Pharmacy benefit management for health plans

As Market President, Kimberly is leading the regulated markets transformation from a transactional PBM model to a member-centered service model focused on improving the health of the population, total cost of care and member experience.

Kimberly has two decades of experience in healthcare with over 23 years in PBM leadership roles. She’s worked in a variety of areas and has broad experience in building teams, driving employee engagement, developing and executing strategies focused on improving both client experience and performance, integrating mergers and acquisitions, and leading technology and operations teams.

Kimberly holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University,  and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stetson University.

Dr. Danielle Nichols is responsible for health plan business development across the western half of the United States. She has more than 15 years of business development and account management leadership expertise in managed care and specialty pharmacy.

During her tenure with Optum Rx®, Dr. Nichols has focused primarily on supporting health plan clients and prospects as a clinical consultant and sales leader for OptumRx specialty pharmacy. Prior to joining Optum Rx in 2015, she served as senior director of account management at Catamaran and clinical manager for Catalyst Rx.

Nichols earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska, an MBA from Bellevue University and Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy.

Joelle Parks serves as Vice President of Growth & Retention for Optum Rx, where she leads strategies that help health plans grow, retain, and strengthen pharmacy benefit relationships. In this role, she partners closely with health plan leaders to deliver transparent, high-performing pharmacy solutions that improve affordability, access, and member experience.

Joelle brings more than a decade of experience across sales leadership, growth strategy, and client engagement within Optum and UnitedHealth Group. Her background spans sales strategy, business development, learning and development, and client management, giving her a holistic understanding of how to align pharmacy benefit design with health plan goals.

Before joining Optum, Joelle built a foundation in communications and storytelling through roles in broadcast journalism, an experience that continues to shape her collaborative, insight-driven approach to client partnerships.