Pooja Babbrah is a seasoned executive focused on healthcare technology, policy, and standards. Pooja currently serves as EVP of Strategy and Industry Alignment for NCPDP. In this role, she is responsible for enhancing the organization’s relationships among industry stakeholders, regulatory agencies, and other SDOs to advance pharmacy initiatives that support better healthcare interoperability, care coordination, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Pooja’s efforts to advance industry adoption of technology resulted in her testifying in front of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. She was also asked to serve as a subject matter expert on the ASTP/ONC HITAC Pharmacy Interoperability and Emerging Therapeutics Task Force. She is a published author in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association (JAPhA).
How did your career in healthcare start? Have you always been passionate about this area, or did it happen by chance?
My original goal was to become a doctor. In fact, my childhood best friend and I dreamed of becoming pediatricians, returning to our hometown, and opening a practice together. She fulfilled that dream, while I found my path on the technology side of healthcare, almost by accident.
During my MBA program, a group project with a local hospital system sparked my interest in healthcare strategy. I became involved in some of the earliest ePrescribing initiatives — back when we used Palm Pilots! Since then, I’ve focused on strategy and product roles in healthcare technology companies, driven by a commitment to improving the provider and patient experience through technology, policy, and standards.
Interoperability in pharmacy is complex. Where do you see the most exciting opportunities for improvement?
I think the biggest opportunities to improve pharmacy interoperability aren’t just about technology — they’re about recognizing that pharmacists are a vital part of the care team. When pharmacists have an opportunity to practice at the top of their license, they can make a real difference.
One of the most important areas where we are currently making progress is tapping into health information exchanges and national efforts related to data exchange, like the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) and the Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs). By allowing pharmacists to access and share clinical data like any other provider or care team member, we can open the door to greater care coordination, stronger connections across healthcare, and improved patient outcomes.
Who has been a mentor or role model for you, and what lesson from them still guides you today?
I’ve been fortunate to have many mentors and role models throughout my career, but one of the first — and most memorable — was my boss at the health system where I worked after graduation. I was part of an all-women team. That was rare at the time, and I remember thinking how powerful and special it was.
During a particularly challenging time, our boss looked at us and said, “Always remember to be like a duck. Let things roll off your back.” That simple piece of advice stuck with me. To this day, I still share it with the women I mentor. And the best part? Even though it’s been nearly 20 years since we worked together, our old team still meets regularly for what we call our “Ducks gatherings.”
Personally or professionally, what might the WBL network be surprised to know about you?
I like to say I’m part of the 1%, but not in the way you might think! A few years ago, I completed a one-day Rim-to-Rim hike in the Grand Canyon. Fun fact: only about 1% of the 4.5 million people who visit the Grand Canyon each year ever go below the rim, and an even smaller number complete the full one-day Rim-to-Rim trek. It was the most grueling thing I’ve ever done! We started around 3 a.m. on the North Rim, and by the time I made it to the South Rim, it was about 7 p.m.
The hike was beautiful, but honestly, I was so focused on just getting out of the canyon that I didn’t fully take it in. So a few years later, I went back and spent my 50th birthday at the bottom of the canyon at Phantom Ranch, completely unplugged and soaking in the views. It was an incredible experience, and I highly recommend it for any nature lover!
