School of Pharmacy Student Research Team Places 3rd in National Competition

School of Pharmacy Student Research Team Places 3rd in National Competition

August 5, 2024, 11:51 AM

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy (SOP) research team placed third place at the Clinical Pharmacy Research Challenge this past June. The competition features 87 teams from colleges around the country. Each team features students in their first two years of the professional program. The SIUE research team, led by John Ruscin, PharmD, FCCP, BCPS, includes Jarrett Morgan, Noah Sutliff, and Dakota Tucker.

The competition consists of three rounds, spanning over seven months. Round one is a 50-question timed test pertaining to a clinical research article, as the top 40 teams advance to round two. A three-page Letter of Intent is the next task for the teams as they develop a research project which "demonstrates value of clinical pharmacy service in the patients with solid organ transplant." The third round includes the final assignment, with the top 20 teams selected by the judges, developing an entire research protocol based on their prior Letter of Intent.

"These three exceeded my expectations and put together a very innovative letter of intent and research protocol," Ruscin said. "I think innovation is the key to success in competitions like this and Jarret, Dakota, and Noah met that challenge. I think Dakota, Jarret and Noah can be very proud of that!"

After the researchers submit their final assignment the teams play the waiting game, as the judges choose the top eight protocols to be reviewed by a separate panel. The revised reviewers then select the top five teams.
"From that first timed-group exam, I felt the trust we had in each other as we divided the work. Every single member brought strong ideas and enthusiasm to the table, and ultimately put in the work necessary to place as we did. To say I'm proud of our team would be an understatement," Morgan said.

Morgan said the overwhelming support from the SIUE faculty and staff was a key reason he stuck with the competition until the very end. He added that the curriculum is strong and backed by a staff that is passionate and cares for their students.
The students apart of SIUE-SOP compete in multiple competitions throughout the year that are sponsored by different pharmacy organizations. The preparation that the faculty and staff provide is a strong influence on student success when it comes to team competitions, allowing teams to compete at the highest level.

"Our strengths and the way we were able to complement each other was really fun," Tucker said. "Healthcare is a collaborate thing, and I've always tried to do things by myself. It was a really good experience to do something like that."

SIUE finished in the top three for the second consecutive season, following their second-place win in the 2023 challenge.

PHOTOS: Award-winning SOP research team members (top row l. to r.) Jarrett Morgan and Noah Sutliff, and (bottom row l. to r.) Dakota Tucker and John Ruscin, PharmD, FCCP, BCPS