Inside AMCP Nexus: A PharmD Student’s First Conference Experience
Image: Sierra Larson and Catherine Cooke, PharmD, BCPS, PAHM
By Sierra Larson, third-year PharmD student
In October 2025, I had the privilege of attending the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy’s (AMCP) Nexus Conference at the National Harbor in Maryland. The experience was both valuable and memorable, filled with opportunities to learn, connect, and grow as a future managed care pharmacist.
My conference schedule was packed with forums on trending topics in managed care, networking events, visiting vendors in the Expo Hall, poster presentations, and the residency showcase. I started Day One bright and early with the New Member Breakfast, where I was welcomed by the AMCP president, met student pharmacists from other schools, and connected with my assigned “conference buddy.” AMCP pairs new attendees with experienced members who can answer questions about the conference and share career insights.
Later that day, I attended a forum hosted by AMCP CEO Susan Cantrell and former United States Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan. This session provided a fascinating look at how U.S. legislation intersects with managed care pharmacy. The rest of the day was spent exploring the Expo Hall, where I visited vendor booths from companies such as Eli Lilly and CeraVe, and “networked.” Although I was initially nervous about networking, I quickly realized that professionals at AMCP genuinely want to see student pharmacists succeed.
On Day Two, I woke up both nervous and excited for my poster presentation. At noon, I presented my research on facilitators for billing medication therapy management (MTM) services. Over the past year, I have worked with Dr. Amy Hu, an ambulatory care pharmacy resident, and with UMSOP faculty members Drs. Brandt, Pincus, and Cooke on this project, which involved interviewing pharmacists who bill for MTM, transcribing and coding the interviews, and analyzing the data to identify themes for successful billing implementation. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with and learn from experts in ambulatory care, geriatrics, and managed care pharmacy.
While presenting was nerve-wracking, I genuinely enjoyed explaining the purpose of our research and answering challenging questions from professionals in managed care and the pharmaceutical industry. Representing our research group at such a prestigious event was an honor. One of the most impactful parts of the conference was attending the Residency Showcase, which featured managed care residency programs from across the country. I had the chance to introduce myself to program directors and residents from organizations such as CVS Caremark, Capital Rx, Cencora, and Kaiser Permanente, among others. Speaking with them helped me understand what makes each program unique and gave me insight into what to expect during the residency program application process, which I’m planning to pursue.
Attending AMCP Nexus was an incredible experience. I learned so much, built meaningful connections, and felt proud to represent the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. I will always value the lessons and memories I gained from this conference.