PGY1: Managed Care - CVS Caremark

The PGY1 managed care pharmacy residency offers an opportunity to gain a clinical and administrative perspective in the management of pharmacy benefit plans for a wide variety of clients. Multifaceted experience will include both on-site and off-site learning experiences, including involvement with the formulary management process, client management, health plan operations, mail service, research, health management, clinical program development, and specialty pharmacy. Additionally, through an affiliation with the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, the resident will participate in the Resident Research Series and the Mastery of Teaching Program.

Through the Resident Research Series, residents identify a practice-related research project and learn about study design and implementation, as well as complete a residency manuscript suitable for publication. The Teaching Mastery Series allows residents to learn about various teaching methods, as well as develop their skills as pharmacy educators and clinical preceptors. Flexibility is provided to meet the individual resident's goals and objectives.

Residency program objectives include:

1. Analyze claims data for solving problems related to cost and utilization;
2. Describe the structure and function of the formulary management process in the managed care setting;
3. Develop effective utilization management programs (e.g. prior authorization, step therapy, quantity management, formulary exception processes);
4. Collaborate with physicians to ensure appropriate, evidence-based drug selection;
5. Design and implement clinical programs to enhance the efficacy of patient care;
6. Provide medication and practice-related information, education, and/or training;
7. Collaborate with plan sponsors to design effective benefit structures to service a specific population’s needs;
8. Exercise leadership, practice management, and project management skills;
9. Analyze medical and pharmacy literature to effectively solve clinical problems;
10. Perform direct and indirect patient care activities.
11. Describe the operations and function of specialty pharmacy and mail service pharmacy.

The program is designed to provide pharmacists with a well-rounded, clinically-based experience within the managed care environment. Pharmacists completing the residency will be competent practitioners in the pharmacy benefits management (PBM) setting and will have an understanding of the individual departments that comprise a PBM organization. The program promotes professional development, management, and leadership skills and allows for the unique opportunity to practice in various areas of a dynamic PBM environment. The resident will gain experiences in the clinical, administrative, and ethical practice of pharmacy supporting drug benefit management.

The Postgraduate Year One (PGY-1) Managed Care Pharmacy Residency Program is in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and is accredited by ASHP in partnership with AMCP.

Duration: 12 months
Number Positions: 2
Starting Date: July 1, 2025
Estimated Stipend: $47,500
Benefits: Comprehensive medical plan, life insurance, paid vacation, no weekends (excluding national meetings), flexible spending account programs for health and dependent care expenses, CVS Caremark employee stock purchase program, holidays, travel expense budget for national meetings, memberships and required travel
Training Site Type: Pharmacy Benefit Management
Owner/Affiliates: CVS Caremark
Model (type): Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM)

All residents must be eligible for pharmacist licensure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Applications for Pharmacist License and Intern Registration are available.

Application Process

Application deadline: December 31, 2024

The PhORCAS system will be used through ASHP. Requested information includes:

• Basic Demographics

• Curriculum vitae

• Three letters of recommendation - two from health professionals related to pharmacy curriculum (instructors or preceptors) or the reference writer can use the standard form in PhORCAS

• Written statement summarizing why you are pursuing this residency at CVS Caremark and detailing your career objectives

• Official transcripts from each college attended

• Extracurricular Information

• Professional writing sample

For inquiries, contact Angela Pieprzak, PharmD, MPH, CSP
pieprzaka@cvshealth.com

This residency site agrees that no person at this site will solicit, accept, or use any ranking related information from any residency candidate.

Required Learning Experiences

• Analytic Consulting Services
• Clinical Account Management
• Clinical Program Development
• Clinical Services Operations: RetroDUR
• Clinical & Government Service Operations
• Drug Information & Clinical Knowledge Management
• Financial Forecasting and Underwriting
• Formulary Administration
• Health Plan
• Mail Service Pharmacy
• Medicare Part D
• Medication Therapy Management
• Professional Development and Leadership
• Quality and Accreditation (URAC & NCQA)
• Research
• Specialty Pharmacy
• Specialty Product Innovation
• Teaching
• Utilization Management Development
• Electives (e.g. Government Affairs, Advanced Medical Affairs, Advanced Account Management, & others)

Other elective rotations are available based on resident interest and preceptor availability.

Preceptors

• Brad Stevens, PharmD (Coordinator)
• Frank Austria, PharmD
• Lauren Cheyne, PharmD
• Sara Collins, PharmD
• Maria Fontana, PharmD, TTS, CDE, cMTM
• Nicole Gaugh, PharmD
• Abraham Jose, PharmD
• Julie Legal, PharmD
• Jennifer Lin, PharmD
• Michele Ntabe-Khosah, PharmD
• Andrea Kravits, PharmD
• Molly McGraw, PharmD
• Lauren Meyer, PharmD, MPBA
• Folayemi Omotayo, BS
• Grace Pham, PharmD
• Theo Pikoulas, PharmD
• Katie Solenthaler, PharmD
• Linda Sun, PharmD
• Lindsay Temple, PharmD
• Elizabeth Wilmeth, PharmD
• Diana Wodarczyk, PharmD, BCGP, RPh
• Mohammad Yassine, PharmD
• Heesung Yoon, PharmD
• Rachel Zegarac, PharmD

Sites

CVS Health Residency Programs

• Jerome Lacy, PharmD
• Shayan Bassir, PharmD