National CooperativeRx recently welcomed a clinical intern to the team, Ashley Lindert. Ashley is a fourth-year pharmacy student at UW-Madison and will be with us for six weeks as part of her Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience rotations.
Ashley, a Sun Prairie, Wis. native, attended Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, Wis., where she completed her PharmD prerequisite courses. She knew early on in her education that she wanted to be involved in health care and make a difference in patients’ lives. Additionally, she was intrigued by how the industry is evolving and liked the variety of opportunities the field offers.
Ashley has six years of retail pharmacy experience and works at a CVS Pharmacy nearby. She chose National CooperativeRx as a rotation due to her interest in gaining knowledge of the behind-the-scenes administration of pharmacy benefits and National CooperativeRx’s work with specialty medication prior authorizations.
A typical day in Ashley’s internship involves reviewing specialty prior authorizations and high-dollar claims alongside our team of in-house pharmacists. Both programs confirm the safety and appropriateness of high-cost medications and explore potential alternatives. Claims and prior authorization requests are also reviewed to ensure appropriate billing and dosages. Each day concludes with educational discussions alongside Erica Guetzlaff, PharmD., senior director — clinical services, where Ashley learns more about National CooperativeRx and the plan designs and variety of formularies we have to offer through CVS Caremark. “I assumed plans were predesigned and member groups chose which plan most closely fit their needs. However, I quickly learned there is a lot of customization National CooperativeRx can do with plan designs to adapt to member groups’ unique needs,” explained Ashley.
When asked about her ideal career path after graduation, Ashley said she is leaving her options open but is interested in geriatrics. “As the population gets older, it is crucial to screen for fall risks annually and to optimize their medications while advocating for safer medication regimens,” said Ashley.
Outside of her professional interests, Ashley is an avid Wisconsin sports fan, supporting the Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Milwaukee Bucks. She also enjoys spending time outside, hiking, and biking around the Madison and Milwaukee, Wis., areas.
Welcome to the team, Ashley! We are pleased to be a part of your journey to becoming a licensed pharmacist!
