From Zero to 340B: My First 90 Days at Virtue

Starting a new role in a completely unfamiliar industry can feel like being dropped into a foreign country without a map. For Jenna, joining Virtue 340B as our Training and Operations Specialist meant not only navigating the complexity of the 340B program but also reimagining what her professional path could look like. In this candid interview, Jenna shares her reflections on the first 90 days in her new role—what challenged her, what surprised her, and what she’d say to anyone just stepping into 340B for the first time. Whether you’re a seasoned healthcare leader or brand new to the program, Jenna’s journey offers encouragement, insights, and a refreshing reminder that everyone starts somewhere.

Part 1: Introduction and Background

1. Tell us about yourself! Where are you based, what is your professional background, and what drew you to join Virtue 340B?

   
   

   I am based in Rochester, NY, but am originally from Southern California. I relocated about 7 years ago for the company I worked for at the time, and wow, has that move changed my life! I bought my first house, got several promotions within the company, and got engaged to the best guy I could’ve ever asked for! Unfortunately, I was laid off last summer after 12 ½ years with the company. After over a decade of service and a cross-country move, it took some time for me to figure out where to go from there and how to shape the new version of what my career and professional life would look and feel like. I realized this was my chance to do something different, reinvent myself, and try something completely new, even if that scared me… and that’s when this amazing opportunity with Virtue 340B came knocking!
   

2. What is your current role at Virtue 340B, and what are your main responsibilities? I am the Training and Operations Specialist for Virtue, where I focus on reviewing and organizing our processes to build a solid internal infrastructure and a clear, comprehensive, and effective training program. I use micro-learning and a mix of techniques to make sure every new auditor has what they need to jump in quickly and deliver the top-notch support our partners count on.
   

3. What prior exposure (if any) did you have to the healthcare or pharmacy world before joining the Virtue team? I do not come from the healthcare world at all, which brings both benefits and challenges to my work with Virtue. While learning the world of pharmacy and 340B auditing has presented a significant growth opportunity for me, being so green has also allowed me to evaluate and design our training materials and internal infrastructure through a completely objective, third-party lens. This will allow us to approach our clients from a unique and unparalleled perspective in the marketplace.

Part 2: Jumping Into 340B - Initial Impressions

1. What were your first thoughts when you were introduced to the 340B program? The healthcare arena is definitely foreign to me, and learning the specific nuances of it has absolutely been overwhelming at times. However, my career path up to this point has been quite varied, so while healthcare itself may be new, business will always be business, and the background I bring to the table can be applied in any world I may find myself in. Overwhelmed with healthcare information and rules? You bet. Nervous or apprehensive about joining a new company and implementing a training program for something I am still learning myself? Heck no, bring it on!
   

2. What aspect of the 340B program or your responsibilities did you find most confusing or complex in the beginning? I think just understanding the ins and outs of healthcare in general, along with the specifics of the 340B program, was tricky, especially the new acronyms! The company I worked for previously had a considerable number of acronyms, and a big part of my learning curve was forgetting the ones that didn’t matter, keeping the ones that crossed over, and learning new ones (some of which were the same letters with a different meaning – yikes!). The terminology was far and away the biggest challenge in my learning journey.
   

3. How did you navigate that learning curve? Thank goodness for Apexus! Their training videos, resource documents, and tools have been paramount to my success. I also took advantage of being brand new to this industry, so every time I did something new (created my access to a system, learned a new acronym, etc) I took screenshots of each step and created a training module out of it, so every process, piece of software we interact with, and tool we use to support Covered Entities has been documented to ensure any new teammate of any skill level will have what they need to be successful.
   

4. Was there a specific project or moment during your first 90 days when you felt, “Okay—I’m starting to get this”? Tell us about that win. During my first couple of months at Virtue, I was watching the RFK Jr. confirmation hearings and took particular interest in the discussion about Medicare vs. Medicaid – something I was actively learning in my role. The next day, I shadowed a presentation by our CEO and noticed a clear contradiction between what he shared and what was said in the hearing. After the call, I was able to clearly explain the discrepancy, which led to a great discussion. That moment made me realize, “I think I’m really getting the hang of this!”
   

Part 3: Growth & Confidence

1. In what ways has your understanding of the 340B program evolved since day one? Oh gosh, I think when you are brand new to an industry, it’s pretty easy to recognize the growth and evolution that you go through, much more so than if I’d come from this world before joining the team. These first 90 days have been huge for me, and my understanding of the program and how Medicaid works in the industry, as well as my ability to articulate what we do and the value we bring to covered entities, has grown exponentially over the last few months.
   

