BelSU Student Teams Triumph at the International Pharmacology Olympiad

This event celebrated the 106th anniversary of Voronezh State Medical University named after Nikolay Burdenko. A total of three BelSU teams participated in the Olympiad. The “Pharmazumab” team, captained by Eleonora Komartsova, included General Medicine students Vadim Yaremenko, Olga Zavoritnaya, Anastasia Turpakova, and Roman Vodopyanov. The “Pokrovtsy” team was composed of 3rd and 4th-year Pediatrics students Elvira Konotopchenko, Natalia Lyubetskaya, and Anastasia Matvienko, with Evgeniya Dronova serving as captain. Lastly, the "Capsule of Success" team featured 4th-year Pharmacy students Valeria Aliyeva, Elizaveta Besedina, Polina Kozlova, and Diana Kravchenko, led by captain Margarita Litvinova. 

In total, the Olympiad saw participation from 28 teams from medical faculties, 17 from pediatrics, and 19 from pharmacy programs. Despite fierce competition, all BelSU teams secured podium finishes. Professor Lyudmila Danilenko, a mentor for one of the teams and a Professor of the Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, explained that the Olympiad consisted of three stages. The first stage involved evaluating submitted projects, which included artwork made from various drug formulations or student-produced videos showcasing their universities and professional interests. During the second stage, participants tackled situational problems that encompassed the entire Pharmacology curriculum. They created diagrams illustrating the mechanisms of action for different drug groups and produced a comprehensive chart titled “Roots and Origins of the Belgorod Pharmacological Scientific School,” exploring the history of pharmacology. In the final stage, students completed a test featuring complex Olympiad tasks. Each segment was assessed separately, with points accumulated to determine the overall team score.

Among teams from similar training profiles, BelSU teams displayed exceptional knowledge in pharmacology. “Pharmazumab” clinched the first prize, “Capsule of Success” took home silver, and “Pokrovtsy” secured third place.

Following their impressive performance at the international Olympiad, all participating students are energized and inspired to delve deeper into pharmacology, enhance their skills, and broaden their experiences gained through this challenge.

Professor Danilenko remarked, ‘The Department of Pharmacology actively prepares students not only for Olympiads but also for various scientific conferences and seminars where they can showcase their research achievements.’

The teams extend their heartfelt gratitude to Professor Mikhail Pokrovsky, Head of the Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Professor Lyudmila Danilenko, Teaching Assistant Alina Apostol, and all faculty members for their invaluable mentorship during their preparation for the Olympiad.