The University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy has again placed among the top three teams in the nation for the Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition. This is the fourth consecutive year for the team to land in the finals to compete for the national title in October. The University of South Carolina team won the title in 2023.
The USC COP team of Emily Fisher, Charlize Johnson and Samantha Shilhavy will compete against the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Washington. The students will make a live presentation of their vision for “Peak Pharmacy” on Saturday, October 18 and the winner will be announced the following day.
Fisher set the competition in her sights during her first year as a student pharmacist and watched the other teams compete.
“Now having the opportunity to carry on their legacy and help build a lasting tradition at our college is both exciting and deeply humbling,” she says. “I am incredibly grateful for the support I have received from our entire college and the greater community of pharmacists along the way."
Samantha Shilhavy says the team will now focus on adjusting their presentation based on the judges’ feedback.
“Those three judges excel in the business side of pharmacy, and I am grateful to have their input towards bettering my team’s business plan,” she says.
And Charlize Johnson admits she was a bit nervous to compete, given the COP team’s three-year run in making the Top 3. “But after spending months planning, I knew that we were going to keep the streak going,” she adds.
I am so proud of our students’ dedication and cannot wait to see how they perform in New Orleans in the finals. These students truly embody the spirit of innovation and excellence.
Stephen J. Cutler Dean, College of Pharmacy
Dean Stephen Cutler noted that placing among the top three teams in the nation for four consecutive years is an incredible legacy.
“I am so proud of our students’ dedication and cannot wait to see how they perform in New Orleans in the finals. These students truly embody the spirit of innovation and excellence that defines 'Peak Pharmacy.'”
Patti Fabel, executive director for the Kennedy Pharmacy Innovation Center, which sponsors the team, knew they faced a daunting task to continue the streak of being named finalists four years in a row.
“These students amaze me with their dedication, humility, and courage,” she says. “Emily, Charlize and Samantha were only second-year students when they created ‘Peak Pharmacy.'"
Learn more about the Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition.
Topics: Pharm.D. Program, Kennedy Pharmacy Innovation Center