This past Spring, three UConn Pharmacy students showcased their grit and determination in the 2025 ACCP (American College of Clinical Pharmacy) Clinical Research Challenge, earning second place - the highest finish UConn has ever achieved in the competition.
Medicinal garden Outside the School of Pharmacy (UConn Photo)
Through testing and application of research skills and study design in three rounds, pharmacy students from around the U.S. competed to advance the profession of clinical pharmacy through original research proposals.
For Ashley Klancko, Abigail Serrano, and Jenna-Lynn Kelley, placing second in this prestigious competition was a culmination of their dedication, teamwork, and perseverance as third year Pharm.D. students at the School. Between learning in classrooms, experimenting in labs, and pursuing their passions within and outside pharmacy, they found time in their busy schedules to excel in three intense rounds of the competition. This School of Pharmacy team was led under the guidance of Bill Baker, a professor of pharmacy practice.
"I learned that leaning on my team members and our advisor would result in a better overall product than if I tried to work everything out on my own." – Abigail Serrano
In the first round, 79 teams took a general online test to measure general study design and biostatistics type of knowledge. Answering questions based on the design of a particular study and interpretations of different parts of the study, Ashley, Abigail, and Jenna-Lynn relied on all they've learned in the classroom to demonstrate their skillset in research and design studies. Teams receiving the top 40 scores after this initial round advanced into the second phase.
In the next phase, each team submitted a Letter of Intent (LOI), a 3-page proposal outlining a research study exemplifying the value of clinical pharmacy-led services or initiatives in an area of psychiatry or mental health services. The proposal would facilitate the integration between community pharmacy and mental health services. It also had to be doable in a year-time frame, with a relatively small $50,000 budget, and centered around a pharmacy-led service or initiative in the area of psychiatry.
With only three to four weeks to prepare a focused research study encompassing a year-long initiative, Ashley, Abigail, and Jenna-Lynn tirelessly worked together to curate an effective pharmacy-led initiative encompassing psychiatry. Abigail, a pharmacy intern at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham, emphasized how finding an idea that was feasible, unique, and applicable to current pharmacy practices proved to be a challenge. However, despite the pressure, the students felt well-equipped by their academic journey which had prepared them through Pharmacoeconomics classes, psychiatry units within classes, and the School's general pharmacy curriculum which puts a great emphasis on community pharmacy and the greater impact of research projects. Ashley, who works at CVS and Yale New Haven Health as a pharmacy intern and is the president of Knit for NICU, had just done her community IPPE (Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience) rotation at a specialty pharmacy attached to a hospital prior to the competition and was able to assist her fellow teammates with brainstorming.
After going through a handful of topics, the UConn student team decided on a topic and submitted their proposal, entitled: Evaluation of a Pharmacist-Led Meds-to-Beds Program in Patients with Psychiatric Disorders. In just three pages, Ashley, Abigail, and Jenna-Lynn bridged the gap between patients in hospitals with acute psychiatric conditions getting prepared to be discharged and their prescription medication, so every patient has access to transformative healthcare during their transition to post-hospital life.
"Being able to see the product of our efforts was so rewarding." – Ashley Klancko
Throughout all phases of this competition, including the proposal phases, teams had to work unaware of what research and designs other teams around the nation were proposing. While daunting at first, the UConn student team looked to each other for support, guidance, and motivation. Stepping out of her comfort zone with this opportunity, Ashley felt especially grateful for her teammates and how well they functioned as one successful unit. Furthermore, the team members continuously consulted with their advisor, Bill Baker, and Kristin Waters, an associate clinical professor at UConn and a freelance consultant at the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson, to be successful in designing a research project that had the potential for long-lasting positive results within the community. Jenna-Lynn gives credit to the School's curriculum, resources, and supportive staff when reflecting on how her team found success.
"It was rewarding to witness our individual contributions complement each other and watch our ideas merge into a successful final product." – Jenna-Lynn Kelley
Of the forty submissions within the second round, only the top twenty were invited to submit a full 12-page research project. In just another three-to-four-week timespan, the UConn team had yet another challenge. Carefully crafting this extensive proposal together and under the guidance of professionals, Abigail, Ashley, and Jenna-Lynn curated the pharmacy-led mental health initiative ACCP was looking for, reflected in their second-place win. Surprised to be making it into the top five, let alone top two, the UConn student team is looking forward to creating and presenting a poster for their contributions in the ACCP's annual meeting in October.
To say Bill Baker, a professor of pharmacy practice at UConn and the faculty advisor for the student team, is proud is an understatement. Throughout his five years of serving as the faculty advisor for this competition, Bill has never had a team place second in the competition. When asked about his contributions, he remains humble and praises the School of Pharmacy team, admiring their grit and team attitude in such a demanding competition.
Bill's proudest moment has yet to come, however. In October, when his students get recognized in front of over two thousand audience members in the ACCP's annual meeting, Bill knows he will feel most proud then.
UConn's second place title in the 2025 ACCP's Clinical Research Challenge will remain a testament to the dedication of the School's students and faculty members.
