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 2025-26 year are now being accepted. You can apply here. Visit our Student Programs page for more information.
Lauren Moy
University of Illinois Chicago College of Pharmacy
Lauren Moy is a final-year student pharmacist at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Pharmacy and from Chicago, IL. Throughout her pharmacy school career, she has worked at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System (UI Health) Specialty Pharmacy Services as part of the administration team, which exposed her to operational processes, accreditation standards, financial management, data innovation, and outcome improvement within a health system specialty pharmacy. She currently serves as the National Executive Committee (NEC) Student President under the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP), promoting advocacy of the field of specialty pharmacy to students around the country.
What inspired you to complete an APPE rotation in association management?
I sought this APPE rotation experience in association management to broaden my understanding of pharmacy and challenge my experiences in traditional clinical or retail roles. By stepping into association management, I'm gaining different insights to help me become a more well-rounded professional.
This rotation offers many opportunities for leadership development, networking opportunities, and educational advancement. Most of all, this rotation provides an opportunity to broadly and systematically impact the pharmacy profession. As a non-profit national quality organization dedicated to improving medication safety, adherence, and appropriate use, PQA provides a sector of pharmacy that is unique in its foundation to ensure impact on patient care and quality improvement through its immensely diverse spectrum of stakeholders and member organizations within the healthcare landscape.
What drew you to PQA and our work to improve medication use safety, adherence and appropriate use?
At UI Health Specialty Pharmacy Services, I participated in discussions and projects that challenged and encouraged me to operate at a post-graduate professional level. My exposure to working in a health system specialty pharmacy allowed me to participate and contribute to reporting on various metrics, including adherence, patient and provider satisfaction, pharmacist interventions, and more, to ensure compliance with payors, manufacturers, and Specialty Pharmacy accreditation standards.
My knowledge of calculating adherence metrics for reporting requirements improved my technical skills as a student learner. My application in utilizing adherence metrics for innovative dashboards for patient management inspired me to learn more about the impact of medication use. My participation in content development for a continuing education presentation on adherence metrics for a national pharmacy meeting motivated me to seek ways to improve health outcomes.
With PQA's mission and quality improvement initiatives, I found an avenue to broaden my scope of impact that I can have as a future pharmacy professional and to advance my learning as a student through engagement with professionals in the healthcare quality field. PQA provides the inspiration to drive my expansion of experiences and, further, my education within the medication use quality space.
What are your goals for your time at PQA?
My goals for my time at PQA are to enhance my knowledge of quality metrics, gain insights into policy advocacy, contribute to research and development, and, most of all, apply my knowledge to practice. This rotation provides a unique opportunity to experience the organization's role in quality measurement, education, research, and convening. I hope to harness problem-solving techniques and implement solution approaches to contribute to PQA's initiatives and their impactful projects and in my professional career to optimize health outcomes within the healthcare landscape.
Where would you like to see yourself in five years?
The experiences that I gained have provided me with a well-rounded skillset unique to any student learner. My interests span financial management, data innovation, administration and leadership, specialty pharmacy, and outcomes research. While I don't know what avenue I will choose immediately post-graduation, I plan to continue impacting patient care and improving health outcomes as a prominent leader within the specialty pharmacy field in five years. My inspiration is the leaders who have shown me the possibilities of continual improvement and growth. I hope to continue that legacy and cultivate a mindset for change.
Tell us something interesting about yourself that is not work related.
In my free time, I enjoy attending shows and musicals that are either available in the theatres in Chicago or New York City. In most seasons, you can catch me enjoying a show with friends or by myself. My top favorite shows are typically musicals with incredible vocals, elaborate choreographies, and breathtaking sets. So far, Moulin Rouge: The Musical sits as number one on my list.
Tariq Pulskamp
Regis University, Denver, CO
Tariq Pulskamp is a P4 pharmacy student currently at Regis University in Denver, CO. Tariq is originally from California and obtained his undergraduate degree in Biology at San Francisco State University. Tariq then spent a year as a professional soccer player for both the San Francisco Glens and ASC San Diego before entering pharmacy school. While in pharmacy school, Tariq volunteered at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), providing support and health education for refugees entering the Denver metro area. Tariq also coached soccer players in the area, instilling values such as communication and teamwork in the youth. Tariq is a student member of the Colorado Pharmacists' Society (CPS) and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). He plans to eventually specialize in neuropsychiatry through either a fellowship, residency, or both.
What inspired you to complete an APPE rotation in association management?
My strong interest in the broader impact of pharmacy practice on healthcare quality drives the opportunity to explore association management through an APPE rotation. I had previous clinical experiences in which I saw data being used to improve medication management programs. Since then, I have been exposed to the importance of quality measures and the role of organizations like PQA in setting these standards. I am eager to understand how association management influences policy, measure development, and ultimately, patient outcomes on a national scale. This rotation provides a unique platform to contribute to and learn from an organization that shapes the future of pharmacy practice through quality initiatives.
What drew you to PQA and our work to improve medication use safety, adherence and appropriate use?
