Her Story
About Helen
Helen Noonan-Harnsberger, PharmD, is an accomplished pharmacy executive, clinical pharmacist, and business consultant with decades of experience in healthcare, managed care pharmacy, and pharmaceutical benefit management. She currently serves as a Clinical Pharmacist and Business Consultant at Dialectica, providing expertise to health plans, pharmacy benefit managers, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare innovators. Throughout her career, Helen has focused on developing evidence-based pharmacy solutions that improve patient outcomes, promote medication safety, and make prescription drugs more affordable and accessible.
Before joining Dialectica, Helen spent 25 years at Providence Health Plan, progressing through senior leadership roles, including Vice President of Pharmacy Services. She directed pharmacy operations overseeing substantial pharmaceutical expenditures, led multidisciplinary teams, and implemented strategies to improve financial performance, operational efficiency, and clinical quality. Her earlier experience includes leadership positions at Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and Kaiser Permanente, as well as service as a member and president of the Oregon Board of Pharmacy. Helen earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Purdue University and a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Oregon State University.
Throughout her career, Helen has remained committed to putting members and patients first by advancing quality healthcare and improving access to affordable medications. She is passionate about mentoring students, residents, and emerging professionals while empowering teams to achieve meaningful results through collaboration, professional development, and shared accountability. Her community involvement includes supporting Project Access NOW and its Pharmacy Bridge program, which helps improve medication access for individuals with limited or no prescription coverage. Guided by integrity, transparency, and a strong sense of service, Helen continues to use her clinical expertise and strategic leadership to strengthen healthcare systems and improve the well-being of the communities she serves.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Helen
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my desire to make a difference in my community and address unmet needs. My family motivates much of what I do, while professionally, I am driven to ensure the populations I serve receive the healthcare they deserve, particularly by improving access to affordable medications and pharmacy services.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to never stop learning and growing. Throughout my career, I’ve learned the importance of continuous development and using my experience to mentor, support, and inspire others in the pharmacy profession.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women to continually reassess their North Star and stay connected to what motivates them. As the industry evolves, remember why you entered the profession while remaining aware of how your work connects to and impacts the broader healthcare system.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in pharmacy is ensuring medications remain affordable and accessible without compromising clinical quality. As the field evolves from clinical to managed care pharmacy, there are opportunities to improve healthcare access and ensure patients receive the medications and services they need.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My most important values are family, compassion, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. I am passionate about ensuring the populations I serve receive quality healthcare and affordable medications. My family is my ultimate motivation, and I am committed to advancing pharmacy services and recognizing their vital role in America's healthcare system.
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