A minute with... archive
Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) - formerly known as SHPA - members are progressive advocates for clinical excellence, passionate about patient care and committed to evidence-based practice.
Here, we spend a minute with some of them, to learn about their lives across Australia and how their work in a variety of healthcare settings improves patient outcomes.
A Minute With... Susie Welch
AdPha Fellow & Senior Pharmacist, St Vincents Hospital
Tell us what excites you about your work as a hospital pharmacist?
I love the work I do (Emergency Medicine (EM), ICU and research), and working with staff and the patients I care for. These areas are always fast paced and challenging. I am continuously learning and often laugh with them throughout the day. Being involved with research enables me to innovate and make change.
What are your greatest accomplishments and what more do you hope to achieve?
Helping to spark the interest in EM pharmacy nationally, which is continuing and expanding with the ongoing work of the EM pharmacists across the country and those in the Specialty Practice and Leadership Groups. Initiating and being involved with various research projects over the years, personally and collaboratively with others, to make change and improvements for the pharmacy profession, staff and patient care.
Most recently, working with wonderful and talented pharmacists to assist with the development of the Specialty Practice Group for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health. Hopefully this will lead to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people feeling culturally safe in hospitals, receiving appropriate care and achieving equity in patient care and outcomes. Also, supporting the growth of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander pharmacist/technician workforce.
How has AdPha membership contributed to your career?
AdPha has enabled me to be part of a collegiate work environment nationally and it has supported this in the daily workplace. This has inspired me and also enabled much of what I have achieved by enabling communication and collaborations locally and across the country. I have made friends through AdPha networks. AdPha has provided me with various opportunities, most recently being a member of the AdPha Reconciliation Action Plan Steering Committee. Being involved in many aspects of AdPha, hopefully it has enabled us to work together to make positive change eg. Through AdPha advocacy, conferences, CPD offerings and Specialty Practice.
How are you looking to celebrate World Pharmacists Day this year?
Being a Sunday I will be spending the day with my family. Usually, we have an acknowledgement of the day when I am at work. Most recently we have promoted these celebrations to others in the hospital, ensuring that hospital pharmacists are continually recognised as key members of the health care team.
Find ou more about World Pharmacists Day 2022
A Minute With... Susan Trevillian
AdPha Member & Chair, Rural & Remote Specialty Practice
Tell us what excites you about your work as a hospital pharmacist?
Part of my role is developing and leading a really innovative and collaborative pharmacy internship program, that involves our interns gaining exposure across multiple rural health services, as well as community pharmacies, and also a taste of GP practice. Growing 4 pharmacists each year, who are ready to step into early career roles in rural hospital pharmacy, is probably the most exciting aspect of my work at this stage of my career. This time of year we’re preparing our interns for their final exams, and we’re recruiting for next year, so it’s a great time for reflection and forward planning.
What are your greatest accomplishments and what more do you hope to achieve?
Probably surviving almost a year as Acting Director of Pharmacy in a 300-bed regional hospital, aged 23-24, with a staff of fewer than 5 pharmacists. Suddenly I was responsible for the people who’d trained me during my internship, and without the incredible support of my now-husband, workmates and SHPA network, I would have likely left the profession. I don’t recommend 12-working-day fortnights with 7 of those on-call, to anyone. 5 years ago I achieved Stage II Advancing Practice Pharmacist credentialling, proving that you don’t have to be practising in a clinical specialty to achieve recognition of your expertise and impact.
How has SHPA membership contributed to your career?
The AdPha community has inspired and supported me throughout my career. In my first 5 years working in a very small department, AdPha was my CPD provider of choice. CPD was via in-person weekend seminars, conferences and snail mail, as attending metropolitan mid-week evening Branch CPD wasn’t feasible (webinars weren’t invented yet). During the next 5 years I contributed via the state Branch Committee, organising branch CPD events and the program for 2009’s Medicines Management Conference. More recently I’ve continued my involvement with AdPha at a national level, via #AdPhaRuralRemote and #AdPhaLeadership Specialty Practice, and representing AdPha on NRHA Council.
How are you looking to celebrate World Pharmacists Day this year?
WPD is on a Sunday this year, during some planned leave, so hopefully instead of looking at multiple snow-covered peaks from my front verandah, I’ll be up on the mountain having fun with my family in the snow. However I’m mindful that one of our home-grown early career pharmacists will be doing their first week on-call for the hospital on WPD. Even though they’ll be well prepared for most things, our more senior pharmacists always make a point of ensuring our early career pharmacists know they are available to help, even if it’s in the middle of the night.
Find ou more about World Pharmacists Day 2022
A Minute With... Bonnie Tai
AdPha Member & Medical Safety Leadership Committee
Tell us what excites you about your work as a hospital pharmacist?
What excites me the most about hospital pharmacy is knowing that the work we do every day makes a difference to our patients and colleagues, and we are an integral part of the community, keeping people safe and healthy. Our values and contributions are now being recognised beyond the traditional hospital setting. We are seeing more and more hospital pharmacists becoming involved in other sectors, like clinical governance, interdisciplinary education, aged care reform, disaster management…just to name a few. Opportunities are limitless for hospital pharmacists – and I am excited to see what the future holds.
What are your career highlights and what more do you hope to achieve?
I’ve worked in hospital pharmacy for two decades and there are so many career highlights! I’d share three significant ones from the last five years:
- Working alongside and supporting The Prince Charles Hospital Pharmacy team during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s challenging time for everyone, but I am still in awe of how everyone worked together, be adaptable, and problem solve on the go to ensure our patients receive the best possible care.
- Achieved credentialing as Advanced Practice Pharmacist in 2019.
- Being as one of the founding members for the AdPha Medication Safety Leadership Committee in 2017.
For the future, I want to contribute more to shaping the professional development for the next generation of pharmacy practitioners and clinicians. Recently, I’ve started developing the AdPha Advanced Training Residency Framework for Medication Safety – which is very exciting!
How has AdPha membership contributed to your career?
Being a AdPha member has supported my career in many ways. The annual Medication Management conference always inspires me with new ideas or insights for implementation locally at the hospital. I have also enjoyed many opportunities to present local initiatives and experiences with colleagues in different AdPha CPD events. One thing that I appreciate the most is the establishment of Specialty Practice Groups. AdPha has created this wonderful space, bringing members together to support and learn from each other, to share experiences and resources, and to lead advocacy on issues that may impact our patients and the pharmacy profession as a whole. Last but not least, friendships that I have gained through AdPha events are some of the best!
How are you looking to celebrate World Pharmacists Day this year?
I am currently taking a career break, so I will celebrate the day by sending thank you messages and funny memes to my pharmacy friends across Australia, and tweeting about World Pharmacists Day on Twitter all day long!
Find ou more about World Pharmacists Day 2022
A Minute With... Karlee Johnston
Associate Lecturer Pharmacology & PhD Candidate
What have you learned or what are you exploring in your PhD?
My PhD is investigating the effect of COVID-19 on pharmacists, particularly relating to burnout, the changes to pharmacists work and the psychosocial impacts. What we have found is that pharmacists working during COVID-19 are experiencing burnout. Much of this burnout is related to relationships with peers and management, challenges managing stock supply and workload issues. Pharmacists have played such an essential role in the provision of healthcare during this challenging time and have felt the effects of increasing workplace demands.
Do you have any tips for pharmacists at work?
There are many resources available to support pharmacist’s wellbeing. The new AdPha wellness Hub is a valuable source of information. We are very fortunate in our profession to have Pharmacists support service, which is a fantastic resource. Having a psychologist if you need one (you can access these through your organisation, through Black Dog Institute and through your GP) is such a wonderful gift to yourself! One of the lessons I have learnt from experiencing burnout a few times in my career, is that I never actually asked for help, in fact I never asked for anything. I realise now that I did not have the skills to communicate my needs, or even really understand what my needs were. I believe that prioritising upskilling in communication, particularly regarding your needs and understanding your values has the potential to change your experiences and outcomes. I always prioritised my clinical skills and did not realise that by prioritising my wellbeing and upskilling in talking about my values and needs would make me a better (and happier) pharmacist. I also believe that with the right skills we have an opportunity as a profession to provide important peer support to one another. My biggest tip is if you don’t already have one, get yourself a mentor – it will change your life!
What do you do to maintain good work/ life balance?
I do not believe in work/life balance – I think it is impossible to balance everything; at least so far that is true for me…however the work/life juggle is real! This has taken me many years, and I am not perfect at it but I am now better at prioritising. I know what is important to me and I am better now at recognising when I am not at my best and refocusing my energy into things that bring me joy. Practically, I put delays on my emails so they only send during work hours (even if I’m getting to them late at night), I enjoy and prioritise time for me (watch a bit of Netflix or go for a walk), I put my out of office on my emails more often and turn my email notifications off after hours. I am learning to say “no” in a way that doesn’t sound like “no” and still leaves the door open for opportunities. I have a mentor… who helps me with this juggle and a family who remind me why practising to improve the juggle is worth it!
