Pharmacy students win top business competition prize for inclusive diabetes device design

Second-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students Montana Oreskovich, Madelyn Troisi, Efstratia Rodousakis and Sarah Williams earned the $5,000 top prize for their pitch, SkinSync, a line of inclusive covers for continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) designed to better reflect diverse skin tones and give patients more choice in how they wear visible medical devices.The concept for SkinSync began with a simple observation during a diabetes device workshop.“As a pharmacy student, I noticed how standardized glucose sensor covers are typically offered in a single colour, white, which can really stand out from the skin,” says Troisi. “It got me thinking, we’ve moved towards more inclusive, skin-tone matched options for countless other products, why not glucose sensors?”That observation quickly evolved into a broader question around visibility, identity and patient choice.“We wanted to create something that goes beyond the clinical function of the device. Healthcare should be about empowering patients, not just treating a condition.”“While people don’t choose to have diabetes, they should have the right to choose how visible that part of their health is to others,” says Rodousakis. “We wanted to create something that goes beyond the clinical function of the device. Healthcare should be about empowering patients, not just treating a condition.”Developed through the PharmD Business Plan Competition, part of PHM215 Management: Skills, Communication and Collaboration, SkinSync reflects the course’s focus on bringing together clinical and business skills to create solutions that improve patient care and contribute to the broader healthcare system.Monica Gautam, assistant professor, teaching stream and pharmaceutical industry residency program coordinator, coordinates the course, where the competition is a central component. This year, 68 teams representing 270 students developed and refined their ideas over the term, supported by 31 mentors. From this group, the top 12 teams were selected by the course instructor and teaching assistants, with a final six advancing to the finale following evaluation by a panel of external experts with input from the class.The finale, held March 31, 2026, marked the first in-person event since 2019, following several years of virtual competitions held since 2020. Gautam also served as host of the finale, guiding the evening as finalist teams presented their ideas at the Isabel Bader Theatre in Toronto.A panel of judges, including Sherif Guorgui, co-CEO of OnPharm-United; Akeel Jaffer, vice-president, Loblaw Pharmacy Operations; Smita Patil, vice-president, retail member relations and professional affairs, McKesson Canada; and Jamie Stiff, managing director, Genesys Capital, evaluated the finalist teams.Reflecting on the event, Patil highlighted the scale and creativity of student participation.“What stood out to me as a new judge was the confidence and professionalism of the teams, and their ability to translate bold ideas into implementable solutions,” says Patil.“It was inspiring to see future pharmacy leaders approach complex challenges with creativity, rigor and purpose.”For Team SkinSync, the win marked an exciting and affirming moment.“It was an incredibly rewarding and validating experience,” says Williams. “We knew that we loved the idea and were passionate about it, but to know that others could see its potential and importance was amazing.”“It was surreal to see such a simple idea reach this level,” added Rodousakis. “By building a prototype, we were able to show that it wasn’t just an idea, but a feasible solution to a problem that can be addressed today.”Team SkinSync was awarded first place and named the inaugural recipient of the OnPharm-United Award for Entrepreneurship, recognizing student-led innovation and entrepreneurial thinking in pharmacy. Supported by OnPharm-United, a network of independent pharmacies across Ontario, the award highlights the importance of advancing entrepreneurial thinking within the profession.Teams A1Me and Deacticap placed second and third, respectively, while Team Medslot received the Mike Sullivan People’s Choice Award, recognizing the idea that resonated most with the audience and named after former Leader-in-Residence Mike Sullivan.Looking ahead, the SkinSync team sees strong potential for their product to grow beyond the classroom.“The goal is empowerment, and we want that to be the foundation of our brand,” says Williams. “We aim to build a community with our customers and continue refining our products to better reflect real skin tones, textures and experiences.”From a business perspective, the team is already considering next steps.“The first step would be: let’s patent this,” says Rodousakis. “Long term, we want to show that SkinSync is not only impactful, but also sustainable.”Beyond the win, the experience offered a new perspective on the role of pharmacists in innovation and patient-centered care.“We learned how to think beyond the science,” says Williams. “There is more to healthcare than the treatment of a condition. It is about the entire patient experience.”“Overall, this experience taught me that developing a new healthcare innovation requires more than strong scientific knowledge. It also involves understanding patient preferences and values,” says Oreskovich. “With SkinSync, we were able to focus on what people need, which is to feel a sense of empowerment and confidence with their CGM device.”Laura Warman is a communications officer for the University of Toronto. This article is republished from the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy’s news site.

Pharmacy students win top business competition prize for inclusive diabetes device design

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