Two University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy students secured a Top 10 finish at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting earlier this month, competing against pharmacy programs nationwide.
Jessica Rumrill and Hyojung Choi, both fourth-year students, advanced to the national competition after winning at the local and state level, where they competed against a record 28 teams locally.
ASHP hosts the national Clinical Skills Competition annually at its Midyear meeting, with two-person teams from colleges and schools of pharmacy across the country. Teams receive a complex patient case and must provide a comprehensive therapeutic plan using available resources and applying skills acquired in school.
"We're a bit competitive, so we want to see how far we can go," Rumrill says. The duo previously competed together as second-year students and teamed up again for another attempt after gaining more clinical experience.
Preparation included reviewing clinical guidelines for common outpatient conditions and practicing previous cases. The competition tests both written treatment plans and verbal patient presentations, with teams having just 15 minutes to prepare their oral presentations.
"I now feel so much more confident in my ability to triage clinical problems based on acuity, quickly recall clinical guidelines, and create monitoring plans," Rumrill says.
For Choi, the experience addresses a common challenge among pharmacy students. "Participating helps me recognize and work through impostor syndrome by pushing me outside my comfort zone," she says.
A top 10 national result is a testament to their level of commitment and applying what they've learned over the past four years.
The partnership proves successful partly because of their different career goals. Rumrill focuses on acute care while Choi pursues ambulatory care, allowing them to complement each other's strengths.
Professor Brandon Bookstaver praises the students' achievement.
"Jessica and Hyojung have been amazing throughout," he says. "A top 10 national result is a testament to their level of commitment and applying what they've learned over the past four years."
Choi encourages other students to take on similar challenges. "I would strongly encourage other students to challenge themselves, whether through competitions or new learning opportunities," she says. "These experiences can not only foster growth but also build confidence and help you realize you are more capable than you may think."
Topics: Pharm.D. Program