A Minute With... Jared Miles and Liam Krueger
Dr Jared Miles and Liam Krueger will co-present ‘Precision medicine: 3D printing’ at MM2022, providing their unique perspective on the current use and application of 3D-printed medicines and its potential to revolutionise precision and personalised medication management.
What excites you about your work?
Liam: The potential of 3D printing drugs is unlimited. The cheapest and most accessible type of 3D printer (fused deposition modelling [FDM]) only came off patent in 2009. These printers went from being $50k+ to being under $400, all the while increasing dramatically in quality. As more and more researchers started simply putting drugs in the polymers, there was no going back.
How do you think 3D printing will reshape medication management?
Jared: 3D printing is all about customisation, so why shouldn’t this apply to medicines as well? 3D-printed tablets could be tailored to suit each patient’s specific medication requirements rather than settling for what’s commercially available. Combinations of medications, doses, release-profiles, and more are all possible to improve patient treatment.
Liam: The settings where we could see drug-compatible 3D printers is near infinite. The footprint of all the machinery required to extrude and 3D print a drug-loaded filament is small enough to fit on an office desk. No factories required, and no bulk freight of medications from dozens of other countries, saving time and cost of logistics and packaging. We can develop a tablet from start to finish on-site, in hospitals and pharmacies. There are so many avenues to explore that have such huge potential for disrupting conventional pharmaceuticals.
What does ‘recharging’ look like for you?
Jared: I recharge by spending time either rock climbing or at the beach, depending on whether I want to be physically challenged or chilled out.
Liam: After a long day of 3D printing drugs, one of my favourite activities is to come home and start a print on one of my own 3D printers! The printer I have had for longest has printed over 5 kilometres of filament, and I have just recently built another one! But other than that, there is nothing quite like sitting back with half a litre of iced coffee.
A Minute With... Helen Lowy
AdPha has launched the Wellbeing Hub, a collection of health and wellbeing resources, webinars, articles and fact sheets to help guide and support members. As part of it's launch, we spoke with Helen Lowy, the Chair of AdPha’s Mental Health Leadership Committee.
How do you see the role of the Mental Health Leadership Committee in this space during this challenging time?
The Mental Health Leadership committee provides opportunities for pharmacists to build fulfilling connections with a national community of specialists, that support learning, growth, development, leadership and advocacy, influencing positive reform in the mental health and wellbeing sector, to deliver better outcomes for patients and our communities.
Our committee reduces professional isolation and supports pharmacists in working with meaning and purpose, within a nurturing community where self-care is supported as a critical component of delivering excellence in health care.
Do you have any tips for pharmacists at work?
As pharmacists it is critical that we recognise that we perform at our best when we take personal responsibility and accountability for our own health, safety and wellbeing and commit to creating workplaces where our colleagues feel both physically and psychologically safe.
What do you do to maintain good work/ life balance?
Eat well, sleep well and play well. I enjoy home cooking, best combined with good company, music and dancing, I find! I prioritise sleep, recognising the importance it plays in mental health and wellbeing and I play well, making time for positive connections and pursuits that bring me a sense of joy and wellbeing.
Find out more about Specialty Practice
A Minute With... Minyon Avent
Founding Member & Chair, AdPha's Infectious Diseases Leadership Committee
What attracted you to your role?
I am an Antimicrobial Stewardship pharmacist working for the Queensland Statewide Antimicrobial Stewardship Program. What has attracted me to this role is the variety, working in a relatively small multidisciplinary team as well as the challenge of setting up a new program. I work with clinical staff in rural and regional areas who often have limited resources and/or skill set to implement onsite antimicrobial stewardship programmes. I have found that these pharmacists are amazing and very appreciative of the training and support that our program provides. A bonus of this position is that I travel to some amazing parts of Queensland for our site visits.
What is the biggest lesson you have learnt during your pharmacy career?
Being able to relate to people on many different levels. As a pharmacist you have to be able to build a rapport with your patients very quickly. Working on the wards you need to relate to many different professions as well as communicate both with junior and senior staff in a manner that will achieve a positive outcome for your patient. In the pharmacy department you have to be able to work with a range of people from support officers to directors. None of these skills are taught at pharmacy school and they take time to develop.
Leadership Committee highlights and key achievements
I have been an active member of AdPha through my involvement in the Infectious Diseases Leadership Committee and was one of the founding members. It is an amazing committee to be part of and I am currently the chair. I have co-ordinated several AdPha workshops such as the ‘Antimicrobial Stewardship: getting it right the first time’ which was part of the Medicines Management conference as well as the inaugural ID Masterclass to help upskill pharmacists. I was also the lead person in developing the Infectious Disease Advanced Pharmacy Practice Framework. I was also fortunate to be part of the working group in developing the first Infectious Diseases Standards of Practice for hospital pharmacists in Australia.
Dream post-pandemic travel destination
Ski holiday to northern Japan. I have always wanted to visit Japan to experience a different culture as well enjoying some wonderful powder snow.
My perfect Sunday
Sailing with my family. I enjoy spending time outdoors and find sailing relaxing for the most part. It is also a sport that is a family great activity.
Find out more about Specialty Practice
A Minute With... Camille Boland
Recipient: 2021 Achievement Award (Tas)
How did you feel when you received the Branch Award?
Surprise was my first reaction! I feel awards are nearly always a reflection of the achievements of multiple people as no one can do it on their own, so I also reflected on the amazing people in my personal and professional life who continually support me.
What made you submit your nomination?
A word of encouragement from a supportive colleague.
Where do you see yourself in five years, in pharmacy?
I hope I am still contributing in my current role as Statewide Clinical Pharmacy Lead for Tasmanian Health Services. We have a growing team and a number of exciting new projects that I would love to see embedded in practice over the coming years.
What attracted you to hospital pharmacy and what excites you about work?
As soon as I did my first hospital placement as a university student many years ago I was hooked. George Taylor was on the wards at the time and I was amazed by what clinical pharmacy could deliver to patient care. This aspect still excites me, plus seeing all the wonderful intern pharmacists I have helped train develop into exceptional pharmacists and leaders in the profession.
What do you hope to achieve in pharmacy?
To develop a strong, resilient team of clinical pharmacists delivering quality healthcare
How has AdPha membership supported you and/or your career in pharmacy?
AdPha membership has opened many doors for me over the years. In addition to providing me with high quality continuing education and advocacy, it has introduced me to a community of inspiring and dedicated professionals and provided many enduring friendships.
Find out more about the 2022 Branch Awards
A Minute With... Adam Livori
Recipient: 2020 William Mercer Young Achiever Award (Vic)
How did you feel when you received the Branch Award?
The call came at the perfect time, I was in between clinic patients, plus members of the cardiology team needed advice and I noted a whole bunch of emails populate my inbox in the last hour. My phone rings and with a sigh I answer phone thinking “happy Friday” to myself. Amazingly, on the other end of the call I had a board member from AdPha telling me I had won, and suddenly I felt a sense of gratification that the work I do is not just important to me, but my peers felt the same way.
What made you submit your nomination?
I intentionally chose to take the career step to Ballarat Health Services in order to work under the leadership and mentorship of Renee Dimond, our deputy director of clinical services. She has been instrumental in my success as my mentor, manager and friend. Renee asked my permission to submit a nomination on my behalf and it has been one of the greatest honours I have received to date. When our mentors see the person we hope to become, it provides fuel to keep moving forward and keep fighting through whatever barriers my come up.
Where do you see yourself in five years, in pharmacy?
In just four weeks I start my PhD with the Centre for Medicine Use and Safety at Monash University working with some brilliant researchers. My five-year plan is to see a dedicated coronary care unit at Grampians Health that I will work in as a clinician, combined with a rich research portfolio, hopefully partnered with an organisation like the Heart Foundation.
What attracted you to hospital pharmacy and what excites you about work?
My original career plan was to work as nuclear pharmacist in drug development and research, and so my BPharm was really just a means to navigate TGA licensing. So I had to intern at a specific hospital to see this opportunity through; Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. However, my requirement to work with patients as a condition of my degree and internship actually pulled me into clinical practice. Curiosity is what drives me for sure, I really love when people are not sure about something and state “I don’t know why this is the case but its what we do”, as it means I get to be the one to work it out.
What do you hope to achieve in pharmacy?
