|Clinical Care|
Erie pharmacy students take 1st in state event
A team of second-year Erie School of Pharmacy students took home top honors at the Fifth Annual Pennsylvania Student Pharmacists Self-Care Championship sponsored by the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association (PPA). All seven pharmacy schools in Pennsylvania competed at the PPA’s Mid-Year Conference in Harrisburg, Pa. LECOM’s winning team was made up of Kim Thuc Pham, Kevin Long and Riley Williams. Winning the competition was a major accomplishment for the LECOM students. It was the first time LECOM has ever won the Self-Care Championship. The students had to showcase their knowledge of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and home remedies to win the competition. During the fast-paced “Jeopardy”-style competition, points were awarded for correct answers and deducted for incorrect responses. The trio from LECOM was trailing until the final round of competition. Pham, Long and Williams brought home a trophy and each received a $50 prize for their efforts. “The design of this competition, requiring quick recall of product information, demonstrates the dedication of these students to master OTC product information,” said Mary Ray, Pharm.D., LECOM’s director of experiential education and assistant professor of pharmacy. “This is particularly impressive given the fact that it has been nearly a year since they have had coursework specific to OTC products.” Dr. Ray said a solid knowledge of OTC medications will allow students to properly advise patients during their future careers. In addition to Dr. Ray, LECOM assistant pharmacy professors Justin Scholl, Pharm.D., and Maryann Scholl, Pharm.D., attended the competition and cheered the team on to victory. Hershey Bell, M.D., M.S., LECOM School of Pharmacy dean; assistant pharmacy professors Elliott Cook, Pharm.D., and Randy Heemer, Pharm.D., and Millcreek Community Hospital resident Abbey Power, Pharm.D., helped the LECOM team prepare.
LEFT: LECOM School of Pharmacy students (L-R): Riley Williams, Kevin Long and Kim Thuc Pham, all Class of 2012, proudly accept their trophy after winning the 5th Annual Pennsylvania Student Pharmacists Self-Care Championship in Harrisburg, Pa.
Students test their pharmacy knowledge in Seattle Two LECOM School of Pharmacy students participated in the National Patient Counseling Competition in March. The competition was held during the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) national meeting in Seattle, Wash. Vanessa Ray, Class of 2013, LECOM Erie, and Shilo Bremser, Class of 2012, LECOM Bradenton, earned spots in the national event by winning local competitions held in Erie and Bradenton. The student pharmacists also won all-expense paid trips to Seattle. Ray and Bremser competed against 120 pharmacy students from around the country. Bremser said participating in the patient counseling competition taught her how to communicate with patients more effectively. “I learned to counsel patients in a limited amount of time by presenting the most important information to them about their medication in a way that they could understand,” she said. Bremser added the lessons she learned in preparing for the competition will help make her a better pharmacist. Ray said she had a wonderful time in Seattle and was able to visit several attractions including the Space Needle, Pike Place Market and Safeco Field — home of the Seattle Mariners. She also spoke to many pharmacists and industry professionals during the annual meeting, saying that it was a good networking opportunity. As for the competition itself, Ray said, “Although I didn’t win, I feel like it was a great experience and opportunity for me.” The goal of the APhA-ASP National Patient Counseling Competition is to encourage student pharmacists in their efforts to become better patient educators. The competition reflects changes that are taking place in the pharmacy profession. It also promotes the professional development of student pharmacists and reinforces the role that pharmacists have as health care providers and educators. 32 | LECOM CONNECTION | SUMMER 2011