Experience
Oct 2020 – Apr 2024
Clinical Program Senior Advisor
Championed health equity initiatives, consulting with collaborators across the organization to ensure health advocacy program integrity and results. Advanced design strategy focusing on new and emerging market trends related to health disparities, SDOH, cultural competency, and health literacy. Promoted data-driven, solutions-based thinking to drive quality, affordability, and positive experiences for patients, clients, and providers.
Dec 2015 – Oct 2020
Clinical Program Manager
Advanced to this role to lead an interdisciplinary healthcare team within CareAllies, a subsidiary of The Cigna Group that provides management services that physician organizations need to succeed in value-based care. The team was comprised of Nurse Complex Case Managers, Nurse Post-Acute Case Managers, Nurse Embedded Care Coordinators, Social Workers, and a Dietitian dedicated to serving an underserved Medicare population in South/West Texas. Served as the CareAllies Pharmacy Residency Coordinator and Preceptor, overseeing research and publication initiatives as well as the performance of pharmacy residents. Created innovative clinical programs to improve health outcomes and address health disparities, medication non-adherence, and challenges centered around diabetes.
Nov 2012 – Dec 2015
Clinical Pharmacist
Collaborated with Cigna-HealthSpring Medicare Advantage health plan market leads to inform contracted providers of plan-sponsored initiatives designed to assist and empower members to close the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Star gaps. Educated and counseled members via phone regarding medication adherence. Served as preceptor for University of Houston College of Pharmacy students.
Jul 2012 – Nov 2012
Clinical Pharmacist
Performed Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services using a digital platform, both face-to-face and via phone. Collaborated with a Nurse Practitioner to address individual patient needs during annual Medicare Wellness visits. Developed relationships with providers and their staff to establish open communication and promote collaboration.
Jul 2011 – Jun 2012
Clinical Pharmacy Resident
Assisted in drug therapy management for health plan members and served as a drug information resource for the department, consulting with Medical Directors, Nurse Practitioners, and Case Managers to address pharmacy-related questions. Delivered in-service lectures to Health Service Specialists, Case Managers, Medical Directors, and Service Coordinators, and facilitated lab discussions at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy.
Oct 2009 – Jun 2011
Assistant Pharmacy Manager
Ensured patient safety by reviewing all work completed by pharmacy technicians prior to dispensing, performing final checks on all prescriptions dispensed, and providing professional consultation to patients and prescribers.
Results
Health Equity
Advocacy
Spearheading initiatives focused on improving healthcare access, reducing disparities, and leveraging technology to enhance patient outcomes, increasing access to preventative care services by 7% in 2024.
Quality
Improvement
Successfully improving medication adherence and prescription fulfillment for 3,542 patients in physician-organized delivery groups across Texas. By tracking provider interventions, adherence rates increased by 86%, while outreach efforts reached 87% of patients with multiple prescriptions.
Clinical
Innovation
Effectively developing an innovative program and launching a pilot to connect Medicare Advantage members in South Texas to community resources. The team identified over 1,000 SDOH needs and addressed 97% of them.
Expertise
Policy Development & Implementation
Leadership Development
Growth Strategies
Healthcare Management
Implementation Management
Strategic Roadmaps
Operations Management
Program Management
Mentoring
Agile
Education
(Pharm.D.) Doctor of Pharmacy
University of Houston
(MBA) Health Care Management
University of Hartford
(BS) Biology
Tarleton State University
Publications
Notable Journal Publications
Notable Poster Abstract Publications
Featured Collateral
Meet Tara
Q & A
Why did you choose your profession?
I originally chose a career in pharmacy because I can connect with others on a level that can invoke dialogue and meaningful change. I knew I wanted to pursue a role in healthcare, and pharmacy felt like a natural fit. But as I grew professionally, I felt called to shift towards that of strategy and programmatic design, desiring to have a broader impact on diverse, under-resourced populations.
How would your peers and team members describe your responsiveness as a leader?
