Summer Intern Perspectives: Nikhil Bhatia, AMCP Foundation and Pfizer Managed Care Research and Nonprofit Leadership Intern

My summer as the 2022 AMCP Foundation and Pfizer Managed Care Research and Nonprofit Leadership Intern was one of the most enriching periods of my life thus far. I learned something new daily, and I was supported by everyone I had the privilege to meet.  

In this internship, I was constantly able to get my hands dirty. Firstly, I was able to take part in three projects. The first project is still ongoing and consists of analyzing the current pillar alignment of JMCP publications over the past two years. On this project, I was able to work with various members of the Joint Research Committee. The second project was an independent undertaking where I aimed to uncover gaps in managed care education in pharmacy schools in the United States via student and professional surveys. My third and most significant project serves as my capstone research project and is a scoping review on the most effective ways of measuring medication adherence when utilizing administrative claims. I worked with the BBCIC on this project, and the findings were presented at AMCP Nexus 2022 !  

In addition, I was also honored to have the responsibility of coordinating this year’s intern class. Journal Clubs, social events, and more were among the events that I planned for my peers. The rest of the intern class lived throughout the nation, and I gleaned perspectives on managed care, student life, and more from the various interns. In terms of networking, my preceptors were able to connect me with multiple professionals. I had one-on-one meetings with over thirty professionals who gave me unique information and insight into their roles and career pathways. I also attended special educational sessions presented by Pfizer that provided information on specific aspects of managed care. Lastly, I represented the Foundation on several key occasions, such as moderating virtual tours, National Intern Day, internship program feedback, and more.  

These opportunities consolidated into such a unique and individualized experience. I was challenged daily, and my skill sets were consistently sharpened. My professional communication, research ability, and project management skills more drastically improved over the ten weeks, mainly due to the constant support from everyone I worked with this summer. I would like to say a special thank you to Paula Eichenbrenner, Annesha White, and John Spain, as they served as my primary preceptors. I would also like to thank Ebony Clay, Cate Lockhart, and everyone else who helped me advance my knowledge and practice of managed care. Lastly, I would like to thank my intern class, the AMCP Foundation, and Pfizer for giving me the opportunity to take part in this program. As a future healthcare professional, the newly acquired knowledge I have gained will be essential as I progress in my career!  

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