PQA's mission to improve medication safety, adherence, and appropriate use deeply resonates with my personal and professional values. My academic background, personal experiences, and experiences in clinical pharmacy have instilled in me a strong commitment to advancing healthcare quality. PQA's innovative approach to measure development, stakeholder collaboration, and its role in setting standards for health plans and pharmacies aligns with my aspirations in that I am keen to understand how broad policies are implemented and how they can affect individual patient outcomes. The chance to contribute to and learn from an organization at the forefront of these critical areas is what excites me most about joining PQA for this rotation.
What are your goals for your time at PQA?
During my time at PQA, my primary goals are to deepen my understanding of the process behind measure development and implementation, contribute to ongoing projects that enhance medication safety and adherence, and to build strong professional relationships within the organization. I aim to apply my academic knowledge and practical experiences to support PQA's mission while gaining insights into the intersection of pharmacy practice and healthcare policy. Ultimately, I want to leave with a stronger understanding of how quality measures are developed and the impact they have on improving patient care across the healthcare system.
Where would you like to see yourself in five years?
In five years, I would like to see myself practicing as a board-certified pharmacist specializing in psychiatric pharmacy. Ideally, I would be a pharmacist who contributes from direct patient care and research perspectives. The idea of practicing as a healthcare provider while contributing to emerging areas of research within psychiatry excites me, and my current APPE experience with PQA has opened my eyes to how we can contribute to patient outcomes on a broader scale through performance measures regarding medication adherence, safety, and appropriate use.
Tell us something interesting about yourself that is not work related.
I love distance hiking, snowboarding, and playing soccer. In fact, hiking and snowboarding were the primary reasons why I wanted to go to pharmacy school in Colorado. I believe these extracurricular activities can help me become a better pharmacist and person through their positive effects on my mental, physical, and spiritual health.
Sophie Nguyen
University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Pharmacy
Sophie Nguyen is a fourth-year pharmacy student completing her graduate studies at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Born and raised in Orange County, California, Sophie attended the University of California, San Diego for her undergraduate studies, where she obtained a B.S. in human biology and a minor in business management. Throughout her time at pharmacy school, Sophie has served on multiple leadership boards through various roles such as chapter president for the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and Director of Finance for the Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO). Sophie currently works in the pharmacy department at Northwestern Memorial Healthcare in downtown Chicago, and volunteers at CommunityHealth outpatient clinic to better provide for underserved patient populations throughout the Chicagoland area. She plans to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry in the medical affairs space after graduation.
What inspired you to complete an APPE rotation in association management?
As an APPE student, I aimed to explore all the possible avenues in which pharmacists can make a positive impact on the healthcare landscape. My research into exploring various opportunities I could pursue as a pharmacy student ultimately led me to PQA. Here at PQA, pharmacists play a vital role in association management by contributing their expertise and insights into medication use and quality improvement. I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of pharmacists' impact and function in developing quality measures, conducting research and evaluation, and engaging stakeholders at PQA. PQA was the ideal space for me to pursue my passions further, drive my creativity and critical thinking to higher limits, and gain indispensable perspective alongside the industry's leading pharmacy quality experts.
What drew you to PQA and our work to improve medication use safety, adherence and appropriate use?
The organization's collaborative approach to addressing multifaceted challenges in medication management, use, and access drew me to PQA. PQA engages with multiple stakeholders across the healthcare landscape, such as healthcare professionals, pharmaceutical companies, and payers, who may traditionally have conflicting perspectives on various healthcare-related topics. However, under PQA, these entities come together with the same initiative to ultimately improve quality.
Furthermore, PQA's efforts in developing quality measures and promoting best practices align closely with goals of reducing medication errors, optimizing treatment efficacy, and ensuring patient safety. Their work in creating standardized measures helps healthcare providers and pharmacists to consistently evaluate and improve their practices, ultimately benefiting patient care. These initiatives strongly align with my own personal drive to advocate and protect the health of others.
What are your goals for your time at PQA?
Prior to PQA, I had no experience working in the pharmacy quality measures space and held limited knowledge regarding the Part D quality star rating system. Throughout my time here at PQA, I wish to enrich my knowledge base in the focus areas of pharmacy quality measures, medication access through the lens of PQA, and PQA's impact within the CMS Star Rating System, while contributing to meaningful work and providing my eagerness and fresh perspective to the company. I also plan to network with other professionals at the company and broaden my understanding of how different teams and departments collaborate cross-functionally to drive PQA's mission each day.
Where would you like to see yourself in five years?
In five years, I hope to be working in a leadership role in the pharmaceutical industry under Medical Affairs. I envision myself in a role where I'm deeply involved in strategic decision-making, particularly in areas that bridge clinical insights with a product to internal and external stakeholders. I want to lead a team responsible for the development and execution of medical strategies that support the lifecycle of pharmaceutical products. This would involve close collaboration with cross-functional teams like R&D, regulatory affairs, and marketing. I would also be committed to continuous learning and professional development, possibly pursuing an MBA or advanced certifications.
Tell us something interesting about yourself that is not work related.
Over the years, I have relocated to new cities and states many times due to school and work. One of my favorite ways to explore new cities is through trying out all their coffee shops. I love to film coffee reviews of all the new cafes that I check out and archive those recordings for friends and family for future reference. Thus far, my favorite coffee shop in DC has been Soleluna, which is located in the Adams Morgan neighborhood.