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HOUSTON, April 26, 2005 – For the second consecutive year, the University of Houston College of Pharmacy took first place in the National Patient Counseling Competition held at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) annual meeting.
Dana Hausmann, a fourth-year UH pharmacy student, won the contest, competing against a record number of participants in this year's challenge. For the first time in the history of the 21-year competition, a student competed from every APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists (ASP) chapter in the country for a total of 90 contenders.
Hausmann's unprecedented win gave UH the distinction of being the first pharmacy college or school to capture back-to-back titles. At last year's APhA annual meeting, Michelle Edwards, a 2004 UH alum, won the contest, becoming the first UH College of Pharmacy student to take first-place honors. The two victories underscore the college's emphasis on the importance of being able to effectively communicate with patients.
"Communication is very important for health care professional, especially pharmacists who have the difficult task of proving information about drugs and the disease process to patients," said Sunny E. Ohia, dean of the UH College of Pharmacy. "Clearly, the success of our students in this competition two years in a row is a positive reflection of the quality education they receive from our faculty."
The purpose of the National Patient Counseling Competition is to support student pharmacists in their efforts to become competent health care providers and educators. The challenge is designed to reflect changes that are occurring in practice, encouraging further professional development of the student pharmacist. Students competing in the competition are given a prescription and a patient profile from which they are expected to counsel a patient. Typically, patients present the competitors with a communication barrier that can range from the patient having obtained confusing information about the prescription on the Internet to needing to leave the pharmacy in a hurry without fully understanding the prescription instructions. Students are evaluated on their ability to maintain control of the counseling session, providing all the information the patient needs and making them feel comfortable talking about their situation.
"We are so proud of her," said Clinical Assistant Professor Lynn Simpson, vice-chair of the clinical sciences and administration department and ASP faculty adviser. "This is a huge accomplishment for Dana. She was not only up against more competitors this year, but she also had to overcome the pressure of following Michelle Edward's win last year."
Before becoming part of the UH College of Pharmacy faculty, Simpson, a 1996 UH pharmacy alum, placed in the top three as a student competitor in this same contest.
Hausmann's triumph earned her $1,000, a plaque and the opportunity to return on an all-expense-paid trip to judge next year's National Patient Counseling Competition. Edwards, who won the same package last year, served as a judge for the first round but not the final. Alex Varkey, a fellow UH pharmacy student and APhA ASP national president, shared in the college's victory by announcing Hausmann as the winner.
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas' premier metropolitan research and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate, civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and service with more than 35,000 students.
About the UH College of Pharmacy
For more than 50 years, the University of Houston College of Pharmacy has shaped aspiring pharmacists, scientists and teachers. The college offers a Pharm. D. degree, a master's in pharmacy administration, a Ph.D. in pharmaceutics or pharmacology and combined Pharm.D./Ph.D. degrees. Accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education, it is one of nearly 90 pharmacy colleges in the United States, with more than 45 basic science and clinical faculty, nearly 610 adjunct faculty and preceptors and 900 current pre-pharmacy and professional students. The college has facilities both on the UH campus and in the Texas Medical Center. At TMC, students have the opportunity to train with physicians, medical students and members of UH clinical faculty. In addition to faculty and staff offices, TMC also houses research laboratories, classrooms and the Contemporary Pharmacy Practice Laboratory.
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