Pharmacy Outcomes and Policy Fellow Named

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 18, 2013) — The University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy has named Katy Monson, a dual-degree UK student, the first recipient of a new doctoral research fellowship in pharmaceutical outcomes and policy.  

Monson, from Chicago, is the first to be awarded the UK College of Pharmacy Institute for Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, Humana, and Pfizer Doctoral Research Fellowship Program in Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy. Monson is a 2013 Pharm.D./Master of Public Administration candidate. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Spanish at UK. 

The fellowship — the result of a partnership of UK, Humana and Pfizer announced in January — will allow Monson to have an unprecedented view of pharmaceutical policy. The innovative program will provide her with advanced doctoral research training from the UK College of Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy (POP) track doctoral program, as well as the opportunity to apply academic knowledge to contemporary pharmaceutical policy and outcomes projects with a premier health insurance company (Humana) and an international pharmaceutical research and manufacturing organization (Pfizer).  

“The UK College of Pharmacy is proud to partner with two such prestigious organizations,” said Timothy S. Tracy, dean of the UK College of Pharmacy. “As one of the nation’s leading colleges of pharmacy, we take great pride in offering our students and faculty unique opportunities. This collaboration with Humana and Pfizer is a great example of this. The fellowship provides an innovative way for students pursuing graduate training in pharmaceutical outcomes and policy to focus their graduate work on the types of applied research needed within managed care organizations and the pharmaceutical industry.”

Monson said she was honored to have the opportunity to work with and alongside three important health care organizations.

“This fellowship will allow me to fulfill my professional dreams of obtaining a position focused on pharmaceutical policy and outcomes within a managed care organization, the pharmaceutical industry or academia,” she said.

During the program, Monson will work closely with faculty from the college’s Institute for Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy in Lexington, as well as complete an intensive program of didactic coursework in pharmaceutical policy, pharmaceutical regulation, pharmacoeconomics, pharmacoepidemiology, pharmaceutical outcomes, advanced statistical modeling and econometrics.

Each year, during the fall and spring semesters, Monson will devote 20 percent of her effort to pharmaceutical outcomes and policy real-world applications through work with health outcomes researchers at Humana corporate headquarters in Louisville. 

“Humana is excited to be entering into a prestigious collaboration that will leverage the strengths of a manufacturer, academia and health plan to encourage partnership in outcome research,” said Steve Chick, market vice president for Humana.

Monson also will participate in a summer experience at Pfizer corporate headquarters in New York, where she will apply didactic and research training to address pharmaceutical policy and outcomes questions within the pharmaceutical industry. 

“This novel cooperative program will provide both rigorous and practical training for students to enter a blossoming and impactful field. Pfizer is pleased to be contributing to this effort,” said Richard Willke, senior director of market access for Pfizer.  

The fellowship program is jointly funded by Humana, Pfizer and UK. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Keith Hautala, 859-323-2396; keith.hautala@uky.edu