From left, Lisa Floran (UA Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health), Belle Soyfer (UA College of Pharmacy), and Alexandra Roder (UA College of Nursing)

A team of three University of Arizona Health Sciences students won the fourth annual CLARION Interprofessional Case Competition and will compete in the National CLARION Interprofessional Case Competition in Minneapolis, Minn., April 12-13, and a chance to win a grand prize of $7,500.

The students, Lisa Floran, UA Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health; Belle Soyfer, UA College of Pharmacy; and Alexandra Roder, UA College of Nursing, comprised  one of three interprofessional teams of UA Health Sciences students who competed in the local competition, sponsored by the UAHS Center for Transformative Interprofessional Healthcare and held March 15 at the UA College of Nursing.

Each team analyzed a case focused on homelessness and health care, with real-world challenges relating to the health-care system and how it might be improved, and presented a root-cause analysis. Mentors provided guidance and technical support. The winning team was mentored by Karen Butterbaugh, MSN-Ed, RNC, senior lecturer, UA College of Nursing.

“As the UAHS team prepares for the national Clarion Interprofessional Case Competition in Minnesota, I wish them the best and congratulate them on this honor,” said Daniel Derksen, MD, professor of public health policy and management at the UA College of Public Health and UAHS associate vice president for health equity, outreach and interprofessional activities. “This event helps prepare our health sciences students to deal with real-world complex issues in health care that require the perspectives and expertise of a broad range of health professionals working together toward solutions.”

Participation in the competition leads students to a more sophisticated understanding of the health-care system in which they will practice. Students gain clinical and operational knowledge they  otherwise may not receive through their formal education.

“The CLARION competition is an elite interprofessional case competition for students. The local competition was particularly rigorous this year and the judges were impressed by all team proposals. The Center for Transformative Interprofessional Healthcare wishes the winning UAHS team much success and enrichment, both personal and professional, at the national competition,” said Margie Arnett, interprofessional education specialist with the Center for Transformative Interprofessional Healthcare.

The CLARION competition is a student-driven initiative at the University of Minnesota that focuses on professional development, including lessons in leadership, communication, analytical reasoning, conflict resolution and business. The UA is one of 16 universities throughout  the nation participating in this elite competition, which is designed to encourage communication among disciplines, especially early in the careers of health-care professionals, so the values may be carried into practice after graduation.

Taking second place in the 2019 local CLARION competition were team members Nina Amelia, UA College of Pharmacy; Paulina Ramos, UA College of Medicine – Tucson; Michelle Scott, UA College of Nursing; and Elise Phalen, UA College of Law. Their mentors were Arjetta Pace, MSN, MSE, RN, lecturer, UA College of Nursing, and Francine Gachupin, PhD, associate professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, UA College of Medicine – Tucson.

Third-place team members were Morgan Frank, UA Zuckerman College of Public Health, and Logan Moore and Max Jacobsen, UA College of Pharmacy. Their mentor was Terri Warholak, PhD, RPh, CPHQ, FAPhA, professor and assistant dean, academic affairs and assessment, UA College of Pharmacy.

The event was judged by LeeAnne Denny, MD, director, Interprofessional Education Program, UA College of Medicine – Phoenix; Ted Tong, PharmD, professor and R. Ken Coit Endowed Chair, UA College of Pharmacy; and Connie Miller, DNP, RNC-OB, CNE, clinical associate professor and chair, General Nursing and Health Education Division, UA College of Nursing.

The UA Health Sciences local competition and the winning team’s travel are supported by the UAHS Center for Transformative Interprofessional Healthcare.