In the way we have our heroes of pharmacy from the generation we come up in, I hope I can be even as half as inspiring to pharmacists coming through in the way pharmacists like Sue Kirsa have been for me. Pharmacists like Amy Page working as clinician-statisticians are showing this wonderful way to practice and contribute to science. I want to foster curiosity in all pharmacists, regardless of their level of experience or their practice setting. Asking questions, and having the means to answer them, is how we drive positive change.
How has AdPha membership supported you and/or your career in pharmacy?
The opportunities and friendships that my membership has given me over the years is invaluable. I think on the surface a lot of professional organisations can seem daunting or perhaps the leadership groups far beyond our reach. At least, I have felt this way at times over the course of my career and the many different organisations I have been involved in. But the truth is I was welcomed by so many different people and have learned so much about education delivery, leadership and working as a “we” instead of a “me”. I think AdPha membership is worth so much more than we realise, and I know in terms of the cardiology specialty practice group, we are always keen to have more people involved.
Find out more about the 2022 Branch Awards
A Minute With... Lisa Nissen
Professor and Head of the School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology
What attracted you to your role?
Working in education and research provides me with the opportunity to work with the full spectrum of health care professionals and consumers. The opportunities are limitless.
What do you hope to achieve in your field of work?
I hope to inspire people to see the potential that pharmacists bring to health and healthcare delivery. We have so much we can contribute to patient care and are an incredibly underutilised resource.
What are you most looking forward to at MM2022/ coming to Brisbane?
Seeing people!!! Networking with my friends and colleagues and being inspired by the amazing work everyone is doing.
What are you speaking on at MM2022? Could you please delve into the topics behind the title: Science by press release?
I am speaking about the influences of the media on the vaccination rollout, and I guess more broadly how it influences our role as healthcare professionals in the engagement and conversations we have with patients every day. The shift since the pandemic has been significant in the role of media in health – we will never go back.
What is your secret/useless/special talent?
I know all the words to the 'Mr Ed' show song.
What does ‘recharging’ look like for you?
Coffee in the sun on the front veranda - just being and listening to the world.
What have you rediscovered (e.g., about yourself, hobbies, about others) during the pandemic?
That my previous view on 'busy' was an underestimate! COVID-19 was mad… the pace of implementation and pivot was incredible. But I learnt how generous and committed people were to ensuring great outcomes to the community.
A Minute With... Ashley Crawford
Ashley Crawford, Director – Population Health and Strategy, Drug and Alcohol Services SA Health, is a member of SHPA’s Dispensing and Distribution Leadership Committee
Tell us a little about your role at SA Health
I provide strategic advice and recommendations on how we develop services or policy responses. It’s a unique opportunity to combine my pharmacy and public health qualifications and a great opportunity to have a big, population health impact.
The role is really varied and involves leadership responsibilities along with bringing together a variety of disparate sources – including clinical knowledge or the evidence base – to provide concise recommendations. I really enjoy working with a variety of stakeholders to highlight how important health responses are in the alcohol and other drugs space.
While I’m no longer specifically working in a dispensing/distribution role, my policy role gives me some unique perspectives which can influence the some of the Dispensing and Distribution Leadership Committee (the Committee) discussions.
What are the highlights of being part of a Specialty Practice Group Leadership Committee?
As an inaugural member of the Committee, I’ve really enjoyed contributing to pharmacy at a national level, while also networking and learning from peers across Australia.
It's been so rewarding to collaborate with fellow SHPA members to develop valuable tools and resources that support our peers. Highlights include learning about other members’ experiences embracing technology to support pharmacy dispensing and distribution when developing the Automation Practice Update, as well as collaborating to update the Standard of practice in dispensing and distribution for pharmacy services; the group discussion on some of the pertinent aspects of dispensing and distribution and the different pharmacy models that exist was really interesting.
I really value the opportunity that being on the Committee has given me to provide input into responses to influence national policy considerations (such as the review of medicines recall processes). I’ve also gained some great experiences that have helped me achieve my career aspirations.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Success doesn't have to be linear, and you don't have to take one particular path to get to your end goals. I've made a career from taking on lots of varied opportunities as they present. My key criteria for considering an opportunity is whether I can learn something new from the position.
What’s your dream post-pandemic travel destination?
I love to travel for sporting events – high on my bucket list is to travel to the French Pyrenees when the Tour de France is on!
Tell us about your secret/useless/special talent?
I’ve ‘retired’ now, but I used to cheerlead for a variety of sports teams here in SA including AFL and basketball.
A Minute With... Ed Anderson
During mid-year winter renewals we heard directly from members as they discuss what SHPA membership means to them – as we look forward to another year as your professional partner! Join or renew now
Prior to moving into clinical pharmacy management, Ed had spent most of his career in Infectious Diseases, keen to enhance his growth and development in pharmacy leadership.
Having already experienced the success and benefits of completing an SHPA Foundation Residency, Ed says he knew the deeper, specialised experience in the hospital setting through an Advanced Training Residency (ATR) would be ideal to suit his preferred style of learning.
‘I was hungry to build and develop the skills required to be successful in my current and future roles. Looking back at my decision to apply for an ATR, I feel this was one of the best career moves I have ever made, as the program has exponentially increased my leadership development.
‘For me, the Residency has acted like a catalyst to condense what may otherwise have required many years of learning and development into a two-year program, and I feel so fortunate to have a wealth of knowledgeable mentors and supervisors supporting me.’
Some of the highlights of Ed’s ATR in Leadership and Management so far include co-leading the implementation of Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH)’s Extended Hours and Partnered Pharmacist Medication Charting models; leading the state-wide hospital pharmacy review of clinical handover (with the aim to achieve robust systems and consistent processes in the context of expanded pharmacy services); and acting as Co-site Manager of the RHH Pharmacy Department, alongside Duncan McKenzie, during the first four months of the COVID-19 pandemic
Ed says the program has also opened many opportunities outside the training structure which have already proved invaluable to his career.
‘Through my Residency I’ve been able to get involved in activities that weren’t previously available to me. I’ve gained access to a wide network of knowledgeable pharmacist and non-pharmacist leaders, such as the Tasmanian Department of Health’s Deputy Secretary and Chief Medical Officer, and SHPA Chief Executive Kristin Michaels. It’s also helped me to expand my own sphere of influence.’
Ed believes SHPA’s Advanced Training Residencies provide a clear path forward for the pharmacy profession, as a structured training and credentialing program.
‘It’s vital we work to further embed the program into the profession. I believe that experienced pharmacists need to lead by example and “do” what we ask of our early career pharmacists. We must illustrate to them that we believe in hospital pharmacy residencies and the skills and training they provide.
‘Not only do SHPA’s Foundation and Advanced Training residencies provide a structured career progression pathway, but looking forward, I hope the programs help other healthcare professionals recognise and understand the level of skills and knowledge held by the credentialled pharmacist.
‘I encourage all pharmacists to consider undertaking an ATR no matter which specialty practice area you work in.’
In May, SHPA formally expanded its Australia-first Residency Program with the release of four new two-year advancement pathways supporting the development and specialisation of the next generation of leading pharmacists across care settings.
A Minute With… Courtney Hill
During mid-year winter renewals we hear directly from members as they discuss what SHPA membership means to them – as we look forward to another year as your professional partner! Join or renew now
Courtney Hill is passionate about the progression and development of the hospital pharmacy workforce and considers virtual education key to meeting the learning needs of pharmacists.
‘From when I started out as an observer for SHPA’s Queensland Branch, the opportunity to gain experience on the committee has always been very valuable. It has equipped me with the knowledge, skills and networks to hit the ground running in my current role as a CE Coordinator.’
Last year, Courtney led SHPA’s first all-virtual event which provided valuable insight as SHPA and its Branches shifted to a full, successful calendar of virtual seminars for pharmacists and technicians.
‘While the Queensland Branch already had some experience providing inclusive education across our state, moving our 2020 Symposium to an all-virtual event unveiled the possibility of providing high-quality education to pharmacists across the whole country, and even overseas.
‘The smooth transition to the current, comprehensive calendar of multi-modal SHPA events has helped ensure uninterrupted education for members wherever they live, through the combination of tailored, self-paced pre-learning and virtual seminars this year.’
Courtney has also tutored at the all-virtual Foundation Seminar in Cardiology and Extension Seminar in Laboratory Tests, and was previously a member of SHPA’s Surgery and Perioperative Leadership Committee.
‘SHPA membership has provided unparalleled opportunities to shape practice while expanding my own experience and expertise.
‘In my current role I work across complex clinical areas including general medicine, respiratory, cardiology, and emergency. I strongly recommend joining any Specialty Practice groups that are of interest, as it is a great way to get involved with SHPA, build your professional networks and access new opportunities.
‘Attending SHPA events since my intern year has helped me develop not only my knowledge and skills but to build relationships and network with other pharmacists in the profession who have inspired and supported me.’
