Andrew Abe, Pharm.D., is a clinical pharmacist specializing in managed care and drug information at AlohaCare in Honolulu, Hawaii. AlohaCare is a local nonprofit health plan that provides services to the underserved population of Hawaii. Abe works with pharmacists and technicians to process medication prior authorizations and manages the Medicare and Medicaid formulary for AlohaCare. He enjoys using the drug information and literature evaluation skills he gained in both pharmacy school and fellowship training to appropriately determine the medical necessity of a recommended therapy.
Abe earned his Pharm.D. degree at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, in 2011. After graduation, he completed a 2-year research fellowship in drug information and evidence-based practice at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. During his fellowship, he served as a drug information rotation preceptor to advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) students and assisted in managing the hospital formulary. His research interests concentrated on dietary supplements and relevant drug information for practicing pharmacists. After completing his fellowship program, he accepted a position at the University of Kansas (KU) as a drug information specialist responsible for managing the drug information center. In addition, as a clinical assistant professor at KU, he taught the drug information and biostatistics course and an elective Medicare course, served as a preceptor to APPE students, and was the faculty adviser for the KU Kappa Psi chapter.
The decision to work in drug information, academia, and managed care came from his desire to keep up to date on new medications and their impact on patient care. Abe states that this was not always his career path in pharmacy school because he was unaware of the many opportunities available, but he liked the idea of being a career student (albeit without midterms and finals, of course). While on his rotations, he explored options within pharmacy and found gratification in making clinical decisions—based on evidence—that would have a large impact on patient populations. Abe states:
When I discovered that there was a career in pharmacy doing just that, I worked hard to make sure my training and experience made me qualified. I feel fortunate that my career has allowed me to be a lifelong student with the ability to positively impact patient medication therapy.
Abe credits his involvement with the Kappa Psi Gamma Nu chapter at the University of the Pacific for influencing his career the most. “A lot of who and where I am as a clinical pharmacist has revolved around my involvement with Kappa Psi.” He acknowledges his fraternity brothers for providing excellent guidance on how to be successful in school and for offering advice on a variety of career paths and training opportunities beyond earning the Pharm.D. degree. “I can honestly say that through Kappa Psi I have made friends and colleagues at every step of my career. Their mentorship during my career has been instrumental to my successes.”
Involvement with ACCP and its Drug Information Practice and Research Network (DI PRN) has enabled Abe to form relationships with like-minded clinical pharmacists. Abe recognizes that although all pharmacy organizations have their benefits, ACCP provides an opportunity to collaborate with clinical pharmacists who share his passion for drug information, which has been instrumental in helping him develop his personal clinical practice. He appreciates the valuable time-saving advice he has received from members of the DI PRN. Abe adds that the PRN’s e-mail list and networking meetings have enabled him to communicate with leaders in his field, helping him grow all aspects of his practice. Even though Abe is relatively new to ACCP, he is determined to give back more than he has received. Abe contributes to the College by reviewing curricula vitae, participating in the DI PRN, and being involved in committees.