I have been described by my peers as welcoming, kind, courageous and a person of great integrity, and I carry these characteristics with me in leadership. Regardless of my role, I am dedicated to supporting my team and colleagues. They know that I am dependable, and that they can count on me to not only have their back but walk with them through the momentary “storm.”
What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about helping others. I enjoy mentoring and/or cheering people on when they need personal guidance and/or support regarding healthcare or life in general. In addition, I am passionate about building things (e.g., programs, pilots) to resolve identified challenges!
What is the one thing you want your co-workers to know about you?
I like to collaborate! I try to maintain an open line of communication and I’m not afraid to get into the trenches with others and make things happen. I also like to take walks to enhance my creative process – so I might be strolling on the trail around my house while we are brainstorming together!
What are your Top 10 CliftonStrengths Sub Domains?
My strengths are listed in the following order: 1.) Strategic, 2.) Restorative, 3.) Achiever, 4.) Belief, 5.) Connectedness, 6.) Responsibility, 7.) Ideation, 8.) Relator, 9.) Developer, and 10.) Empathy. Most of my top strengths are found in the “Executing” domain followed by the “Relationship building” domain.
What life circumstance(s) have/has most impacted you?
Certainly, getting married and having kids have influenced me, but the unexpected loss of my dad at the beginning of my 3rd year of pharmacy school was extremely earth-shattering. He passed away from a myocardial infarction, which brought the topic of mortality into my daily thoughts and conversations, and it continues to. I recognize the importance of being purposeful with all my words and actions; we are not guaranteed tomorrow, so we need to make today count.
Accomplishments
Completed The Cigna Group’s nomination-based Clinical Leadership Development Program from Mar. 2023 – Mar. 2024.
Was the first-place winner of the Cigna Innovation Tournament for the concept, “CHECK Yes for Health Equity” in Nov. 2022 and was given a monetary award to begin executing the concept.
Received the University of Hartford Barney School of Business Dean’s Honor Certificate for maintaining a 4.0 GPA, which was awarded upon MBA program completion in 2021.
Interests
Reading
Walking
Learning
Testimonials
“Tara Esse is first and foremost, a servant leader who is strategic and passionate about making a difference in this world. She inspires others as she leads in identifying opportunities and developing innovative and meaningful solutions. She is a lifelong learner that thrives on tackling new challenges. It has been my privilege to be her colleague for several years.”
Crystal B. Duran, MPH, MCHES
Clinical Program Senior Advisor, Health Equity
The Cigna Group
“I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside Tara Esse in a dynamic and fast-paced environment of a residency program, and I can confidently attest to her exceptional qualities as a residency coordinator and strategic manager. Her unwavering motivation and dedication to excellence have consistently inspired the residents in the program and her direct reports in the programs she managed.
Tara has always shown a commitment to treating every individual with kindness, empathy, and respect. She has a gift for making every person feel valued, heard, and supported, fostering a culture of inclusivity and compassion that permeates our entire organization.
As a strategic thinker, Tara has always been one step ahead, anticipating challenges and opportunities, and developing innovative solutions that drive results. Her expertise and vision in pharmacy, quality, and social determinants of health have always centered on providing exceptional care for patients and enhancing provider group quality performance. I have no doubt that her leadership and expertise will provide practice transformation to help organizations achieve the best standards.
I’m grateful to have had Tara as a colleague and mentor, and I wholeheartedly endorse her skills and qualifications. If you’re looking for someone who embodies the qualities of excellence, empathy, and forward thinking, Tara is an exceptional choice.”
Man-Khoi Nguyen, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCACP, BCGP, 340B ACE
Director, Clinical Pharmacy
ArchWell Health
“Tara Esse is a professional clinician with extremely high character, integrity and compassion and would be a tremendous asset for any organization. She is a servant leader who excels at strategic thinking and uses excellent organizational and communication skills to ensure that milestones are reached and established goals are met or exceeded for the projects that she manages. Tara is a joy to work with and I have watched her successfully manage complex projects with competing priorities while navigating through a very challenging work environment with courage, strength and positivity.”
Lane Ramirez, MSN, RN, MBA
Clinical Program Development Senior Advisor
Cigna Healthcare