Courtney is currently the Medical Team Leader Pharmacist at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane and is undertaking a PhD investigating team-based pharmacy service models in general medicine.
A Minute With… Deanna Mill
As hundreds of pharmacy students graduate across the country, we hear from some young professionals who have harnessed SHPA membership to launch into their early pharmacy careers.
Deanna Mill says the unique opportunities to network with pharmacy leaders, and contribute to high-quality journals and conferences, is what sees her renewing with SHPA every year.
‘As a full time PHD student, working casually in hospital, my SHPA membership has proved invaluable for networking and ensuring I stay up-to-date with the latest in hospital pharmacy.
‘It was only after I became a registered pharmacist that I started to understand the importance of SHPA advocacy to the profession; I’m in the loop with what's happening in pharmacy via SHPA’s weekly eNews and find opportunities to give feedback on policy work.
‘Í have presented at two Medicines Management conferences and the SHPA Virtual Congress over the past three years – making connections with pharmacists who are renowned in their field, both virtually and face-to-face – has been extremely beneficial for putting forward research opportunities.
‘Being active in the Specialty Practice discussion forums has been beneficial for networking with influential pharmacists who would sometimes be out of reach as an early career pharmacist.
‘Being an SHPA Member has also led to unique publishing opportunities, I have contributed to DrugScan in Pharmacy GRIT, which has been key in improving my research, writing and communications skills.
‘Working across different sectors as an early career pharmacist, there is immense value in the networking opportunities found across SHPA’s forums, events, and conferences – that is the power of SHPA membership.’
A Minute With… Shania Liu
As hundreds of pharmacy students graduate across the country, we hear from some young professionals who have harnessed SHPA membership to launch into their early pharmacy careers
Shania Liu says SHPA membership has proved invaluable for networking and ensuring she has a voice while advancing from a Student, to Provisional (registration) and now a Full Pharmacist member.
‘While I was a student, I was involved in the education sub-committee for the NSW Branch, allowing me to be involved in planning seminars and networking with hospital pharmacists before my career began.
‘As my interest in Pain Management grew, I joined SHPA’s Speciality Practice forum at the Interest Group level as a Student and have now been elected to the SHPA Pain Management Leadership Committee as a Full Pharmacist member.
‘For me, the best part of being at this level is the two-way nature of working with other members and leaders. You gain an understanding of other pharmacists’ priority areas and glean ideas from their practice, as well as having your own voice and making sure it is heard by leaders in the field.
‘For such an important and ever-changing field such as pain management, there’s nothing like having this forum at your fingertips to understand how you can all work together and ensure safer medicines use for patients experiencing pain.’
A Minute With… Kelly Beswick
We chatted with Kelly Beswick, who is set to inspire at the 2020 SHPA Virtual Congress (VCON) in November where she’ll share the strategies and tools that saw her lead her team in uprooting an entire pharmacy department while balancing patient care with the health and wellbeing of her staff.
On Friday 3 April Kelly Beswick received a call: two health care workers at one of Tasmanian Health Service North West’s two hospitals had tested positive for COVID-19.
Kelly, who is the Pharmacy Manager for the service, and her team leapt into action. By Easter Sunday – with the majority of the Pharmacy staff in isolation and estimates of up to 5000 people in the region requiring isolation – it was announced one of the two hospitals would close, and all staff who worked there would be required to quarantine with their families for the next 14 days.
Presenting in the session ‘Reflecting on 2020: to support our patients, who supports you and your department?’ at VCON, Kelly will share the strategies and tools that saw her lead her team in uprooting an entire pharmacy department, all the while successfully balancing the ongoing provision of patient care with the health and wellbeing of her staff.
Kelly says that while she and her staff had thoroughly planned for the unfolding pandemic, nothing could prepare them for such a drastic event as full hospital closure.
‘I was trying to manage all the logistics – ensuring outpatients could access their scripts, managing outcentres, planning how a pharmacy department one-third the size of ours could complete our work, and determining how to reopen an Emergency Department without a pharmacy or pharmacy staff on site!’
At the same time, Kelly understood how fundamentally important it was that her staff felt informed and supported.
‘We were overwhelmed, and we were scared. It was immediately apparent that we needed to find resources that could help us adapt to our new working environments, so we could continue to provide the best care to our patients, while at the same time looking after each other.’
Don’t miss this session at VCON in November, in which Kelly will share how she led her team through this extraordinary time; from undertaking training to complement the psychological support provided to her staff, keeping communication channels consistent and transparent, to the value of creating spaces for staff to share their experiences, and ultimately, support one another.
The ‘Reflecting on 2020’ session also features Paul Toner, Director of Pharmacy, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Vic, and Anna McClure, Executive Director SA Pharmacy, Sally Marotti, Lead Pharmacist – Experiential Learning, Training and Research, SA Pharmacy and Amber Bendyk, SA Pharmacy Psychological Wellness Lead, presenting on the SA Pharmacy Psychological Wellness program.
A minute with… Kara Joyce
We chatted with Kara Joyce, who is set to inspire at the 2020 SHPA Virtual Congress (VCON) in November where she’ll challenge healthcare professionals to consider what true person-centred care should look like.
Kara Joyce is ready to inspire new conversations and encourage hospital pharmacists and technicians to rethink the way they support people with dementia at the 2020 SHPA Virtual Congress (VCON) in November!
Kara, who is Clinical Program Officer and Educational Visitor Lead at NPS MedicineWise in Melbourne, says she’s focused on the ‘training of trainers’ in the effort to better tailor aged care to the individual.
‘In the age of COVID-19, our training is now multi-modal, with online sessions supplementing face-to-face (where possible) training, in conjunction with in-the-field support. This create positive networking environments for nurse champions based on their geographic area.
Presenting ‘Dementia and changed behaviours: a person-centred approach’ at VCON, Kara will discuss practical tips for hospital pharmacists to keep non-pharmacological interventions top of mind in caring for people with dementia.
‘Who were they before their diagnosis? What’s important to them? These questions are central to understanding an individual’s preferences around how they receive care, beyond any medical conditions.
‘For instance, if we know that Roger used to be a farmer who checked the paddock gates were locked every day at 4pm, and we notice him wandering around this time, it may help us understand his motives. In the right setting, allowing him to safely wander or taking him on a walk may help lessen the discomfort of not being able to clearly share what he’s feeling. ‘
‘As healthcare professionals we’re trained to notice changing behaviours like agitation, aggression and wandering, but we need to remember these are often responses to unmet needs.’
Kara says the timing is right to challenge ourselves on what true person-centred care looks like.
‘I’m really pleased to see Aged Care has dedicated session at VCON in November. The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety’s Interim Report and the COVID-19 situation in aged care facilities has highlighted the need for further training and support in caring for older Australians
‘It can be so overwhelming for a person with dementia to be in a hospital environment – the sounds, sights and smells – without recognisable people, objects or routines to tether familiarity. How we talk to people with dementia is incredibly important, providing reassurance their day is going to be OK, involving them in the process and taking a little more time than we would for others.
‘I believe part of the challenge lies in changing the language we use. In the busy hospital environment it is understandably easy to label delirium or the shorthand BPSD (‘behaviour and psychological symptoms association with dementia), but the onus is on us to take the time to bring it back to the person.
‘Describing non-cognitive symptoms of dementia as “changed behaviours” instead of using these out of date terms is an example of how a seemingly small shift can encourage positive new perspectives.’
A Minute With... Yvette Haselden
Yvette Haselden has taken her professional impact to a new level in recent years.
As a pharmacist specialising in mental health in Far North Queensland, Yvette Haselden says linking into the knowledge, networks and the support of the Mental Health stream of SHPA’s Specialty Practice program has proved invaluable.
‘With a long-held passion for mental health, I was naturally drawn to the Mental Health Interest Group, initially so I could connect with similarly minded practitioners across Australia.’
Having significant expertise in mental health and an appetite for deeper involvement, Yvette joined the Mental Health Practice Group as a stepping stone to becoming involved at the Leadership Committee level. There, she could directly contribute to the development of educational opportunities for pharmacists with mental health patients in their care.
‘In 2018 I was elected to the Leadership Committee, and in that same year, with the support of the SHPA Secretariat, we hosted the inaugural Foundation seminar in Mental Health. Aimed at all pharmacists, the seminar comprised of presentations from experienced pharmacists, interactive workshops and patient case studies.’
The power of the combined networks of Leadership Committee members sees them uniquely placed to have impact not just at an educative level, but also in national policy and research. Yvette says access to those networks have proved vital.
‘When the discontinuation of phenelzine was announced, Leadership Committee members activated. Drawing on our collective networks, we collaborated with the TGA and The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, culminating in the release a joint statement which provided important information and guidance for practitioners whose patients would be impacted.
