Prime Therapeutics (Prime) is committed to helping patients access the medications they need while lowering costs for the health plans and the communities it serves. Advancing that mission requires a strong foundation of clinical expertise, research and innovation. Few exemplify that commitment more than Pat Gleason, PharmD, assistant vice president of health outcomes, whose decades-long career as a leader in managed care pharmacy, working to improve pharmacy care and patient outcomes, has earned him a 2026 Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute (PBMI) Innovators award. 

“I’m humbled to be among a terrific group of industry peers who have been recognized this year,” Gleason said. “But most of all, I’m honored to lead a team at Prime that is dedicated to improving patient care and outcomes, and delivering measurable valuable for our clients with data and insights that help shape benefit decisions.” 

The PBMI Innovators program honors professionals who have implemented innovative pharmacy benefit strategies, contributed fresh insights and achieved meaningful results for health plans, employers and patients.  

In his role at Prime, Gleason leads a team of researchers that aim to improve clarity, safety, access and outcomes across the healthcare system, including his leadership on real-world studies of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) obesity therapy, pharmacy quality metrics (e.g., Medicare stars measures), medication adherence impacts on medical costs, and solutions like HighTouchRx^®, which can save patients and clients money through optimizing cost-effective drug therapy, and more. Gleason currently serves as AMCP president-elect for 2026–2027, has served two terms on the AMCP Board of Directors, contributed 12 years to the JMCP Editorial Advisory Board, including two years as chair, and mentors future professionals as an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy.  

Gleason is among six honorees this year and was featured on the cover of the August issue of Managed Healthcare Executive. The 2026 PBMI Innovators award winners will be celebrated at the 2026 PBMI Annual National Conference next month.  

To learn more about Gleason, his achievements, and the rest of the 2026 PBMI Innovators award honorees, read the profile from Managed Healthcare Executive.