you choose?
Insightful, Adaptable, and Diligent
Natalie Keohane
School/College: University of Georgia School of Pharmacy
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2025
Internship Site: AMCP Foundation/Pfizer Oncology Internship at Magellan Rx Management
Zodiac sign: Sagittarius
Predictive Index Behavioral Profile: Collaborator
Why did you choose to go to pharmacy school?
I am blessed to have known lots of great pharmacists throughout my life, including my mom, aunt, and grandma. They opened my eyes to the impact pharmacists have on all aspects of healthcare, which inspired me to pursue pharmacy. I knew I could make a difference that would help people improve their health and, therefore, their quality of life. I am grateful to go into a field with endless opportunities!
What is your favorite pharmacy school class?
Pharmacotherapy (even though it’s probably my most challenging class as well!)
Why did you choose this internship, and what do you hope to gain from your experience?
I chose this internship because I will gain perspective from both a pharmaceutical company and a healthcare provider/payer and better understand how the two work together. I am also looking forward to the opportunity to present in October at AMCP Nexus! From this experience, I hope to grow my understanding of cost utilization of medicine, especially in oncology. I am also excited to grow my research and presenting skills and meet new people.
What is your hidden talent?
Being an air hockey prodigy
At what job would you be terrible?
I would be terrible at owning a clothing boutique. I would buy everything in it because of my shopping problem!
If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Why?
Adele. I need to hear her voice live so hopefully she would sing if we met.
If you had to choose only 3 adjectives to describe yourself, which would you choose?
Self-motivated, Positive, and Energetic
Kenneth “Chip” Keown
School/College: University of Florida College of Pharmacy
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2025
Internship Site: AMCP Foundation/Pfizer Oncology Internship at CVS Health
Zodiac sign: Sagittarius
Predictive Index Behavioral Profile: Strategist.
Why did you choose to go to pharmacy school?
I wanted to work with companies to help introduce drugs to the market to treat previously untreatable conditions.
What is your favorite pharmacy school class?
Pharmacy Economics
Why did you choose this internship, and what do you hope to gain from your experience?
I chose this internship to learn how to assess different drug safety, efficacy, and outcomes profile and determine its place in therapy. I hope to gain insight into decision-making by both companies and learn how to educate both the patient and providers how to better manage cancer.
What is your hidden talent?
I consider myself a home-chef, I love to cook and experience other cultures through their food.
At what job would you be terrible?
Working on a boat or a plane, I get motion sickness.
If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Why?
I would meet my late grandfather. He passed away from lung cancer 10 years before I was born. He was well known in his field, and part of the reason why I am interested in cancer treatments and pursuing a Pharm.D.
If you had to choose only 3 adjectives to describe yourself, which would you choose?
Honest, Analytical, and Gregarious
Jonathan Luong
School/College: University of Washington School of Pharmacy
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2025
Internship Site: AMCP Foundation/Pfizer Managed Care Internship at Cigna
Zodiac sign: Aquarius
Predictive Index Behavioral Profile: Analyzer
Why did you choose to go to pharmacy school?
My original draw to the field of pharmacy was the accessibility of pharmacists as healthcare providers to the general public. During my PharmD. training, I have been able to learn more about the role that pharmacists can play on a more macro level in healthcare, especially in regard to patient medication access, which is a topic of interest to me.
What is your favorite pharmacy school class?
Intro to Pharmacoeconomics, Oncology Pharmacotherapeutics
Why did you choose this internship, and what do you hope to gain from your experience?
This internship through the AMCP Foundation provides a unique opportunity for me to apply many of the managed care concepts and ideas that I have learned about and move them from abstraction to real-world practice. I hope to learn more about the interplay of the various moving parts in our healthcare system and how they can be improved in order to affect healthcare access and patient outcomes positively.
What is your hidden talent?
I am an extremely skilled playlist curator.
At what job would you be terrible?
Uber Driver
If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Why?
Nelson Mandela-it would be interesting to talk to him about affecting large-scale change from a grassroots origin.
If you had to choose only 3 adjectives to describe yourself, which would you choose?
Empathetic, Accepting, and Disciplined
Kathryn Perkins
School/College: USC Alfred E. Mann, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2024
Internship Site: AMCP Foundation/AbbVie Specialized Internship - Chicago, IL
Zodiac sign: Aries
Predictive Index Behavioral Profile: Persuader
Why did you choose to go to pharmacy school?
After graduating from undergrad in 2017, I started working as a veterinary assistant. During my time working in veterinary medicine, I had incredible mentors who showed me how to practice evidence-based medicine. A friend of mine who was a medication safety pharmacist gave me the opportunity to shadow different hospital pharmacists where she worked. There I fell in love with all of the opportunities for pharmacists to specialize in different areas and help patients become more informed about their medications. Pharmacy offered me the opportunity to learn about medicine and evidenced-based care while offering me more opportunities for a long and diverse career.
What is your favorite pharmacy school class?
Cardiology or Healthcare Decision Analysis and Modeling
Why did you choose this internship, and what do you hope to gain from your experience?
This internship offers me the opportunity to learn about the relationship between health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) and managed care. Through AbbVie, I will learn about the different studies performed for different products to generate real-world evidence and highlight patient outcomes. Through AMCP and my mentor, I will get to learn about the decisions and operations of managed care pharmacy. I am also excited for the opportunity to present a poster at AMCP Nexus, to learn more about HEOR career paths, and to make new friends throughout the program.