The committee has also provided feedback on the Advance Care Planning Clinical Guidelines, the Fifth National Mental Health Plan, NPS MedicineWise initiatives to name a few.
While her achievements as a Leadership Committee member have given weight to her Advanced Practice portfolio, Yvette says she didn’t anticipate just how friendly and supportive the group would be.
‘What I love most about Specialty Practice is the friendly, supportive community space it provides, where members share their experiences and networks. Senior members gladly offer advice, assurance, and guidance to junior pharmacists, and it’s so rewarding to see those members’ confidence and skill-bases grow.’
Are you heading for the next level in your specialty area? Read more on the 2020 Specialty Practice elections!
A Minute With... Ron Cheah
It had been a long-term goal of Ron Cheah’s to learn more about anatomy and diagnostic imaging, but it was during his respiratory rotation that he identified it as a need to improve his practice.
Doctors in his ward round would review diagnostic images and notes to form their diagnosis and treatment plans. Like most pharmacists however, Ron says that anatomy and radiology was not part of his formal training.
‘I felt that there was a gap in the understanding of a patient’s condition, as interpreting diagnostic images, or doctors’ notes on diagnostic images, are not currently the expertise or in the scope for pharmacists’.
‘Knowing the full clinical picture of a patient is critical when making decisions regarding their treatment. Having witnessed doctors using diagnostic imaging to help inform their decision‐making, I knew that being able to access that information would empower me to better contribute to collaborative, multidisciplinary approaches to patient care.’
Ron identified a gap in education offerings for pharmacist after a series of unsuccessful searches online for imaging or anatomy courses tailored to pharmacists. He then approached SHPA with this idea to address this gap.
‘Within my own network, I found physicians who were not only wholly supportive of the value of empowering pharmacists with this knowledge but were also really keen to get involved. This Masterclass therefore, sees physicians who are experts in infectious diseases, respiratory medicine, emergency medicine, and radiology keen to impart their knowledge to pharmacists.’
Quite possibly the first of its kind, SHPA’s Masterclass in Diagnostic Imaging on Saturday 17 October 2020 will arm participants with the skills to interpret diagnostic imaging reports in the context of general anatomy, acute settings, respiratory disease, and infectious diseases, specifically lung disease, equipping them to make more informed decisions when assessing and recommending pharmacotherapy.
Masterclass in Diagnostic Imaging
Face-to-face in Melbourne + virtual attendance option
8:30am Saturday, 17 October 2020
Further information and registration →
A Minute With... Kristin Michaels
As well as being SHPA’s Chief Executive since 2015, Kristin Michaels FAICD is a qualified futurist and executive coach, enabling the organisation to offer a powerful new service to members this year.
Kristin says one-on-one executive coaching is a powerful way to lift your eyes to the horizon.
‘Executive coaching is such a strong formula because it puts you in the driver’s seat.
‘At your pace, you unpack your management style and explore some of the enablers and barriers to your current and future leadership performance.
‘Understanding and harnessing your unique leadership style can improve your personal touch, rapid decision-making skills, and capacity to think and network effectively and strategically.’
New in 2020, SHPA Executive Coaching offers intensive one-hour sessions held via Zoom and/or FaceTime, with discounted rates available only to current SHPA members.
Kristin says Executive Coaching is one of many planned – and unplanned – changes to SHPA’s offerings this year.
‘As we have done for more the six decades, SHPA is proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our extraordinary members, particularly through challenging times. The past few months has seen SHPA undertake a tremendous organisational shift to ensure Australia’s hospital pharmacists and technicians are ready for any COVID-19 contingency.
‘Now, we have waived the annual increase in membership fees, and have reintroduced our refer-a-friend offer, as part of our commitment to support every member to renew for another year.’
View all SHPA member benefits and renew today →
A Minute With... Jesseca Eglington
Jesseca Eglington first joined SHPA in 2014, and was soon a regular fixture of SHPA Queensland activity.
‘I had a total of five years contributing to the SHPA Qld Branch, between my roles as Intern rep and observer, Early Career Pharmacist rep, Treasurer and Continuing Education Chair, but this time was memorable for different reasons.
‘On one hand, I was heavily involved in the planning and running of CE events and annual symposia, which provides real-world leadership and organisation experience as well as an easy way to gain high-quality CPD that’s relevant to hospital pharmacy.
‘But more importantly, attending Branch events was fantastic for networking. It can be hard to meet other pharmacists outside my department – let alone from other hospitals! – and the face-to-face time with other people going through the same career stages is just priceless.’
Jesseca says she utilised her SHPA Membership to gain discounted access to Medicines Management conference over many years.
‘I’ve been to five of the last six MM conferences, all around the country, which offers networking on a whole new level, plus motivation and inspiration to keep moving forward and to get involved with research and leadership activities.
‘In recent years, the SHPA Residency Program has added another layer to my involvement, and I have loved mentoring and educating Foundation Residents in my hospital. These residencies are crucial to improving the practice development of our newest team members.’
Jesseca says Specialty Practice is the icing on the cake of her SHPA involvement.
‘As my career grows, the openness and accessibility of the forums – in particular, cardiology – becomes more valuable. Members can keep up with what’s happening nationally in their work areas while troubleshooting their own issues, as others often experience the same issues, first!
‘In a country as big as ours, there’s nothing quite as valuable as breaking down distance to understand how you peers are understanding and tackling issues affecting today’s hospital pharmacy practice – to me, that is the power of SHPA membership.’
A Minute With... Amanda Tey
Amanda Tey says the opportunity to shape the profession, while carving her own career path, is what sees her renewing with SHPA every year.
‘In my early career stages, Medicines Management was influential in exposing me to research ideas in pharmacy. The four I’ve attended and presented at were a great forum for networking and collaborative learning.
‘I joined the Oncology and Haematology Practice Group in 2017 to use the discussion forum as a key resource – it opens you up to peers and experts in the field across Australia. The Practice Group also helped me grow in the discipline. Last year, I was elected to the Oncology and Haematology Leadership Committee.
‘Even in early career stages, Specialty Practice gives you the chance to contribute to key practice and policy documents, which are all about ensuring more people in more places have access to high quality pharmacy care.’
Amanda says big life changes preceded signing up to the Specialty Practice group.
‘At the end of my maternity leave, professional development was the last thing on my mind – but SHPA Specialty Practice membership gives you access to networks and connections that might otherwise lapse.
‘I’m now pleased to be linked in with education opportunities, as I can easily gain all the CPD I need while organising and presenting at SHPA seminars, most recently the Masterclass in Leukaemia and the Foundation Haematology Seminar.’
Amanda, who is ClinCAT credentialled and the recipient of the Vic Branch’s 2019 William Mercer Award, says her SHPA membership answers a simple question.
‘How can you make a national impact, without a national body?
‘For me, that is where the value lies: influencing advances in practice nationwide, while making the most of opportunities to learn from and grow with other experienced pharmacists.’
A minute with... Dr. Roisίn O’Hare and Ann McCorry
Co-presenters Dr. Roisίn O’Hare (top image), Lead Teacher Practitioner Pharmacist, Northern Ireland (NI) Universities Network and Clinical Pharmacist, and Ann McCorry, Clinical Pharmacy Services Manager for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust In Northern Ireland (NI) told us what key developments they've seen in pharmacist prescribing and what delegates can expect to come away with after their session ‘Pharmacists prescribing and its impact on patient care’.
'The roles and responsibilities of all health professionals have undergone tremendous transformation in recent years and the prescribing, and deprescribing, of medication is the most common healthcare intervention patients receive. This has been evidenced by the implementation of prescribing by nonmedical health professionals (NMPs) across many countries including Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, with pharmacists prescribing in Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US.
'Those NMPs who have gained prescribing rights, as well as the aims of their prescribing, vary from country to country but are largely focused on:
• improving patient outcomes without compromising patient safety or indeed by improving patient safety
• increasing patient access to medicines via facilitating the most appropriate healthcare professional to prescribe for them
• making better use of the skills of health professionals.
'Given the evidence-base demonstrating widespread suboptimal prescribing by doctors, there is great potential for NMPs to impact positively on patient outcomes and ultimately to improve patient safety in relation to medication use.
'In our session, we aim to outline the use of pharmacist prescribing across the UK, specifically describing our personal experiences in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust in NI. We hope to lead a lively and interactive discussion with delegates while we describe the process of becoming a prescriber in the UK, and debate the many benefits to patients, healthcare teams and health systems when harnessing pharmacist prescribers appropriately.'
A minute with... Meredith Craigie
We chatted with Dr Meredith Craigie, who is set to light up Medicines Management 2019 (MM2019) in November by asking: is medicinal cannabis a medical miracle or an annoying weed? And are opioids pain killers or just plain killers?
