AMCP Foundation Awards Pharmacy & Therapeutics Competition Winners

The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) Foundation has named 4 student pharmacists from the University of Washington School of Pharmacy as its first place winners in the 19^th Annual National Student Pharmacist Pharmacy & Therapeutics (P&T) Competition.¹

Students from Rutgers Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy in New Jersey took second place, and a team from the University of Southern California placed third.¹

Hosted by the AMCP’s philanthropic arm, the P&T Competition is a team event that is designed to provide an immersive experience in effective formulary review and management.¹ By participating in the P&T Competition, student pharmacists gain experience in gathering and critically analyzing scientific, clinical, and economic evidence in a systematic and rigorous fashion, according to the foundation. Students also hone written and oral communication skills, which are necessary in today’s health care environment.²

During the competition, contestants work through a case study using a product dossier in the AMCP Format for Formulary Submissions. These students evaluate the body of evidence on the study drug and comparators, assess value, and develop a monograph as they determine a recommendation for formulary placement and prepare an oral summary.¹

The study drug for the 2019 P&T Competition was abaloparatide (Tymlos, Radius Health) injection, which is indicated for the treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture.¹

“The effort and energy invested by all of our competitors was evident in the depth of reasoning and professionalism displayed locally and at the national finals,” said Paula J. Eichenbrenner, MBA, CAE, AMCP Foundation Executive Director, in a press release.¹ “Competitors were supported in this rigorous journey by many dedicated faculty advisors, Competition coordinators, AMCP student chapter leaders, and volunteer judges.”

Winners were presented with their awards March 28, 2019 at the AMCP Foundation Awards Ceremony, held during the AMCP Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy Annual Meeting in San Diego, California. The 2019 winning teams include:¹

• First Place: University of Washington School of Pharmacy students Erin Ichinotsubo, Hanna Kleiboeker, Eunice Kim, and Michael Sporck with advisor Pete Fullerton.

• Second Place: Rutgers Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy students Sonia Kim, Cassidy Treanor, Jessica Xiao, and Eric Zhu with advisor Saira Jan.

• Third Place: University of Southern California students Tiffany Huynh, Brian Lee, Jessica Pham, and Hollie Wong with advisors Vinson Lee, and Edward Lieskovan.

This year, a record 67 schools of pharmacy nationwide participated in the competition. Eight national finalists advanced to the live finals, where a panel of judges simulated a P&T Committee. In addition to the first, second, and third place teams, finalist teams in the 2019 competition included teams from Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy; University of California, San Francisco; University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy; and University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy.¹

Ten additional teams were recognized as honorable mention semifinalists. These teams represented California Northstate College of Pharmacy; The Ohio State University; University of California at San Diego; University of Houston; University of Michigan; University of Missouri-Kansas City; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; University of the Pacific; University of Utah; and Western University of Health Sciences.¹

The 2019 competition was supported by Genentech, Amgen, and Supernus Pharmaceuticals. In addition, AMCP received assistance from Radius Health, and Dymaxium in facilitating the competition.¹

References

• AMCP Foundation Announces Recipients of 2019 National P&T Competition [news release]. Alexandria, VA; April 3, 2019: AMCP Foundation. [email]. Accessed April 4, 2019.
• AMCP Foundation. AMCP Foundation Annual Pharmacy & Therapeutics Competition. AMCP Foundation website. http://amcp.org/amcp-foundation/PT/. Accessed April 4, 2019.