University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences wins NCPA's Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition

 SAN DIEGO — A team of pharmacy students from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy was named the winner of the 2012 Good Neighbor Pharmacy National Community Pharmacists Association Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition, the National Community Pharmacists Association announced Monday. A team from the University of the Pacific Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy & Health Sciences was runner-up, and a team representing the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy finished as the second-runner up. 

The three finalist teams and advisors made live presentations of their business plans before the competition judges and an audience during NCPA's annual convention here. The 2012 competition drew a record number of entries from 40 schools and colleges of pharmacy, with four schools and colleges of pharmacy submitting a plan for the first time, NCPA reported.

"The NCPA Foundation is committed to connecting independent community pharmacy owners of the past, present and future to ensure millions of patients across America have access to these critical healthcare providers," stated Sharlea Leatherwood, NCPA Foundation president. “The Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition is our signature program because it provides the type of ‘dry run’ to developing a successful business plan that any prospective owner could benefit from. And if the past is prologue, then some of today’s participants will be owners in the future.”

The goal of the competition is to motivate pharmacy students to create a business model for buying an existing independent community pharmacy or developing a new pharmacy. Through this competition, NCPA is better able to prepare tomorrow’s pharmacy entrepreneurs for a successful future. The competition is supported by Good Neighbor Pharmacy, Pharmacists Mutual Companies and the NCPA Foundation.