As Staff Specialist at the Central Adelaide Local Health Network Pain Management Unit at South Australia’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Meredith says she is passionate about tightening the working relationships between medical staff and pharmacists to improve medication safety.
‘There’s so much value in collaborating to consider the challenges we face regarding medication safety and identifying opportunities to reinforce each other’s messages regarding approaches to prescribing.
‘This cooperation is all about ensuring appropriate checks and balances are in place and, ultimately, keeping our patients safe.’
Meredith, who is also Dean, Faculty of Pain Medicine, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists in South Australia, says she highly rates the role pharmacists can play in education.
‘In the hospital setting, pharmacists have so much to offer as educators, not just educating patients at the dispensary, but also providing guidance to early-career medical staff.’
In her talk, ‘Pain killer or just plain killers? How can we work with opioids in the future?’ Meredith will highlight the benefits of medical staff and pharmacist collaboration in the context of opioid stewardship.
‘In tertiary referral clinics we see patients present with a high level of complexity, distress and varying narratives that no single approach can solve. A multidisciplinary approach ensures the safest pain management strategy.
‘The same approach also sees the safest outcomes regarding deprescribing; another area in which pharmacists add value as patient educators.’
In ‘Medicinal cannabis – the next medical miracle or just an annoying weed?’, Meredith will explore the complexities around prescribing new medicines.
‘The immediate challenge is determining which patients benefit and which don’t and how we can keep them safe, particularly in the context of pain management in end-of-life patients, palliative care, and chronic pain.
‘There is also an information void around the new cannabinoid medicines, and high community expectation, so it is important how we can learn from other countries’ experiences.’
A minute with... Natalie Tasker and Duncan McKenzie
This week the Purple Pen Podcasters Jane Booth (@MI_JaneBooth), Formulary and Business Development Manager at Monash Health and Kristin Xenos (@Kristin_Xen), Senior Project Officer at the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care caught up MM2019 Program Committee Chair Natalie Tasker and Deputy Chair Duncan McKenzie.
Nat says the MM2019 Program Committee is looking forward to a number of Medicines Management ‘firsts’ in 2019.
‘We will have a knighted presenter this year! Keynote speaker Sir Harry Burns, a public health expert and surgeon by trade, will talk us through the Glasgow effect and what health and wellness means for us all, as a population.
‘Sir Harry will also hold a conversation session where he’ll discuss what shapes and predetermines health in Australia; societal groups which have poorer health outcomes, health inequity and inequality and potential strategies to help promote health and wellness for all Australians.
‘In another first,’ adds Duncan, ‘we’ll have the Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health opening the conference this year!’
Duncan says the new national organising approach allows the committee to draw on inspiration from across the country.
‘With expertise, and indeed speakers, from every corner of Australia, we believe this conference will have even more of a national flavour.’
‘It’s allowed us to better represent the views, challenges and opportunities in hospital pharmacy across all of Australia,’ says Nat, ‘ensuring we’re bringing together the most dynamic program we possibly can. The varied knowledge the committee has brought immeasurable value to the conference.’
Nat and Duncan also cover the pre-conference sessions, including Specialty Practice Leadership Committee input, the hot topics covered by invited speakers, great engagement through the Saturday workshops and, of course, their all-important outfit choices ahead of the Octopus’ Garden Gala Dinner!
A minute with... Jessica Toleman
We chatted with Jessica Toleman, whose presentation at Medicines Management 2019 (MM2019) will explore the topic of ‘In search of the best waves – value-based healthcare’.
Being a part of a patient’s healthcare journey drew Jessica Toleman to hospital pharmacy.
‘It is a privilege to a member of a multidisciplinary team that takes part in the patient’s healthcare journey, providing them the best possible care when they are at their most vulnerable.’
Jessica is currently Acting Executive Director for Women’s and Newborn Services at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital where she also supports the facility’s Choosing Wisely Program as clinical lead.
At this year’s Medicines Management conference, Jessica is running the session, In search of the best waves – value-based healthcare. In it, she will explore novel value-based healthcare, through strategic partnerships and pharmacy-driven investment and disinvestment that can improve both patient experiences and outcomes and reduce individual and healthcare system costs.
With a background in both community pharmacy, where she completed her pre-registration, and hospital pharmacy in clinical and management positions, Jessica has been involved with a wide variety of project areas ranging from electronic medicines management and optimisation of state-wide anticoagulant use to own source revenue and medical engagement projects.
‘I’m committed to improving the use of medicines, particularly the quality use of medicines, which I believe will facilitate opportunities to reduce low value care in our health system.
‘I am also passionate about providing mentoring and development opportunities to pharmacists and other healthcare professionals.
‘When I’m not focusing on improved use of medicines, I’m enjoying living in beautiful Brisbane! I love sharing its great weather and amazing beaches with my family, friends and colleagues.’
A minute with... Libby McCourt
We chatted to Libby McCourt, who will present ‘From watch to recovery – how would you prepare and respond in a natural disaster?’ at Medicines Management 2019 (MM2019)
It was during her intern year at Rockhampton Hospital that Libby McCourt came to know hospital pharmacy work was right for her.
‘What I love most about hospital pharmacy is working as part of a team with patients, doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and other pharmacy staff to achieve the best outcomes for patients.
‘The impact a pharmacist can make on someone’s treatment and care, sometimes with very simple advice or interventions, can be extraordinary.’
Now an evaluation pharmacist, Libby recently completed her PhD at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) on the preparedness of pharmacists for disasters and emergencies in Australia.
Having been deployed in the aftermath of Cyclone Debbie in 2017, Libby has seen firsthand the challenges health professionals and patients face during times of crisis.
‘I believe the care and services pharmacists provide are just as, if not more important in a disaster aftermath. As a follow on from my thesis I hope to help the pharmacy workforce in Australia become more prepared for disasters or emergencies.’
Libby says she is excited to be co-presenting a workshop at MM2019, From watch to recovery – how would you prepare and respond in a natural disaster?
‘We’re planning a very hands-on session and we look forward to working with participants as they learn about disaster preparedness, response and recovery.
‘It’s not all doom and gloom in my work, though! Outside hospital pharmacy, I enjoy the ease of Brisbane life; it’s not too busy, there are lots of great restaurants and I love living near the Brisbane River and walking along its less inhabited parts.’
A minute with... Lisa Harris
We chatted to Lisa Harris, who will present ‘Taking the AMS tsunami to rural hospitals’ at MM2019.
Lisa Harris says she was inspired to specialise in hospital pharmacy early on in her career.
‘Very early in my undergraduate course I saw first-hand how knowledgeable and effective clinical pharmacists were in the hospital wards. This helped drive my focus on infectious diseases as an area of interest and, more recently, antimicrobial stewardship (AMS).’
Now working as the Hunter New England District Antimicrobial Stewardship Governance Pharmacist at Hunter New England Health, NSW, Lisa is implementing a health service-wide AMS framework and will present ‘Taking the AMS tsunami to rural hospitals’ at MM2019.
Lisa says her passion for AMS grew through more than ten years as a specialist infectious diseases pharmacist at John Hunter before she moved to a wider scope of practice in her current district role.
‘I advocate strongly for AMS because antimicrobial medications are a dwindling resource and we need to work hard to ensure their efficacy so they are available to future generations. I aim to champion AMS; to inspire and draw more health professionals to this important cause.
‘In my presentation at MM2019 I will draw on my experience to demonstrate how we can overcome the challenges and barriers to AMS in rural and regional communities, where AMS consultants are few and far between.
‘Outside of work, I love living in Newcastle. While it is one of the largest regional cities in Australia, it still retains a small town feel with the best of the beach, rural and café lifestyle as well as wineries, walking trails and the coastline.’
A minute with... Dr Sacha Muller-Botti
We chatted to Dr Sacha Muller-Botti, who will lead the Saturday morning workshop at MM2019: ‘Teaching adults: how to make a difference’.
Dr Sacha Muller-Botti says the relief and satisfaction of taking away pain is something that drives him in his work.
‘In anaesthetics, it is a heroic feeling – what we do has an immediate effect. I’m yet to find someone who doesn’t surrender to Propofol!
‘Given that emergencies don’t happen that often, the key question is: how can we train and stay skilled? In simulation, we have the best way to teach as no one gets harmed.
Sacha – who carries extensive professional titles: Senior Staff Specialist in Anaesthesia, Hunter New England Health, NSW; Instructor, Hunter New England Simulation Centre, NSW; Faculty for the Institute for Medical Simulation in Harvard, Boston, USA and Santander, Spain – says his MM2019 workshop will explore theory, modelling and practice on how to speak up to adults in difficult situations.
