DKICP student Henry Quach wins national pharmacy counseling competition

Henry Quach, a third-year student pharmacist at the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, recently won the national American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Patient Counseling competition. Quach, who competed against students from most of the pharmacy schools across the country, will receive a plaque and $1,000 prize.

The national counseling competition is designed to encourage student pharmacists to develop their skills as healthcare providers and educators. The contest is set up to mimic a patient picking up a medication for the first time and requires pharmacy students to counsel the patient on safe and effective drug use. This year’s final round of competition involved the scenario of a mother picking up medication for her young son, recalls Quach. “She showed some signs of concern and anxiousness but was very responsive to learning about the medication.”

Quach says Dr. Jarred Prudencio, DKICP assistant professor of pharmacy practice, played an immense role in helping him prepare for the contest. “I don’t think I could have done it without all of his help and encouragement.”

As this year’s national winner, Quach will be asked to return to help judge next year’s APhA competition. He gained some of his counseling skills working with the Pacific Island Mobile Screening Clinic, an organization manned by DKICP students to conduct health screenings and educate local residents about issues relating to chronic diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. This past year, Quach served as lead on-site chair for the group.