UKCOP takes top honors at the 2024 ACCP Clinical Pharmacy Challenge
LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 16, 2024) —The University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy (UKCOP) has emerged victorious in the 2024 American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Clinical Pharmacy Challenge, marking its second national championship win since 2017. Coached by faculty advisor Zachary Haffler, PharmD, BCPS, the winning team consisted of fourth-year PharmD students Cameron Howell, Kaylee Meador, and Catherine Barfield. Alternates Sanda Grahovic and Lian Haney played an instrumental role in the five-month preparation process that contributed to this achievement.
“This team is absolutely amazing," said Haffler. "The way we prepare for this competition is quite intensive, and the students excelled while managing their advanced pharmacy practice experience rotations. I’m very proud of their accomplishment and how they grew together as a team. It was clear how much fun they were having during the competition. Their clinical skills are astounding, but their ability to work as a team and the camaraderie they developed throughout the process made the difference. They deserve this honor.”
Team captain Cameron Howell emphasized the importance of teamwork. “This was truly a team effort. We could not have done it without our trust in each other and the invaluable coaching by Dr. Haffler during the preparation process. We are extremely grateful to the College for supporting us on this adventure, and we had an absolute blast!”
This year’s competition kicked off on September 5, 2024, with 110 institutions from 44 states, the District of Columbia, and one international university. The UKCOP team advanced through online preliminaries to live quarterfinals, semifinals, and final rounds, held at the ACCP Annual Meeting in Phoenix from October 12-14, 2024.
The ACCP Clinical Pharmacy Challenge tested participants’ knowledge and clinical decision-making through three rigorous segments: a trivia/lightning round covering topics like pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and clinical pharmacy history; an in-depth clinical case analysis of patient scenarios; and a Jeopardy-style round with questions spanning cardiovascular disorders, infectious diseases, and critical care.
An expert panel of clinical pharmacy practitioners and educators developed and reviewed the competition’s content. This challenging environment allowed students to demonstrate their skills and test their clinical decision-making abilities in real-world scenarios.
By reaching the quarterfinals, each team member received complimentary registration for the ACCP Annual Meeting, a $125 gift certificate, and a certificate of recognition. As the champions, the team also earned a $1,500 cash prize, a commemorative plaque, and a trophy for the University.
For more details about the 2024 ACCP Clinical Pharmacy Challenge and a complete list of participating institutions, visit ACCP’s official website.