‘I believe we can learn and practice how to have difficult conversations, while having fun doing it.
‘Ultimately, it’s all about patient safety. Sometimes we know we have something to say, and we know someone has something they can learn from you, but it is difficult to get your message across.
‘We need to have difficult conversations, the stakes are too high; depending on how you analyse the data, medical errors are the #3 cause of death in the United States. This is not OK!
‘I hope attendees will walk out of ‘Teaching adults: how to make a difference’ feeling empowered to speak up to trainees, peers or other disciplines in healthcare.
The beachside setting of the Gold Coast is familiar territory for Sacha, who lives on the picturesque northern coast of Spain.
‘The city of Santander is not so big that it’s hectic, and not so small that it’s boring – it has the best beaches of the world married to the best weather!
‘On a perfect day I can go to the Farmers Markets on my bike, play with my daughters and relax in the hot tub before enjoying wine and a fresh meal while watching a movie with my wife.’
A minute with... Lisa Rathjen
Over the coming weeks we turn the spotlight onto Resident of the Year finalists. Representing SA/NT is Lisa Rathjen.
Lisa Rathjen says the SHPA Residency Program was crucial to her smooth transition from community to hospital pharmacy.
‘Coming from a community pharmacy background with limited hospital experience, I was eager to develop my clinical knowledge and skill set. At first, I felt a bit lost on how to achieve my learning goals and knew I would benefit from some direction, so I applied for the Foundation Residency. It seemed like the perfect way to incorporate my clinical knowledge base into everyday fulltime clinical practice.
‘The SHPA Foundation Residency Program has given me experience in a variety of areas and provided me with opportunities to take on more senior activities, like committee involvement, protocol reviews, workforce recruitment and research projects and audits.
Among the first cohort of Foundation Residents, Lisa says she felt ‘spoiled’ with opportunities to take on greater clinical responsibilities, which led to her place in the 2019 national final of SHPA Resident of the Year.
‘The program leads worked hard to facilitate our learning objectives. I now have a professional development portfolio demonstrating my personal qualities and practical contributions to local clinical pharmacy services, which has helped me to identify areas of personal interest I can focus on now I have completed the Foundation Residency.
‘I was really excited to enter the Resident of the Year competition, to share all I’d learned and showcase the hard work I’d put into meeting the objectives of the Residency Program.
‘My five-minute lightning talk highlights the findings of my research project, looking at the potential for deprescribing antihypertensive medications in the elderly. Deprescribing is an important area of practice as pharmacists can make impactful recommendations, so I set out to apply simple and justifiable deprescribing criteria to my cohort of elderly patients to determine the scope for structured deprescribing.’
Lisa says she is driven to work toward a senior specialty pharmacist role.
‘I thoroughly enjoyed the fast-paced nature of the emergency department and can picture myself in this area, learning by being exposed to a variety of medical conditions. I enjoy challenging myself to take on new responsibilities and learning opportunities and plan to use my residency experience to apply myself to further career development, either further study or possibly research opportunities.
‘While being called Resident of the Year would be nice, it’s more about the hard work that I and all the other residents have put into the last two years. Regardless of the outcome, it’s been a great couple of years with my first cohort of fellow residents, my first research project and my first additional study since university.
‘Of course, there’s life outside the workplace! When I get a rare day off, I like going to the gym, hiking and playing footy with mates.’
Resident of the Year will be announced at the Residency Symposium on Saturday 24 August. Register now!
A minute with... Michelle Paine
Michelle Paine works as Medication Safety Pharmacist at Royal Hobart Hospital. She is passionate about the collaborative aspects of the Specialty Practice program and has joined four streams.
‘It’s great to have an extended network of peers to share experiences and ask questions, it provides a really valuable system, regardless of specialty area, and I’m always being updated through others sharing their experiences. I really appreciate the opportunities to network, learn and contribute to ongoing practice. As a paediatric pharmacist, I have never had access to this kind of resource, so am thrilled SHPA developed Specialty Practice groups.
‘I initially joined the Medication Safety group as it’s relevant to my current role. Then I noticed the Electronic Medication Management (EMM) stream. While EMM infrastructure is still a way off for Tasmania, there are aspects of EMM that are relevant to our health services. There are some risks as we’re still setting up our EMM capabilities, so to avoid any potential errors, I joined this specialty stream to keep up with potential issues for patients, which loop back to helping me in the role of medication safety pharmacist.
‘Women’s and Newborn Health and Paediatrics and Neonatology are long-standing interests of mine, having been a paediatric and NICU pharmacist for 17 years of my career. Practising in a tertiary hospital with a neonatal nursery and paediatrics among mainly adult patients, it’s really vital that I keep up with current issues in these areas as my current role in medication safety covers these areas as well.
‘The opportunities Specialty Practice has offered me are invaluable. For example, I represented SHPA at the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) clinical roundtable for the introduction of neuraxial devices (NRFit). As Tasmania is an early adopter of ENFit, and I was heavily involved in the roll-out, I thought the experience and lessons would be useful to participants; this opportunity arose because I am a member of the Medication Safety Practice Group.
‘Of course, work isn’t everything! When I have a rare day off, I spend time visiting Tasmanian eateries, getting out in the garden and spending time with the family.’
Remember you have to be a member to join Specialty Practice Streams, enhance your work prospects and unlock amazing further career opportunities through these specialties. Renew your SHPA membership now.
A minute with... Alex Chan
Alex Chan is a Geriatric pharmacist in the Transitional Aged Care Program (TACP) at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney. He is passionate about the ‘brains trust’ aspect of SHPA’s Specialty Practice program, which connects members to 25 nationwide networks of pharmacy professionals, peer learning and advocacy opportunities.
‘I joined Geriatric Medicine and Transitions of Care and Primary Care because they both provide convenient platforms for information, discussions and questions around my current role and interests. The bonus of getting email notifications on every post on the forum is invaluable, and the updates and information on practice-targeted SHPA events and education means I can forward plan my diary. As a bonus I’m exposed to extra CPD opportunities through engaging and interacting in discussion forums as it aligns with my CPD.
‘Being on the Geriatric Medicine Leadership Committee means I have an added opportunity to work and connect with some of the best geriatric pharmacists in the country, which has also been invaluable to me. I am able to contribute to seminar/workshop planning, peer reviewing and writing for DrugScan in Pharmacy GRIT and Practice in Focus and reviewing Standards of Practice.
‘In Transitions of Care and Primary Care I’m enrolled in the Practice Group, through which I’m able to develop and share my expertise and experiences to shape the future of the field. In both groups, I get to connect and discuss with a ‘brains trust’ from all over Australia and find out what other regions are up to. The opportunities offered are tremendous, I can have a voice in Standards of Practice, which means my input can directly impact the future.
‘I think the opportunities of expansion of Specialty Practice streams through things like Advanced Training Residencies can’t be measured. I really appreciate the leadership role I have and some of these contributions, which are all great learning experiences and open a myriad of work opportunities.
‘My family is a priority on days off, things like taking the kids to local parks for bike riding and games, and I love watching and playing basketball when I can.’
Remember you have to be a member to join Specialty Practice Streams, enhance your work prospects and unlock amazing further career opportunities through these specialties. Renew your SHPA membership now.
A minute with... Dr Jennifer Stevens
Dr Jennifer Stevens is anaesthetist and pain specialist at St Vincent’s public and private hospitals at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, and she presented at SHPA’s inaugural Medicines Leadership Forum in 2018, which focused on multidisciplinary collaboration to reduce opioid-related harm in the Australian community.
As part of Scriptwise’s Medication Dependence Prevention Month, Dr Jennifer Stevens shares her thoughts on how to reduce opioid dependence and harm.
‘Together we can achieve so much if we keep patients and prescribers educated and informed. Hospital pharmacists should instruct junior doctors in public hospitals and consultants in private hospitals with consistent messaging about safe opioid use and safe discharge prescribing.
‘Simple information circulated to patients about secure opioid disposal in the home including establishing a safety-at-home program will dramatically change the available opioid pool in the community and prevent unplanned use and misuse.
‘We must support our most junior doctors regarding patient prescribing needs by encouraging them to ask questions of pharmacists and pain medicine specialists, which will increase their awareness about opioid prescription and safety.
‘There is evidence that if whole hospitals work together to increase pre-operative opioid management, the result is a decline in patient post-operative analgesic use, fewer complications and better surgical outcomes, even six months later. The pre-operative link is currently missing. Closing this gap means the peri-operative pain and opioid management of our patients will be easier.
‘My weekends always feature a lot of extra kids and a walk in Centennial Park with my family and the dog. Pancakes for lunch and a run around the Glebe foreshore.’
SHPA is partnering with Scriptwise to promote Medication Dependence Prevention Month, an annual event to raise awareness about preventing medication harms and finding community support.
