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Intern Alumnus Spotlight: Jina Park

Celebrating 31 years, more than 200 student pharmacists have participated in AMCP Foundation summer internships since our founding in 1990. We are pleased to highlight our intern alumni in this recurring feature. 

Jina Park

Name: Jina Park, PharmD, MS
Current Title: US Market Strategy Lead
Internship Program: AMCP Foundation/Allergan Specialized Internship in Health Outcomes 
Internship Site: Allergan
Year: 2013

What is your role today, and responsibilities? 

I'm the US Market Strategy Lead at AIRS Medical, an AI healthcare startup. My focus is on developing expansion strategies into the US market, along with leading all aspects of business development and sales. 

What types of managed care practices do you use in your work? 

My decade of experience as a health economics and outcomes researcher involved working extensively with payers to demonstrate the clinical and economic value of new healthcare products. Currently, I apply that same focus to AI technology adoption by conducting economic benefit analyses for potential customers.  Understanding the need for economic impact, not just clinical benefit, is essential for the success of both pharmaceuticals and cutting-edge AI solutions, and my managed care background drives that principle.

How did the AMCP Foundation internship prepare you for your career? 

I'm immensely grateful for the AMCP Foundation/Allergan Health Outcomes internship. It completely changed my entire career trajectory! Before the internship, I worked primarily within managed care organizations. This experience opened my eyes to the crucial intersection between managed care and the pharmaceutical industry. More importantly, it ignited my passion for using large healthcare datasets to conduct impactful research. This pivotal internship inspired me to pursue a master's in data science and become proficient in machine learning, opening incredible doors for me in my career.

What advice do you have for pharmacy students? 

I'd offer three key pieces of advice:

  • Be proactive about your growth: If you see a skill gap that's vital for the career you want, start learning immediately. Don't stress about the source; just take that first step.
  • Don’t be afraid to forge your own path: Don't feel pressured to follow a standard career track. Your unique passions and interests can create a fulfilling journey filled with valuable experiences and amazing connections.
  • Invest in relationships and pay it forward: Surround yourself with brilliant, supportive people. They will inspire you and elevate your work. As you find success, seek opportunities to mentor and support others, just as you were likely helped along your path.

What was your experience working on your capstone research project? 

My capstone project with Dr. Patrick Gillard was a systematic literature review focused on intrathecal baclofen. We aimed to evaluate the potential healthcare costs, adverse event profile, and overall feasibility of developing this into a drug. This project was incredibly valuable. It taught me how to systematically review and analyze published literature for assumption building and testing while also providing an insider's perspective on how the pharmaceutical industry evaluates the clinical and economic viability of its pipeline products.

I'll always remember the warm welcome I received at the AMCP Educational Conference. It was fantastic to connect with key AMCP members and network with like-minded students interested in the internship. These experiences solidified my interest in pursuing health economics and outcomes research, a field at the vital junction of managed care and the pharmaceutical industry.

What are your interests outside of pharmacy?

I had the pleasure of seeing Dr. Patrick Gillard again at a conference last year (2023). It's been fantastic to maintain a connection with my AMCP Foundation internship preceptor.