9 April 2017 – IMU School of Pharmacy teams took first and third places at the National Clinical Pharmacy Challenge 2017 at the Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences (CUCMS). This two-day Challenge, now in its fourth year, has evolved into a highly challenging test of clinical pharmacy knowledge, skills, and team performance.
“We don’t think our achievement belongs to one team alone but is the collective effort of everyone in both teams. We went as two separate groups, however we were never really separated because we were all bearing the name of IMU to the event. We worked hard together, helped each other and motivated one another” – Ang Yik Sheng
This year, the Challenge was organised jointly by CUCMS Pharmacy Student Society and the Malaysian Pharmacy Student Association (MyPSA). Nineteen pharmacy student teams from thirteen institutions took part: IMU, UM, UKM, USM, UiTM, IIUM, CUCMS, Taylor’s, AIMST, UniKL, SEGi, UCSI, MAHSA. The School of Pharmacy fielded two teams each of four students. Team A comprised Kow Chia Siang, Ang Yik Sheng, Thum Enn Yi, and Hong Khai Shien; and Team B, Lew Ai Peng, Ooi Ziqian, See Mun Ling, and Wong Ka Yan. 
“We were honoured to be selected and guided by Mr Rohit amongst many other capable and outstanding classmates. Of course, the preparations were rather demanding but we were excited to represent IMU!” – Lew Ai Peng
In the first round (single best answer items and an Objective Structured Clinical Examination), both IMU teams were placed in the top four. The second round tested each participant against the clock, using oral short-answer questions on clinical pharmacy and therapeutics. Four teams got through this round: the IMU Teams, CUCMS Team A and the Taylor’s University team. The next (semi-final) round used a clinical therapeutics problem in a simulated hospital ward setting. IMU Team A and the Taylor’s team qualified for the final round, and were given an hour to formulate a pharmaceutical care planning and prepare a 10-minute case presentation. A panel of three judges, including an experienced clinical pharmacist, judged the case presentations including responses to questions. Kow Chia Siang who presented for IMU Team A gave a truly excellent performance and was adjudged Best Presenter, whilst Team A emerged as the Champion team. The National Clinical Pharmacy Challenge 2017 results in full :
| Champions | IMU Team A |
| First Runner – Up | Taylor’s University |
| Second Runner-up | IMU Team B |
| Fourth Place | CUCMS Team A |
Best Presenter: Kow Chia Siang (Pharmacy student at IMU)
“I want to thank all my teammates for their encouragement throughout the competition, especially in the final round where I had to present the case. I also appreciate the guidance from Mr Rohit and my research supervisor Dr Shahzad. To be honest, we never thought we could come this far, but thankfully everyone got into the top 4.” – Kow Chia Siang
| While guiding student teams for the past 3 years (2014-2017) I believe the continuous outstanding performance of our pharmacy students in the National Clinical Pharmacy Challenge is not due to overnight preparation. This event requires extraordinary and continuous efforts to compete with other universities. To be champions in such events students must have excellent clinical knowledge, understanding, critical thinking, appraisal and decision making capacity with regard to clinical guidelines. They need confidence when tackling the clinical cases. Practice, practice, and practice is the only mantra to become champions. Participation in such events should continue, to enhance the enthusiasm of pharmacy students in Malaysia. We must appreciate and be thankful to lecturers, the BPharm Programme Director, and Dean of the School, who work hard to strengthen the curriculum and clinical pharmacy competence. The need to keep challenging students and inspiring them to work for humankind. |
| Rohit Kumar Verma |
