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Students take top honors at conference MUSC pharmacy students, Julie Long and Karen Hembree Spry, took top honors in the final round of the 11th Annual American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) National Clinical Skills Competition Dec. 3.   They edged out nine other elite teams from across the nation in a forum that showcased the students’ ability to provide high-quality patient care.   In preliminary competition, 86 two-person teams each spent two hours in closed sessions evaluating and writing up a complex clinical case. The case, developed specifically for this unique competition, was designed to test the competitors’ ability to handle therapy issues that affect real patients. Each team evaluated the case patient’s current therapy, identified and prioritized therapeutic problems and treatment goals, and created a care plan for review by a three-judge panel.   ASHP President Cynthia Brennan announced the 10 highest-scoring teams during her welcoming session for students. The final round of the competition took place that afternoon before an audience of the mid-year conference attendees, with each finalist team giving an  oral presentation of his/her clinical case, followed by intensive questioning from the judges.   Long and Spry were awarded a personal first-place trophy and will also receive $500 each and a display trophy for MUSC.   All 20 finalists in the competition received a free copy of ASHP’s PharmPrep CD-ROM and a $100 ASHP gift certificate for the purchase of ASHP products and services, including membership dues and meeting registration fees.     Friday, Dec. 15, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.