PQA offers a competitive Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiential (APPE) Rotation for pharmacy students, which provides experiential learning opportunities in non-profit association management, medication use quality education, communications, research and performance measurement. PQA works with individual students to align their rotation experience with desired career goals and interests. Applications for the 2024-25 year are now being accepted. You can apply here. Visit our Student Programs page for more information. 

Courtney Smith
Ohio Northern University
Courtney Smith is a final-year student pharmacist at Ohio Northern University, originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Throughout her education, she has gained experience across various healthcare sectors, spanning retail pharmacy, drug information, a New Jersey health plan, and presently, a pharmacy benefit manager. She is driven to optimize patient health and upon graduation, aims to pursue opportunities with a focus in enhancing access to high-quality therapies.

What inspired you to complete an APPE rotation in association management?

As a student, I was actively involved in my college of pharmacy's student government and the university's Office of Residence Life. In these roles, I was privileged to lead concerted efforts that leveraged the student perspective to drive positive change. This experience demonstrated the necessity for collaboration and the importance of incorporating diverse viewpoints to achieve meaningful outcomes.

 I was drawn to complete an APPE rotation in association management to gain insight into how diverse perspectives can drive advocacy within the pharmacy profession. PQA's member organizations encompass a diverse spectrum of stakeholders within the healthcare landscape that mirrors the collaborative nature of care delivery. During my time at PQA, I aim to fully embrace and contribute to the organization's multifaceted mission and deepen my knowledge of innovative ideas and strategies that can further enhance health outcomes.

What drew you to PQA and our work to improve medication use safety, adherence and appropriate use?

At Ohio Northern University, I participated in telephonic outreach through a call center, collaborating with various payers to improve the quality of healthcare for plan members. In addition to providing medication and disease state-based counseling, I worked with patients to identify the root causes for non-adherence, or the inability to take medication as prescribed.

This experience enabled me to have individualized conversations with patients around the country that offered insight into the non-clinical factors that affect health outcomes, such as cost of care, access to transportation, living conditions, and many others. I was driven to learn more about the operational aspects of clinical programming to further my understanding of approaches to close care gaps and maximize health goals.

 As a result, I pursued a summer internship through the Academy of Managed Care (AMCP) Foundation and Pfizer, Inc. Managed Care Internship Program, where I worked with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. This opportunity provided direct exposure to healthcare decision-making and delivery, including PQA’s quality improvement initiatives within the Medicare Part D Star Ratings program. PQA appealed to me with its dedication and impact in optimizing medication use in an ever-changing clinical landscape and bridging gaps in medication use quality.

What are your goals for your time at PQA?

I am grateful for the opportunity to complete PQA’s APPE rotation and am excited to gain insight into the organization's various roles in quality measurement, education, research, and convening. My goal is to establish a foundational understanding of medication use quality principles to positively impact patient care and gain tangible experience in contributing to some of PQA’s ongoing projects that will leave a longstanding impact on the healthcare landscape.

An example of a project I will engage in throughout my rotation includes a member benefit presentation focused on establishing a standardized foundation of medication use quality education for pharmacy students. The implications of this project could expand PQA’s efforts in quality education to the approximately 60,000 current pharmacy students in the United States and eventually, to learners across other health disciplines. This project will expand my analytical, strategic development, and presentation skills.

I will also develop a table summarizing the intricacies of the FDA-approved oral anticancer medications (OAM). This resource will serve as a tool for future measures to improve the quality of OAM use that affects clinical care, care coordination, patient safety and outcomes, disparities in care, patient and caregiver experience, population health and prevention, and total health care costs.

Overall, there is a tremendous opportunity to exercise curiosity and engage in impactful projects while completing a rotation with PQA. I aim to maximize my experience by enhancing my understanding and application of medication use quality to promote optimal health and well-being.

Where would you like to see yourself in five years?

Upon graduation, I plan to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship in the pharmaceutical industry. In five years, I strive to gain experience in Market Access and Health Economics and Outcomes Research whilst collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to promote equitable access to transformative therapies. I also plan to remain engaged at the university through mentorship, teaching, and precepting opportunities.

Tell us something interesting about yourself that’s not work related.

Outside of pharmacy school, I enjoy running, visiting new places, and spending time with family and friends. A personal goal that I hope to achieve within the next five years is to run a half marathon and increase my proficiency in the Slovak language.

Cecilia (Cece) Speck
Ohio Northern University
Cece Speck is a final-year pharmacy student at Ohio Northern University from Akron, OH. She has a passion for public health and has been working on a research project for the past year on the impact of climate on health. She is interested in drug information and affirmed this interest at an Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience in formulary and policy management at University Hospitals in Cleveland, OH. After graduation, she plans to pursue opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry related to increasing accessibility of information to optimize health outcomes.

What inspired you to complete an APPE rotation in association management?

Since starting pharmacy school, I have always been interested in diverse opportunities and non-traditional pharmacy roles. Association management interested me because of the collaboration between diverse members of the organization and the perspectives they can offer. I am interested in making a large-scale and unique impact on pharmacy practice. Association management affords me this opportunity and allows me to expand my network by meeting other professionals in the field.

What drew you to PQA and our work to improve medication use safety, adherence and appropriate use?

As someone with a public health background, I am passionate about optimizing health outcomes and advocating for appropriate medication use. Throughout my previous experiences talking to patients about the importance of medication adherence, I learned that social factors often impact how patients take their medication; this led me to the PQA Social Determinants of Health Resource (SDOH) Guide. Pharmacists play a role in improving health outcomes by addressing SDOH, and I wanted to learn more about the innovative ways this is accomplished at the pharmacy. In addition to my interests in social determinants of health, I am also invested in increasing the quality of pharmacist-provided care, and learning more about how this is accomplished.

What are your goals for your time at PQA?

My goals for my time at PQA are to gain a better understanding of PQA’s strategic mission of advancing healthcare quality and to learn how measures are developed and implemented to advance the quality of healthcare. I also look forward to analyzing how health equity and social determinants of health impact healthcare quality and outcomes.

Where would you like to see yourself in five years?

In five years, I see myself continuing to develop my career and living in a vibrant city. I will be making a global impact through my work in the pharmaceutical industry or another related field. I see myself prioritizing relationships with friends and family and focusing on myself while working towards my goals. I also hope to have many diverse and unique experiences in the years to come.

Tell us something interesting about yourself that’s not work related.

I enjoy traveling and recently took a trip to Peru for a class at Ohio Northern University called Global Healing Traditions. We spent a week in the Amazon rainforest learning about traditional healing techniques, local customs and traditions, and sightseeing. I have also been to Japan and enjoy traveling to New York City. In my free time, I enjoy reading, spending time with family and friends, and being outside.