2. How has your confidence grown, both in your day-to-day work and in your ability to support our clients and team? Again, I think it’s really just my ability to even articulate what we do as a company. When I took this role, and family and friends started asking me what it entailed, I honestly had a hard time telling them. Of course, I could explain what MY role was and the goals I had for us as an organization, but explaining what 340B was and the crucial role we play… that was a completely different animal and something that really took some time for me to get a handle on.
   

   That’s the true test of learning though – to successfully repeat a task you were shown is one thing, but to teach it to someone else so they understand it and be able to explain the details when they get stuck – THAT’S when you know you’ve graduated from simple regurgitation to actual knowledge.
   

3. If someone brand new to 340B joined tomorrow, what advice would you give them in their first 30 days? I would say, as cliché as it sounds, patience is a virtue, especially if you are completely new to this world like I was. Mistakes are ok, and learning takes time, so give yourself some grace. Permit yourself to get there, and don’t knock yourself down if it takes longer than you think it “should”. That’s a dangerous word, “should”, and a pressure-filled trap many of us fall into. If you can identify one thing every day that you learned or clicked for you, no matter how small, then you’re moving forward, and that is the key to success. Not speed, just dedication. I would rather someone I am partnering with be slow and right rather than fast and wildly inaccurate. In a world full of hares, I challenge newcomers to be a tortoise. Your partners, your leaders, and most importantly, YOU, will thank you for it.
   

Part 4: Looking Ahead 

1. Are there any topics within 340B that you’re excited to keep learning about next? As I continue building our training materials for potential new hires, the details of 340B will continue to fall into place for me, and I am excited about that. I love being a student of the business I am in, continuing to grow and learn and develop as time goes by. The second I stop learning is the second I stop evolving, so while I don’t know what topics to even look forward to per say, I know I am down for the ride!
   

2. What skills or insights do you hope to develop further in your role at Virtue over the next few months? I am a presenter at heart, I love working with people and running calls, classes, etc. so as I continue to grow with Virtue, I am excited to get to a place where I can run calls with entities (or at least be a co-facilitator of them) and get more involved in the conversation.
   

   I also really look forward to us bringing new people onto our team. A huge part of my professional background is as a Learning Instructor with new hires, welcoming them to our company and guiding them through onboarding and beyond. I have always led from the side rather than being someone’s direct boss, and I am excited to have that opportunity once again and welcome new faces to our company. I love watching new hires grow and evolve into the next version of who they can become, and I cannot wait to get back to my roots as an instructor and professional developer.
   

3. What would you say to someone who’s just been asked to help manage or support a 340B program, but feels lost?  I would say, first and foremost, take a breath and remind yourself that you’ve got this. You wouldn’t have been asked to help if those who asked didn’t think you could do it. Once you’re breathing normally again, remember what I said earlier, accept that, as with everything in life, there will be a learning curve, so give yourself grace, roll up your sleeves, and dig in! The most important thing to do is ask questions – as a boss once told me years ago (and is now my personal mantra) – don’t suffer in silence. No one wins when you quietly let yourself drown. When you have a question, ask it! If it’s urgent, make sure you get an answer ASAP; if it’s not, jot it down and bring your list to your boss, partners, whoever, when time allows. Do not let imposter syndrome or feeling like you’re annoying people get in the way of your ability to learn and be successful. Like I said earlier, everyone will thank you for your commitment.
   

   My other key to success is effective notes. OneNote is one of my favorite tools for effective notetaking and information-storing, and it’s free with any version of the Microsoft suite. Whatever program you use though, figuring out where and how to store information in an organized way for future reference will be vital to your success.
   

Bonus: Jenna’s 340B Toolkit

1. What 1-2 resources (training guides, tools, workflows, habits) have been most helpful in your learning journey? As I mentioned earlier, the best resource I’ve found so far is the Apexus training portal, which has been instrumental in my learning journey in the 340B space. The number of video training modules, job aids, and live webinars has been incredible and has had a huge impact on my rate of retention and overall success.
   

   That said, I have also relied quite heavily on my teammates and external partners for help. Whenever I have a question, I know I can ask any one of the people I work with, internally or not, and they will have the answer or a resource available to help me.
   

2. What’s one “best practice” you’d recommend to any new 340B stakeholder trying to build a strong foundation? Never be afraid to ask for guidance. You are not putting anyone out or inconveniencing them by asking for help. Your teammates and external colleagues are there to partner with you, and it is in everyone’s best interest to help and support you. The more you learn and the faster you are upskilled, the more you can provide for your team and business associates in the long run.

Ready to build your own foundation for success in 340B?

If you're stepping into a new role or just looking for clarity, Virtue 340B is here to help. Reach out today to learn how we can support you with training, audit readiness, and practical guidance tailored to your journey.