November 2022 Diplomat Spotlight: Jonathan Clark

Diplomat at University of South Florida

How did you become involved in AMCP? 
I first learned about AMCP during my first year of pharmacy school at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and began attending chapter meetings to learn more about managed care and other potential career paths outside of traditional pharmacy practice. I served as Treasurer during my second year and attended my first AMCP Nexus meeting in San Antonio, TX. I was highly impressed with the interesting topics on the agenda and networking opportunities, and have been attending AMCP meetings almost every year since. After graduation, I became involved in presenting research posters at AMCP meetings and serving on various committees, including the Schools of Pharmacy Relations Committee, Educational Affairs Committee, and Florida Affiliate Student Affairs Committee.

What interested you the most about managed care and ultimately led you to pursue a career in managed care pharmacy? 
While I initially entered pharmacy school with the intent of providing accessible patient care in the retail pharmacy setting, I discovered that this role was not as fulfilling as I had initially hoped. I found it interesting to work in the pharmacy during my rotations and as an independent/retail pharmacy employee, but I eventually found myself doing a lot of the same things in my day-to-day activities. I decided to apply to a specialty pharmacy residency with Diplomat in order to specialize and work on broader projects and initiatives in an area that was growing with decent career prospects. While this experience was not part of a managed care organization, we collaborated with payer clients to gain access to their member networks and facilitate various activities via hub services (e.g., PA criteria development and reviews, site-of-care management).

What was your first job or position in managed care?
Although I haven’t worked in a managed care organization directly, I did complete a residency in specialty pharmacy at Diplomat (eventually acquired by OptumRx in 2019) and assisted with payer account management and client activities, which helped me realize my passion for projects that impact broad patient populations. Following this residency, I decided to pursue a market access and intelligence consulting position with Xcenda, where I was able to help pharmaceutical manufacturer clients develop their product strategies and materials to support payer engagements and gain favorable access for patients.

What does a typical day or week look like in your current role?
I am currently a Senior Consultant with Blue Fin Group, which is a management consulting firm. Our focus is to support organizations throughout the life sciences ecosystem and help bring success to their product strategies, with the goal of optimizing patient access. My work is mostly remote and varies from day to day, depending on what projects I am supporting. This exposure to various projects and client types facilitates continuous learning and improves my ability to connect the dots within our complex healthcare system, allowing me to better assist pharmaceutical manufacturers and other clients (e.g., channel and service providers, health systems) with their pressing business challenges and questions. Some example activities in my role include preparing content for deliverables and presentations, meeting with colleagues and/or clients, conducting market research, as well as organizing and communicating project needs. I’ve especially enjoyed leveraging some of my previous market access experience to help pharmaceutical manufacturer clients navigate their distribution and dispensing network decisions, set up effective patient support services, and optimize product launch strategies.

What type of interactions have you had with your AMCP student chapter or school of pharmacy?
After becoming a Diplomat for the Taneja College of Pharmacy at the University of South Florida in 2020, I presented a market access consulting-focused presentation for their AMCP chapter and assisted with identifying contacts for a virtual residency and fellowship showcase event. I also became a Co-Chair of the Florida Affiliate Student Affairs Committee earlier this year, which focuses on increasing student knowledge of managed care, including a virtual “What is Managed Care?” presentation in October to review related topics and career opportunities. I’ve also engaged in previous activities with our AMCP chapter at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy to provide an overview of student and fellowship programs, as well as speak to value and policy in the current healthcare landscape at the inaugural AMCP Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference (MARC).

Words of advice?
Be curious in your career journey and explore different paths. Discovering what doesn’t inspire you can be just as meaningful as finding the things that you are passionate about. Even if you’re not able to get direct experience in an area, try reaching out to connect with people who are currently in or have been in the positions you’re interested in. Your PharmD is highly valuable and versatile, so don’t be afraid to switch it up and try something different down the road.