Students make strong showing in national veterinary pharmacy contest

Three DKICP students recently participated in the first annual Veterinary Pharmacy Competition, sponsored by the American College of Veterinary Pharmacists (ACVP), and placed within the top 15 participants, nationally. P1 Raelynn Kiyuna, P2 Kayla Imamura and P3 Krystle Imamura competed in the online event under the supervision of faculty member Julie Adrian, DVM.

The competition brought together student pharmacists and veterinary students from institutions around the country to test their knowledge, problem-solving skills and abilities to think quickly under pressure. The event’s theme was “Recognizing and Preventing Human Over-the-Counter Drug Toxicities in Canines and Felines,” and participants had to answer 30 questions about a variety of OTC medications, their mechanism of action, dosing, adverse effects, toxicity and indications.

The main goal of the event was to promote collaboration between the two professions, according to ACVP board members. By spotlighting the importance of specialized knowledge in veterinary pharmacy, the competition is intended to promote excellence in the field, foster professional development and elevate the standards of veterinary pharmaceutical care.

“This year’s winner was a fourth-year veterinary student, so our students were competing at a high level and did very well,” says Adrian. “We are proud of their performance and that they took the initiative to compete in this new event.”