In April, UConn placed second in the AMCP’s annual P&T Competition! The event invites many pharmacy schools across the nation to participate in a multiple-stage, intensive competition showcasing a team of four dedicated students from each school. 

Out of 47 participating teams from pharmacy schools across the country, 15 advanced to the Semi-Final round, and just 5 teams moved on to present to a mock P&T Committee during the AMCP Annual Meeting in Houston on April 1, 2025.  

This annual competition offers students an immersive opportunity to apply skills essential to formulary decision-making – an area critical to the practice of managed care pharmacy. Competing teams are tasked with conducting a comprehensive evaluation of a medication’s clinical economic, and safety profile to inform whether it should be added to a formulary. 

This year’s UConn team was the youngest to ever represent the University, composed primarily of first year pharmacy students. Team members included Hira Ilyas (P3), Owen Kwok (P1), Maggie Liu (P1), and Emily Szydlo (P1) – a group whose dedication and insight impressed judges. 

Their success reflects not only their talent but the supportive network guiding them. Associate Professor Christina Polomoff serves as the faculty advisor for the competition team and for UConn’s student AMCP chapter. Additional support comes from a group of dedicated managed care leaders: Jeffrey Casberg, Andrew Cournoyer, Joseph Honcz, Daniel Shan, and Glen Smyth, whose guidance continues to shape the program’s growth.

Adding to the celebration, Polomoff was named the recipient of the 2025 AMCP Individual Contribution Award. This national honor recognizes her leadership in expanding managed care education at UConn School of Pharmacy, from integrating managed care concepts into the core curriculum, to coordinating a dedicated elective, to offering hands-on experiences through her advanced pharmacy practice rotation at Hartford HealthCare Integrated Care Partners. 

This award is about raising awareness about managed care.” – Christina Polomoff, Pharm.D.

Polomoff believes her award exemplifies the progress UConn Pharmacy has made in increasing the visibility of managed care and its career opportunities to students – a momentum she’s excited to continue within the School and beyond.

UConn’s continued success in this prestigious national competition is a testament to the School of Pharmacy’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and preparing the next generation of managed care leaders.