Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
RUDN University students emerged victorious at the 2nd All-Russian Student Pharmaceutical Olympiad "PharmUmnik," organized by the Kuban State Medical University of the Russian Ministry of Health. The competition featured 116 participants from 24 teams representing the country's leading pharmaceutical faculties and universities.
The Olympiad was held in the main professional disciplines: pharmaceutical chemistry; pharmaceutical technology; pharmacognosy; biopharmacy; toxicological chemistry; management and economics of pharmacy; pharmacology.
The competition participants from RUDN University are fourth- and fifth-year students majoring in Pharmacy:
Yulia Zaitseva – team captain; Anna Musatova; Maria Gordeeva; Ekaterina Khromova; Elizaveta Chernysheva.
100 questions in 60 minutes
The competition was held remotely and included four stages. The first consisted of team registration and presentations, while the second involved solving test problems in each team's personal account. Test results were displayed on the Olympiad page within three hours of the end of each stage. Students had to answer 100 questions in 60 minutes, with one point awarded for each correct answer. Teams that scored at least 71% correct advanced to the third stage.
"We were intrigued by the question about the trade name of Roche's oseltamivir drug. At first, we weren't sure of the answer, as we hadn't delved into the details of the story. However, over time, an idea emerged: Roche named the drug oseltamivir oseltamivir by combining "Tami"—part of the active ingredient oseltamivir—and the ending "flu," which hinted at the drug's antiviral action. So we arrived at the correct answer, choosing "Tamiflu." —Maria Gordeeva
"During the team rounds, we approached the assigned tasks as a team. Each person proposed their own solution to a given issue, then we selected the most appropriate one, which the rest of the team agreed on. There were questions to which one member knew a clear answer; in such cases, the others relied on that knowledge, and we then moved on to the next questions, as we were limited in time," says Anna Musatova.
"We didn't encounter any particular difficulties in solving the problems, thanks to the excellent knowledge base of our team. I'd like to extend a special thank you to our instructor, Alina Borisovna Strok, for her support and deep knowledge of pharmacology," says Yulia Zaitseva.
According to Yulia, for her, as team captain, the hardest thing was not the burden of responsibility, but the burden of isolation at the moment of making key decisions.
"Managing a team is always a balance between democracy and authoritarianism, and the most challenging moment comes when these principles conflict. Yes, there were situations when my decision ran counter to the majority opinion, and I couldn't simply say, 'Let's do this, and I guarantee success 100%.' I had to argue not with facts, but with vision, risks, and strategy," says Yulia Zaitseva.
Recipe for victory
During the third stage of the Olympiad, teams solved situational problems remotely. These included cases covering the core modules of the Pharmacy program. The time allotted for solving the problem was 50 minutes. The maximum percentage a team could achieve in this stage was 100.
The fourth stage of the Olympiad was the most enjoyable, as it was where the results were announced and the best were awarded. And the RUDN University team emerged as the Olympiad leader! Our medical students once again demonstrated the high level of their knowledge and skills.
"The top-secret recipe for victory for RUDN University teams: a kilogram of team spirit, student tears (during exams), and three liters of student ingenuity. The addition of toxicity and a pinch of selfishness is prohibited," says Elizaveta Chernysheva.
"Teamwork and a determined determination to win—that's what drove our team forward. Frankly, the thrill of anticipation only fueled our excitement. And when victory was ours, we were overwhelmed with incredible joy! Bringing this high result to the Department of General and Clinical Pharmacology is a great honor for us. We are incredibly happy to be able to share this unforgettable moment together. And, of course, we wholeheartedly thank our academic supervisor, Alina Borisovna! Your support is invaluable!" — Ekaterina Khromova.
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