We asked 10 pharmacists from across the organization to tell us about their jobs. Learn how their work helps patients to get and stay healthier and elevates the care they receive.
When we think of pharmacists, someone in a white coat filling a prescription probably comes to mind. That’s vital work, and The Cigna Group employs many pharmacists who do just that. In addition, however, our pharmacists work in varied roles across the organization. They create and manage clinical programs that allow patients to get and stay healthier, collaborate with prescribers, speak one-on-one with patients about their complex drug regimens, work with clients to craft the pharmacy benefit that’s best for their organizations, and much, much more.
In recognition of American Pharmacists Month, we asked 10 pharmacists from across the organization to tell us about their jobs. Read on to learn how their work elevates the care our patients receive.
Frankie Chen, clinical pharmacist, Evernorth
As a pharmacist collaborating with accountable care organizations (ACOs), I review patients’ laboratory results and current medications to provide evidence-based recommendations for optimizing their diabetes treatments. Through this collaboration, I help ACOs achieve better health outcomes for their patients while adhering to evidence-based clinical guidelines. It is especially rewarding to see the outcomes of Cigna Healthcare customers such as Shawn King, who shared his journey to better health in this video.
Meridith Dandridge, director of product management – individual and family plans pharmacy, strategy, and delivery, Cigna Healthcare
As a pharmacist leading the individual and family plans (IFP) pharmacy solutions team, I create programs and solutions that help our 550,000 individual marketplace customers save money on prescriptions, achieve better health outcomes through improved medication adherence, and receive high-quality, personalized care. For customers with polychronic health conditions, I implement medication therapy management services. I also spearhead a 30- to 90-day prescription conversion campaign to enhance medication adherence and customer convenience.
Rachel Harmon, senior director, strategic planning for pharmacy management, Cigna Healthcare
My team and I are responsible for Cigna Healthcare’s integrated pharmacy benefit programs and services. We help customers get the medications they need, when they need them, efficiently, affordably, and conveniently. My diverse experience in front-end pharmacy, pharmacy benefit clinical consultation, and specialty pharmacy benefit strategy, along with my clinical perspective and drug-level expertise, shape my vision of how our products are developed for – and experienced by – our customers, which is integral to any solution’s success.
Minh Hong, clinical pharmacist, Medicare formulary maintenance, Cigna Healthcare
I’ve always been tech savvy, and my position allows me to leverage my problem-solving skills while complementing my clinical knowledge to ensure that formulary intent is properly programmed and communicated. For example, my programming ends up in online guidebooks that tell patients which formulary tier their medications are on and whether there are utilization management considerations. I also field formulary-related questions from our case managers, allowing them to help our patients better understand their benefits.
Gina Nanchanatt, senior director, clinical pharmacy strategy, Cigna Healthcare
My team and I work in formulary strategy, a critical role in patient care. We use our decades of clinical experience and pharmacy expertise to drive cost-effective access to medications. At the same time, we focus on enhancing patient outcomes through condition-level clinical strategy, promoting safety and reducing risk, supporting clinical guidelines and best practices, and ensuring that health care providers have the information they need to counsel patients about their medications and their options.
John Ryan, clinical pharmacist director, Express Scripts
I’m blessed to lead our Clinical Programs team, which is staffed by pharmacists and patient advisors who support Evernorth’s diverse portfolio of unique clinical solutions. Using proprietary technology, we identify patients who are late to refill their prescriptions. We then reach out to them by phone to help them understand why they aren’t taking their medicines as directed and work with them to develop a personalized plan that can help them stay on track. Last year, my team counseled about 400,000 patients.
Stephanie Smith Cooney, senior director of independent pharmacy affairs, Express Scripts
As the leader of the Office of Independent Pharmacy Enablement, the IndependentRx Initiative, and the Independent Pharmacy Advisory Committee, I’m creating new ways to partner with independent pharmacies – a lifeline of care in their communities. I consider it a responsibility and an honor to create changes that can benefit so many people across the nation. When I owned an independent pharmacy, I helped hundreds of people. I can multiply my impact with this role, which is really exciting.
Trudy Thedford, pharmacy market director, Cigna Healthcare
I have extensive, hands-on pharmacy expertise along with managed care marketing and account management experience. This skillset has allowed me and my teams to be hugely impactful as we design integrated pharmacy benefit strategies that meet each client’s unique needs. Together with our dedicated specialty pharmacists, we lead discussions with clients and producers around complex, high-cost specialty medications, including infused therapies, and educate our stakeholders on how we deliver significant value through expert management of specialty drugs.
Hilary Veinot, director of pharmacy practice, Freedom Fertility
My work enables Freedom Fertility’s pharmacists to be a vital component in our patients’ journey to parenthood. Our pharmacists’ expertise in the use of the medications and clinical circumstances that surround fertility treatment empowers them to provide support to our patients whenever they need it. This specialty is highly rewarding and provides our pharmacists with a unique opportunity to make an impact on each patient’s well-being during a most vulnerable and hopeful time.
Jarrod Weckerly, pharmacy operations director, Advanced Pulmonary Conditions Therapeutic Resource Center, Accredo specialty pharmacy
The pharmacists, nurses, and social workers on my team are trained in rare conditions and medications, and they spend their days (and sometimes nights) caring for critically ill patients. We are not just processing prescriptions – we work holistically with prescribers in disease state management while helping patients fit their complex medications into their daily lives. By working continuously with patients, helping them stay on track with their therapies, and removing barriers to their care, we help them achieve optimal outcomes.
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