Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy students competed on the national stage in the 2025 Fourth Annual AACP Mock Trial Competition in Chicago this July, finishing second in the nation behind last year’s national runner-up, West Virginia University.

"Kudos to Virginia Commonwealth University – these two teams have been formidable competitors over the past few years," Ettie Rosenberg, Pharm.D., J.D., who pioneered the AACP Mock Trial Competition, shared in a message to the final teams following the competition on July 19.

At the national final, the two teams of six Pharm.D. students competed in a courtroom-style debate on an assigned topic – this year, the federal approach to marijuana within the Controlled Substances Act – with six weeks to prepare for the final round. Both teams, which Rosenberg stated had "historically been separated by just a few points," had made their way to the finals after earning top marks in the national virtual semifinal.

"We are incredibly proud of our students for representing our school on the national stage," said co-faculty advisor Krista L. Donohoe, Pharm.D., a professor in the Department of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science. "This competition requires students to pull from their knowledge of pharmacy, delve into topics of importance within our field and communicate their findings effectively to build their case. This is our third year competing, and we have made it to the finals or semifinals each year. "

Students P4 John Pham, P2 Sevgi Shahbazi, P2 Alex Shoop, P4 Ryan Weaver and P4 Brian Velez competed on the national stage. And while only five students competed on the national stage, the overall team included their classmates: P3 Loujain Alsamara, P3 Niki Amirabad, P3 Ahmed Nour, P2 Jaiv Patel and P2 Utkarsh Pathak. The team’s advisors, Donohoe and Lauren M. Caldas, Pharm.D., praised the team’s outstanding performance as finalists in the national competition.

"Earning second place in this year’s competition is a tremendous accomplishment — a testament to your dedication, resilience, and talent," said Dr. Caldas, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science, addressing the team. "This was a building year with representation from P2s to P4s, and many their first time. You faced tougher competition, higher expectations, and still showed up with heart, discipline and leadership. Mock Trial isn’t just about winning — it’s about learning how to push each other, support each other and come back stronger every time."

"This year, you carried on a legacy of doing hard things — and doing them with grace, grit and brilliance. Whether you were delivering arguments, analyzing evidence or holding your team together under pressure, you did it with heart."

VCU has competed in the competition since 2023 and has been a finalist or semifinalist all three years, taking home the national title in 2023.

More highlights from AACP Pharmacy Education 2025

David Holdford, Ph.D., completed his three-year term on the AACP Board of Directors as AACP's treasurer.

Cindy Kirkwood, Pharm.D., was among 12 co-authors who received AACP's 2025 Rufus A. Lyman Award, which recognizes the best paper published in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education during the previous year. The co-authors earned the award for their paper, "A National Survey of Perceptions Around Conditions Associated with Pharmacy Faculty Workload Equity."

P4 John Pham completed his yearlong experience in AACP's Aspiring Academics Program.

P4 Ryan Weaver was named a winner in the AACP Pharmacy Education 2025 Trainee Poster Competition (Student Pharmacist category) for his poster, "Qualitatively Assessing First-Year Student Course Evaluation Free Responses on Fostering Professional Belonging Through Near-Peer Instructors." Coauthors on this poster include Ellie Carr, Pharm.D., (P'25), John Pham, Lauren Caldas, Pharm.D., and Lauren Pamulapati, Pharm.D.