University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy Team Wins National Clinical Skills Competition

University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy brought home the win in ASHP's 29th annual Clinical Skills Competition, with team members Gabriella Mignosa and Emma Van Reysen earning first place honors during this year's event.

The National Clinical Skills Competition challenges student pharmacists to analyze and make treatment recommendations for complex patient case scenarios that represent situations the participants may encounter when they practice as pharmacists.

Cameron Carter and Jordan Saunders from Wingate University School of Pharmacy earned second place. Madeline Frellick and Carly Mitchell from Medical University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy and Keo Chui and Immanuel Tjahjadi from University of California—San Francisco School of Pharmacy tied for third.

This year, the event drew teams from 133 schools and colleges of pharmacy. The competition, an interactive, team-based analysis of clinical scenarios for pharmacists, provides student pharmacists with the opportunity to enhance their skills in collaborative practice with physicians in providing direct patient care.

Case topics run the gamut of pharmacotherapy, often focusing on a core topic such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and anticoagulation, with several ancillary problems exploring the depth of the student’s acumen. Cases are often based on a real patient case or the cumulative clinical experiences of the case writer.

Team members on Dec. 7 prepared a written case study for evaluation during sessions that were closed to the public, and judges with expertise in various fields of pharmacy graded their work. The 10 teams (see list below) that made the final round were announced Dec. 8 and appeared that afternoon before the panel of judges to explain the reasoning behind the treatment recommendations.

Each finalist received an iPad with a one-year subscription to UpToDate^® Lexidrug^TM, generously provided by Wolters Kluwer. Finalists also received an ASHP self-assessment resource of their choice. The first, second, and third place teams received a cash award.

The Clinical Skills Competition was sponsored by the ASHP Foundation with support from Wolters Kluwer and McGraw Hill. Each team member received complimentary registration at the Midyear Clinical Meeting & Exhibition to attend the national competition, which took place this year in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The competition would not be possible without the hard work of volunteer judges, case writers, and faculty coordinators who dedicated countless hours to ensure this competition was a success.

Top 10 Teams

• Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy — Ashley Rector, Kevin Wu
• Medical University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy — Madeline Frellick, Carly Mitchell
• Nova Southeastern University Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy — Olivia Hanna, Janiel Tulloch
• Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy — Samantha Beck, Darby Hobbs
• Sullivan University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences — Dylan Tulett, Carlie White
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy — Afsana Musharof, Alán Linh Nguyen
• University of Arizona College of Pharmacy — Jake Dodson, Crystal Vo
• University of California - San Francisco School of Pharmacy — Keo Chui, Immanuel Tjahjadi
• University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy — Gabriella Mignosa, Emma Van Reysen
• Wingate University School of Pharmacy — Cameron Carter, Jordan Saunders

Visit ASHP’s Clinical Skills Competition webpage to learn more.