The Cure Alls

22-JUL-2014

'The Cure Alls' bring pharmacy championship home to ETSU

JOHNSON CITY A group of students from the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy at East Tennessee State University recently brought home the championship from a statewide competition hosted by the Tennessee Pharmacists Association.

On July 22, the College of Pharmacy team, nicknamed "The Cure Alls," won the fifth annual NASPA/TPA Student Pharmacist Self-Care Championship at the association's annual meeting in Hilton Head, S.C. Teams from all six colleges of pharmacy in Tennessee competed in the event, which featured a Jeopardy-like format.

The National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA) and the Nonprescription Medicines Academy (NMA) partnered in 2006 to launch the competition. The event, which is endowed by Proctor & Gamble, promotes interactive learning. During the event, pharmacy students answered questions that demonstrated their knowledge of various over-the-counter medications and products as well as their ability to identify and explain aspects of self-care treatments.

Members of the winning team from ETSU are Scott Brewster, Aaron Garst, Brandon Farmer and Ryan Smith. Serving as alternates were Abby Surles and Allison Philips. Dr. Katelyn Alexander, an assistant professor at the College of Pharmacy, serves as the team coach.

Thirteen student pharmacists from ETSU attended this year's TPA convention and exposition along with a handful of faculty and administration.

A photo of the team at the competition can be found at http://photolab.etsu.edu/images/TN-PharmacistsAssocChampionship2014

Pictured, from left to right, are team members Aaron Garst, Class of 2016; Ryan Smith, Class of 2015; Brandon Farmer, Class of 2016; and Scott Brewster, Class of 2017.