PQA provides healthcare quality experience to students from a wide variety of disciplines. This summer, we are hosting four students through our internship and MPH practicum programs.
They are adding medication safety, adherence and appropriate use experience to their professional training. We recently invited them to answer five questions about the work they are doing, where they're going in their careers and how they hope to apply their PQA knowledge to their professional advancement.
Megan Elizabeth Hilbert
Communications Intern
School: James Madison University
Major/Degree Program: Bachelor's in Science/Writing and Rhetoric in Technical Writing
Anticipated Year of Graduation: Graduated in May of 2024
What drew you to PQA and our work to improve medication use safety, adherence, and appropriate use?
I was drawn to PQA because of its commitment to enhancing healthcare quality. I am passionate about healthcare becoming more accessible, and my previous internship experience in the healthcare space made PQA a wonderful fit for me to complete meaningful work. PQA's mission to develop quality measures and improve patient outcomes resonates deeply with my goal of participating in work that changes the world for the better.
What are your goals for your time at PQA?
During my time at PQA, I aim to enhance my technical writing skills through writing blogs focused on pharmacy measures. I do not come from a pharmacy background, and during my time with PQA, I have been absorbing information about healthcare and quality measures like a sponge. With that, I aim to be able to effectively communicate PQA’s mission through writing to stakeholders and learn to translate complex information in a clear and understandable manner.
Where would you like to see yourself in five years?
In five years, I see myself working in a role that combines my passions for healthcare, communication, and market research. Ideally, I would be involved in a healthcare organization or a research firm where I can utilize my skills to improve patient outcomes and make healthcare more accessible. I hope to be recognized as a strong writer and researcher, contributing to impactful projects that advance healthcare quality.
Tell us something interesting about yourself that’s not work related.
Outside of work, I have a deep passion for singing and performance. I have taken voice lessons for over 10 years and have performed in over 20 musicals. This creative outlet has been extremely beneficial for my personal growth, and I hope to participate in more performances in the future. Aside from singing, I have a keen interest in fitness, and I go to the gym regularly to work out my body and mind.
Joshua Honaker
PQA Summer Executive Internship sponsored by Pharmacy Quality Solutions by Innovaccer
School: Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy
Major/Degree Program: Doctor of Pharmacy
Anticipated Year of Graduation: 2026
What drew you to PQA and our work to improve medication use safety, adherence, and appropriate use?
I have been hearing about PQA since my first semester of pharmacy school. Despite hearing the name tossed around, I was never able to fully grasp what PQA did. Eventually, I started doing my own research, knowing I wanted to take a more non-traditional route in my pharmacy journey. The mission of PQA resonated with me because it's clear. PQA's mission upholds what all pharmacists should want: improved health outcomes through medication use. No frills. No distractions. PQA lives in the heart of quality measure, and I am excited to be here and be able to say that I am growing to understand this unique space.
What are your goals for your time at PQA?
In my time at PQA, I want to gain a foundational understanding of healthcare quality from all necessary angles. To establish proper healthcare quality measures, you must understand what quality looks like from the patient, provider, and payer perspectives, and I think PQA can help me achieve that.
Where would you like to see yourself in five years?
Five years from now, I will have completed school with my PharmD. I hope to have completed either a fellowship or a residency program. Beyond that, I don't know. I am open to where post-graduate opportunities might take me.
What do you hope to learn this summer at PQA to take back with you to school this fall?
I would like to leave PQA with a deeper understanding of quality measurement, a good grasp of the role that payors have in medication choice and patient experience, and a deeply ingrained awareness of health-related social needs that impact a patient’s relationship to their medication.
Tell us something interesting about yourself that’s not work related.
I really enjoy storytelling. I have spent years listening to a storytelling podcast called Risk, and I have even performed on stage at a Risk live show telling a story of my own. Storytelling is a way to connect with a person or connect groups of people. It has been a key feature of the advocacy work I have done due to story’s ability to find common ground and create closeness.
Katie Quigley
MPH Practicum Program
School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Major/Degree Program: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and Master of Public Health ( MPH)
Anticipated Year of Graduation: May 2026
What drew you to PQA and our work to improve medication use safety, adherence, and appropriate use?
While searching for an MPH practicum, I was drawn to opportunities that combined my passion for pharmacy and public health. PQA's mission to improve medication use safety, adherence, and appropriate use perfectly aligns with my personal and professional goals. I am deeply committed to understanding the pharmacology of medications and advocating for their safe and effective use. PQA's renowned expertise in measure development further inspired me to join. I wanted to contribute to and learn from their significant work in enhancing patient health on a population level.
What are your goals for your time at PQA?
My short-term goal is to immerse myself in learning about at least two current PQA projects. My long-term goal is to enhance my communication skills through various dissemination strategies to address patient barriers and promote medication access by engaging with PQA's framework and experts.
Where would you like to see yourself in five years?
I plan to graduate from pharmacy school and attend an ambulatory care residency program in five years. I aim to work with government agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). I am particularly interested in public health initiatives and medication management programs.
What do you hope to learn this summer at PQA to take back with you to school this fall?
At the beginning of my practicum, I was fascinated with learning about measure development and how measures fit into various pharmacy settings. Through the Medication Use Quality Certificate, I educated myself on both topics and immersed myself in other areas of PQA. More specifically, learning about different dissemination strategies and ways to communicate PQA work to various audiences.
My practicum projects focus on utilizing PQA frameworks and relating them to relevant topics such as rare diseases and pharmacy deserts. During this process, I am learning how to write in plain language. As a future healthcare professional, it's essential to convey information transparently to reduce the likelihood of misinterpretation and confusion among patients, especially regarding medications. Despite varying literacy levels and language proficiencies, making information more accessible is vital to help patients understand their health condition and improve health-related outcomes. Overall, I hope to continue using this writing skill to break down complex medication problems into simple terms to optimize therapeutic goals and enhance patient safety.
Tell us something interesting about yourself that’s not work related.
Most of the time, you find me at the pool or lake soaking up the sun. I enjoy paddle boarding and kayaking while catching up on the latest Huberman Lab podcast. Outside my water adventures, my friends are teaching me how to golf. Golf lessons are going well, and I enjoy learning the mechanics behind the swing. Baking unhealthy treats and reading thriller or romance books are my go-to for my inside hobbies! I aim to read 40 books by the end of this year and have 10 more to go.
Kit Reimer
PQA Summer Executive Internship sponsored by Pharmacy Quality Solutions by Innovaccer
School: Drake University
Major/Degree Program: PharmD/MBA
Anticipated Year of Graduation: 2026
What drew you to PQA and our work to improve medication use safety, adherence, and appropriate use?
As a student passionate about advancing public health, I felt aligned with PQA's mission and the emphasis on patient safety and their focus on health equity, as articulated in the PQA 2025 Blueprint. I was particularly intrigued by how PQA's reach extends beyond a single target audience and instead interacts with a diverse set of stakeholders and members.
What are your goals for your time at PQA?
During my time at PQA, I hope to refine my skills in pharmacy policy and establish lasting connections with the staff here to advance my career aspirations. Additionally, I aim to become well-versed in the topics of quality measures and social determinants of health, and how they intertwine.
Where would you like to see yourself in five years?
I would like to have a career involving association management and public affairs. I am motivated to seek a vocation where I can initiate and facilitate systemic transformation.
What do you hope to learn this summer at PQA to take back with you to school this fall?
I am eager to explore non-traditional career paths in pharmacy and deepen my understanding of non-profit associations, quality organizations, and insurance companies.
Tell us something interesting about yourself that’s not work related.
I love to watch March Madness every year, and my favorite team to cheer on is Duke!