February 2026 - Prerak Parikh, PharmD

Meet AMCP Diplomat Prerak Parikh, PharmD

How did you become involved in AMCP? 
I first became involved in AMCP as a P3 student, serving as an officer on the newly founded AMCP student chapter at my pharmacy school. This role gave me foundational knowledge about managed care pharmacy, which I further developed by participating in the P&T competition and attending my first AMCP national conference as a student. My commitment to AMCP continued after graduation, as I serve as a diplomat and recently joined the school of pharmacy relations committee. 

What interested you the most about managed care and ultimately led you to pursue a career in managed care pharmacy?
As a student pharmacist, I completed a managed care summer internship at a health plan, which provided practical experience in formulary and utilization management, clinical program development, and quality measures. This opportunity demonstrated how clinical expertise can inform business decisions to improve patient outcomes, inspiring me to pursue a career in managed care pharmacy.

What was your first job or position in managed care?
My initial position in managed care was with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, where I worked as a clinical pharmacist within the Medicare Part B department. In this role, I was responsible for the utilization management of high-cost specialty medications, focusing on prior authorization processes and the implementation of biosimilar strategies. This experience not only deepened my expertise in specialty drug management but also served as a catalyst for pursuing further career opportunities within the specialty pharmacy sector.

What does a typical day or week look like in your current role?
In my current role at Prime Therapeutics, I support health plan clients with medical drug strategy. This involves working with cross-functional teams across the organization to meet the clinical, operational, and analytical needs of the client. I love the dynamic nature of my role where every week is different. I spread my time between account management, client presentations, resident precepting, and supporting business development opportunities.

What type of interactions have you had with your AMCP student chapter or school of pharmacy?
I stay engaged with the AMCP student chapter at University of the Pacific by collaborating with the faculty advisor and chapter president, helping plan annual activities, and providing managed care resources. I also serve as a guest speaker for managed care panels held on campus, educate students about managed care residency and fellowship opportunities, and judge the local P&T competition.