Patrick Roberts, Pharm.D., Video Interview | 2025 MHE Emerging Leaders in Healthcare

Patrick Roberts, Pharm.D., RPh, BCPS, is the manager of formulary operations and strategy at Yale Health, a not-for-profit, physician-led health maintenance organization that provides integrated, patient-centered care to the university community. As one of this year’s Managing Healthcare Executive Emerging Leaders in Healthcare, he recently sat down with us to discuss a turning point in his career, what he would change about U.S. healthcare and his personal goal for this year.

Roberts said that his career reached a turning point when one of his mentors encouraged him to complete his Pharm.D. degree. At the time he had his bachelor’s degree and was working as a pharmacy technician.

“I had a lot of buildup up from that point that allowed me to get to where I am today, but that was definitely the turning point—just having my mentors say, ‘you're this close; just get past that goal and everything else will be golden.’

Roberts said that if he could change one thing about U.S. healthcare, he would remove profit from the industry.

“I don't want to say, profits a bad thing, but I think being profit focused really takes your priorities away from patient centered care… but let's just be fair and equitable so that everybody can have access to great, affordable health care.”

because a focus on profit takes focus away from the patient.

As a new father to a nine-month-old daughter, Roberts' personal goals for this year revolve around his family.

“I think one of the goals we have is to get out and enjoy the outdoors and see all the national parks and their glory,” Roberts said in his video interview. “If you haven't been there, just do it. A lot of them are pretty affordable compared to Disney.”