2026 AMCP Winter Leadership Meeting: Setting the Year in Motion

Guest Author
Winter Leadership Meeting Group Photo

 

At the start of each year, AMCP brings together its Board, Foundation Officers, Committee & Affiliate leaders, and corporate partners for the Winter Leadership Meeting. It’s where we align on priorities, strengthen relationships, and ensure the work ahead reflects AMCP’s mission and trends and topics in managed care pharmacy.

This year’s convening at National Harbor, Maryland brought thoughtful discussion, candid dialogue, and a shared commitment to moving the profession forward.

We were proud to recognize Susan Cantrell as she marks 10 years as AMCP CEO. In her opening remarks, she reflected on the importance of creating space for leaders to share perspectives and challenges openly, because real progress starts with listening and collaboration. The energy in the room reinforced that leadership at AMCP comes from engagement from all levels and practice settings and collaboration with our corporate partners. 

Susan at Winter Leadership

AMCP CEO, Susan Cantrell Welcoming AMCP Members

Across the meeting, one theme was clear: managed care pharmacy is navigating rapid change. From innovation and affordability pressures to evolving employer expectations and emerging technologies, leaders acknowledged both the complexity and the responsibility that comes with ensuring patient access to affordable medicines.

During a session on AI, Harry Travis challenged attendees with a simple but powerful idea:

“Companies that get out of cut and into create will succeed.”

He also cautioned that health care operates differently:

“There is an acceleration gap with some companies running faster, but in health care we need to be slower. Patients’ lives are at risk.” 

Harry at Winter Leadership

Harry Travis, RPh, President The Travis Group expert in AI, Digital Tech and Emerging Therapies

An attendee added a practical lens: 

 “You got to know it. We are building that workforce automation stage for AI, the highest ROI is workforce augmentation to make simple processes quicker.” 

The conversation reflected the balance our profession must strike from embracing innovation while safeguarding patient outcomes.

Jeff Dunn


We also heard from a panel discussion on “Employers Evolving the Pharmacy Benefits Playbook” and thank Sal Morana, Alliant & Young Fried, Health Trust for sharing their perspectives. AMCP Board member Jeff Dunn facilitated and reminded us: 

“Health care is complicated. At AMCP, we can de-silo and collaborate to work on solutions together.” 

That spirit of collaboration carried throughout the meeting. Leaders shared insights, challenged assumptions, and committed to advancing the work of AMCP in the year ahead.  

We also welcomed incoming Board members and new committee chairs who will help guide the organization into its next chapter at AMCP 2026. 

AMCP New Board

Pat Gleason, PharmD, FAMCP, FCCP, Assistant Vice President, Health Outcomes at Prime Therapeutics
Carly Rodriguez, PharmD, FAMCP, VP & Chief Pharmacy Officer
Ryan Steadman, PharmD, MBA SVP Pharmacy CareSource
Kimberly Lenz, PharmD, MBA, FAMCP Chief Pharmacy Officer, MassHealth

Beyond strategy discussions, the gathering served as a reminder of AMCPs “superpowers” and value to managed care pharmacy professionals: 

  • Convening Power: Our collective expertise with individual and corporate membership is one of our greatest strengths
  • Advocacy: With new efforts around prior authorization/step therapy and 340B reform. 
  • Thought Leadership: Developing guidance across five critical pillars: Real-world evidence, Biomarker testing in oncology, Patient experience data, Metabolic health, and Artificial intelligence. 
Adam Colborn, Geni Tunstall, and Tom Casey

 AMCP’s legislative and regulatory team sharing AMCPs policy priorities: 
Geni Tunstall, AMCP Associate Vice President, Regulatory Affairs 
Adam Colborn, AMCP Vice President, Government Affairs 
Tom Casey, AMCP Associate Director, Government Affairs 

Pam Pawloski, Cate Lockhart, Noreen Matthews, and Dana McCormick

AMCP’s Practice & Innovation team sharing AMCPs thought leadership initiatives. 
Mitzi Wasik, AMCP SVP, Practice Strategy & Innovation & AMCP Foundation Executive Director 
Pam Pawloski, PharmD, BCOP, FCCP, AMCP Principal Research Scientist 
Cate Lockhart, PharmD, PhD, AMCP Chief Science Officer, AMCP & Executive Director, BBCIC 
Noreen Matthews, AMCP Business Consultant 
Dana McCormick, RPh, FAMCP, Senior Director, AMCP Practice Strategy & Innovation

 If you’d like to join the conversation or share your reflections, you can add a comment on LinkedIn here.

AMCP's Susan Noell and Rachel Starling with Affiliate Leaders


We look forward to building on this momentum together and seeing everyone in Nashville at AMCP 2026 April 13-16, register now for AMCP 2026 and our AI Pre-Conference event! 
 

AMCP Erica Klinger, VP Marketing


Erica Klinger
VP Marketing 
Published on March 9, 2026

 

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