What is your hidden talent?
I have been riding horses since I was 12 years old. The hard work, humility, and attention to detail needed in this sport has shaped me into the person I am today. After pharmacy school, I hope to buy a horse and start competing in dressage and eventing.
At what job would you be terrible?
Professional Baseball. I can’t throw a ball to save my life.
If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Why?
J. R. R. Tolkien. He created the most incredible universe in Lord of the Rings and his other books. I would love to talk to him about the life he lived.
If you had to choose only 3 adjectives to describe yourself, which would you choose?
Driven, Honest, and Adventurous
Tiffany Tran
School/College: University of Washington School of Pharmacy
Anticipated Graduation Date: June 2025
Internship Site: AMCP Foundation/Pfizer Managed Care Internship at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
Zodiac sign: Capricorn – Aquarius Cusp
Predictive Index Behavioral Profile: Altruist: Collaborative – Sociable – Organized – Precise
Why did you choose to go to pharmacy school?
I chose to go to pharmacy school because I have wanted to be a pharmacist since I was 10 years old. This is because I have always enjoyed helping people, problem-solving, collaborating, synthesizing information, and improving access and outcomes. Pharmacy is something that combines all those aspects into one and allows me to utilize them to reach my goal of being the best pharmacist I can be so that I may help increase medication outcomes and access to those who most need it.
What is your favorite pharmacy school class?
My favorite class so far has been HEOR 505 - Managed Care Pharmacy: Principles and Practice. Not only do we get to enjoy learning from two of the best individuals in the field, John Watkins and Pete Fullerton, but we also get to hear from a wide range of professionals in the Managed Care field who talk about various aspects that they encounter and see every day in their position.
Why did you choose this internship, and what do you hope to gain from your experience?
I wanted to continue to learn more about Managed Care and try to apply the things I have already learned about Managed Care thus far. I want to be able to learn more about population health and how to apply that to things like formulary management and benefit design. I wanted to see how the system works and how we can work with or improve the system to help increase access and improve adherence in underserved populations.
What is your hidden talent?
I’m surprisingly good at rhythm games that are not DDR or DDR-related. I’m not musically inclined, so this isn’t something most people would expect me to be good at, but I’m decent.
At what job would you be terrible?
Any job that would require me to be overly competitive. A few have told me that they wouldn’t expect me to be good at sports and video games since I’m not competitive. I lack a competitive spirit and want everyone to have a chance to have an enjoyable time, so I would probably be a terrible professional athlete or e-sports gamer.
If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Why?
If I had to pick anyone I could meet, I would pick my grandparents on both sides of my family. Most of my grandparents had died before I was born, so I never felt like I got the chance to talk to them or meet them. I would want to see how they lived life and see what it is that they did and learned and understand more about what it was like to live during the Viet Nam war and what their views were. I feel like grandparents always have so much knowledge and experience to give and lived at such a different time point than we did that I would just want to hear from them what it was like.
If you had to choose only 3 adjectives to describe yourself, which would you choose?
Adaptable, Hardworking, and Compassionate
Albert Truong
School/College: Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Pharmacy
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2024
Internship Site: AMCP Foundation/Genentech Evidence for Access Internship
Zodiac sign: Cancer
Predictive Index Behavioral Profile: Scholar (Data-Driven, Introspective, Deliberate, Organized)
Why did you choose to go to pharmacy school?
I’ve always been interested in healthcare/medication access and cost. I thought that pharmacy school would be a great place for me to learn more about these topics and I was right!
What is your favorite pharmacy school class?
Evidence-Based Pharmacy and Pharmacoeconomic
Why did you choose this internship, and what do you hope to gain from your experience?
I chose this internship because I wanted to further develop my HEOR technical skills to prepare.
What is your hidden talent?
Navigating travel hacks and collecting travel points.
At what job would you be terrible?
I would be a terrible artist.
If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Why?
I would love to meet Albert Einstein. My parents named me after him, so I think it would be interesting to see how similar OR different we are. Plus, it would be an honor to talk and learn from one of the great minds of the 20th century.
If you had to choose only 3 adjectives to describe yourself, which would you choose?
Compassionate, Loyal, and Curious
Samantha Zakhem
School/College: University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2025
Internship Site: AMCP Foundation/Pfizer Managed Care Internship at Excellus
Zodiac sign: Sagittarius
Predictive Index Behavioral Profile: I am a Promotor: Collaborative, Outgoing, Patient, Flexible
Why did you choose to go to pharmacy school?
My mom is a pharmacist, and I wanted to follow in her footsteps because I saw the positive impact she had on her patient, and I wanted to do the same.
What is your favorite pharmacy school class?
Applied Science Therapeutics 2 (Pain management and Oncology) as well as Applied Science Therapeutics 4 (Cardiac)
Why did you choose this internship, and what do you hope to gain from your experience?
I chose this internship to learn more about managed care and due to my experience with AMCP with the P&T competition, I loved it so much and wanted to further my career with managed care and be more involved in it.
What is your hidden talent?
I have a photographic memory- I can remember very specific things people say.
If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Why?
Mr. Rodgers because of the positive, calming, and happy impact he had on the world. He was so kind and always went above and beyond with his audience.
If you had to choose only 3 adjectives to describe yourself, which would you choose?
Energetic, Extroverted, and Kind