This World Pharmacists Day, we’re celebrating the expertise, compassion, and dedication pharmacists bring to every decision that impacts patients and communities.
For Mariah Pierce, PharmD, Clinical Account Manager at True Rx Health Strategists, that dedication started with a simple curiosity about why medications are chosen. Today, that same drive fuels her work as a Health Strategist, helping clients find solutions that improve outcomes, lower costs, and expand access to care. In this spotlight interview, Mariah shares her journey into pharmacy, what inspires her most, and why she’s excited about the innovations that lie ahead.
Why did you choose to go into pharmacy?
What inspired you?
I took a gap year after undergrad to pursue a career as a nurse practitioner. I had a job as a medical scribe in an emergency room and would ask the providers why they chose certain medications (and they all used the same meds). They would respond with a shrug and say, “That’s what we always use.”
I figured I would find a better answer and took a job as a pharmacy tech in a hospital. When I asked the pharmacists why they recommended certain meds, they always had thorough answers with references. That’s when I knew these were my people.
What do you enjoy most about being a pharmacist at
True Rx, compared to a traditional pharmacy setting?
Decisions made in managed care have an impact on a population level. We can influence access to medications, patient health, and financial outcomes while traditional settings may focus on one or two. Knowing that we play such a vital role makes every call, task, and project worth it.
What does being a “Health Strategist” mean to you
in your role?
Health care has always been a tough landscape to navigate and understand and being a Health Strategist means solving current concerns and troubleshooting future issues for clients. Health Strategists are not just another vendor but an ally that helps to guide and consult the plans that have entrusted us with their health and investments. Strategists solve. Strategists support. Strategists serve.
In my role, I have an opportunity to be a Health Strategist by educating on current trends, providing data-based solutions, and executing the strategy with the patient in mind. I look for opportunities to showcase clinical excellence, build relationships with our clients, and be a trusted resource for our partners.
This solution helped to build trust with our partners, saved hundreds of thousands for the plan, and brought premiums down for other members on the plan. Helping even one patient find savings can trickle down to the full population.”
Is there a moment or story that stands out where you felt
you made a meaningful difference for a client or member?
We recently had a new client onboard who was struggling with drug spend and really needed a solution for a specialty medication costing $66K per month. I was able to identify possible cost savings by condensing the medication quantity to one single dose. I reached out to the provider for a new script, and we were able to get the medication cost down to $17K, about $49K in savings per fill.
This solution helped to build trust with our partners, saved hundreds of thousands for the plan, and brought premiums down for other members on the plan. Helping even one patient find savings can trickle down to the full population.
Looking ahead, what excites you most about the ways
pharmacy can help change the world of health care?
I think there is a bright future ahead for pharmacogenomics (PGx). It has been gaining traction to become the standard of care from reactive to proactive medicine. PGx has a unique opportunity to make the world healthier and improve quality of life for patients, and it has been great to be able to see the impact first-hand with True Rx's True Genomics program. I am also excited to see what new AI technologies are coming forth to increase education and access to health care.
What advice would you give to someone considering a
career in pharmacy?
Many people think pharmacy in the traditional sense such as retail and hospital. There is a wide range of opportunities within pharmacy. Be familiar with each and pick the path where your talents and passions best fit.
And finally, tune in to trusted pharmacy news sources to get a grasp on the market and what is happening. Historically, pharmacy has been steady but innovations have taken off quickly in the past decade. It is a constantly changing landscape and staying on top of the changes makes pharmacists a valuable asset in any setting.