A minute with... Melissa
Melissa is sharing her story as part of Medication Dependence Prevention Month to raise awareness about the need to help patients understand how to use their medications safely.
'My husband lost his life on 7 July 2016, just one week before his 36th birthday, after a 10-month battle with prescription medication dependence and addiction.
'It all began when he injured himself at work, which resulted in a L4/5 prolapsed disc. He was placed on work cover and under the care of a work doctor to manage his pain and injury.'
'He was a very fit and active man who trained at the gym 6-7 days per week and had done so for over 17 years. He found being inactive and restricted very difficult. He was placed on a graduated return to work plan but continued to be prescribed multiple opiate based pain medication, muscle relaxants, sleeping tablets, anti-inflammatory medications and antidepressants.'
Melissa was amazed how quickly her husband changed and she became gravely concerned for his health. He became more secretive and it was clear he was hiding how much medication he was using.
'The more I tried to help him, the more he pushed me away because deep down he was very ashamed of this.'
'I notified AHPRA of my concerns that his doctor continued to prescribe a cocktail of medications, but things continued to spiral out of control. I was worried sick.'
One afternoon after his daughter found him, and his mother and Melissa performed CPR on him, Melissa’s husband lost consciousness and never recovered.
'The effects of this for us all have been absolutely devastating. Our lives will never be the same again. What I cannot accept and never will is, where was the duty of care? Where was the care plan, the follow up?'
Since her husband’s passing, Melissa joined ScriptWise as a Community Advocate and has shared her story to empower others at community events and workplaces across Victoria.
She is dedicated to reducing the stigma around seeking help and advocating for essential policy changes and more education around this issue.
'I want to help prevent other families from going through what we did.'
SHPA is partnering with Scriptwise to promote Medication Dependence Prevention Month, an annual event to raise awareness about preventing medication harms and finding community support.
A minute with... John Shanks
John says the energy of his co-workers solidified his path into hospital pharmacy.
‘My first post at the John Hunter Hospital had me surrounded by a very enthusiastic group, and it was really contagious. I knew I wanted to work in hospital pharmacy as soon as I’d started.’
After John completed his Masters of Pharmacy at Newcastle University, his early career saw him take up a role combining IT skills and clinical decision support.
‘I became the Top End Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist at Darwin Hospital. This job covered a geographical area seven times the size of Tasmania and I realised pretty quickly the impact a few simple clinical rules can have on improving patient care, such as automatically picking up life-threatening drug interactions in remote patients.
‘The experience motivated me to complete a Graduate Diploma in IT and moved me to the role of project manager for a massive IT redesign project in the Northern Territory – a role I’m still in today.’
John says he wants to see further, effective integration of IT and pharmacy practice.
‘I would like to set up a world-class clinical decision support system for our health service, I think a lot of what we can do could be captured by a computer.
‘We will do more good if we have the tools available to direct us to the patients who need our input and help the most. I’m working to set up a system which helps identify patients in need and facilitates automatic handover as patients progress through wards while allowing auditing as part of our usual pharmacist workflow. I’m looking forward to talking about using dashboards and data in clinical practice, specifically AMS, at SHPA’s EMM Conference in Sydney on 22 June.’
John says his downtime involves all of the good things the NT has to offer.
‘No rain for nine months lets me spend evenings camping or having a BBQ, and the national parks and untouched coral reefs are amazing. In my days off, spearfishing is another passion of mine, I find the challenge… and the reward… very satisfying!’
A minute with... Kristin Xenos
A single lecture inspired Kristin to become a hospital pharmacist.
‘In the first year of my Bachelor of Pharmacy, I saw a presentation by Dr Lisa Pont about hospital pharmacy. I was hooked and knew that was where I wanted to be. I’d started working in community pharmacy at 14 and I was ready for another challenge.’
After her intern year in community pharmacy, Kristin secured a maternity leave role at Sydney and Sydney Eye Hospital and the rest, she says, is history.
‘I have a real passion for antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and infectious diseases and was lucky enough to secure a role. Through my work in AMS, I developed an interest in public health and began to see where pharmacy fits into the grander scheme of health care.’
‘I’m currently working as a senior project officer at the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare. My role here has taken everything I have learned as a pharmacist and allowed me to inform the work of the Commission at a national level.’
‘Working at the Commission has inspired an interest in equity in healthcare. We interviewed the Commission’s Healthcare Variation Team on the latest episode of the Purple Pen Podcast, about the Third Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation.’
Kristin says she considers herself lucky to have joined the Purple Pen Podcast team.
‘Working on this podcast with Dan (Guidone) and Jane (Booth) means I have spoken with some incredible people and, in turn, shared that with the listeners. I’m also really passionate about pharmacists taking their skillsets into project work, hospital executive suites and being agents of change in the healthcare system.
‘Outside work, I love discovering new cafes around Sydney that hopefully are dog friendly – so my beautiful dog Penny can tag along – and I can hunker down with a good book.
‘I suppose my husband can come too. We are trying to give Penny lots of TLC before our first baby comes along in May!’
A minute with... Kerry Fitzsimons
Three weeks was all it took for Kerry Fitzsimons to fall for hospital pharmacy.
‘At high school I undertook work experience at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) pharmacy department, and I was convinced that I wanted to become a hospital pharmacist. The biggest draw card to working in hospital pharmacy was the many opportunities and varied specialities there are available for pharmacists to be a part of in a stimulating and learning environment.
‘Fortunately, I got one of four intern positions at RPH when I finished my Bachelor of Pharmacy. At the time, RPH was the only hospital in WA offering pharmacy internships. Times have changed!
Throughout my career to date I have had some wonderful mentors who fuelled my enthusiasm and passion for hospital pharmacy practice. I would strongly encourage members to take advantage of the SHPA Mentoring Program which will assist you in building confidence, addressing challenges/barriers and improve job satisfaction.’
One of the mottos Kerry abides by is to never let an opportunity pass you by. ‘My role in medication safety morphed from being the senior audit and drug bulletin pharmacist to medication safety pharmacist at Fremantle and now Fiona Stanley Hospital, the first role of its kind in WA at the time. Taking up my medication safety position at the WA Department of Health was certainly a leap of faith out of the hospital environment, which has broadened my reach for medication safety.
‘I think we all essentially have a medication safety pharmacist within us, as we all strive for safe and effective medication management advocating on behalf of the patient's best interest on the path to wellness.’
Kerry says her main goal as a medication safety pharmacist is to engage as many health professionals as possible in the importance of the safe use of medication.
‘We need to ensure all patients stay safe, and I enjoy working toward this goal through my work in the hospital and health department settings.
‘Working in hospital pharmacy and being a SHPA member since internship has given me so many valuable opportunities, I want to be able to support other pharmacists in their career journey through my involvement on the SHPA WA Branch Committee (currently WA Chairperson).
‘In my spare time I like to be with my family and friends, walking with Holly, my border collie and playing the piano… I’m also partial to the odd TV series binge – I can’t wait for the final series of Game of Thrones!’
A minute with... Chin Yen Yeo
As hundreds of pharmacy students graduate across the country, we hear from some young professionals who have used SHPA membership to launch into their early hospital pharmacy careers.
‘Transitioning from community to hospital pharmacy in 2016, I recognised the benefits of SHPA membership to confidently build my clinical capacity and improve my therapeutic knowledge to ensure my patients would receive the optimal care they deserve.
‘Since then, I’ve completed a Foundation Residency at Blacktown Hospital, which provided hands-on SHPA-accredited learning and allowed me to build skills across education and research.
‘Through the Residency Program and my SHPA membership I gained discounted access to essential SHPA extension seminars and an engaging and interactive seminar on cardiology (cardiology was one of my favourite rotations!)
‘I also attended discounted NSW Branch Symposia in 2016 and 2017 as well as monthly CE hosted by the Branch, at no cost. I have recently joined the NSW Branch Education sub-committee to assist in developing and implementing CE events for members.
‘My Residency projects and SHPA membership saw me enjoy heavily discounted access to the 2017 and 2018 Medicines Management conferences where I presented posters. I secured a research capability grant through SHPA’s National Translational Research Collaborative network to attend the pre-conference Research Bootcamp in 2017. I also presented my research project at the 2018 Residency Symposium and shared my experience as a novice researcher at the 2018 pre-conference Research Bootcamp.
‘Now I am undertaking my Masters in Public Health and plan to specialise in antimicrobial stewardship, I know I need to be active in the Infectious Diseases Specialty Practice stream and I have recently applied to join the Practice Group.
‘In my spare time I also enjoy reading JPPR and Pharmacy GRIT to stay on top of the latest in my field, and to be inspired as to where my pharmacy practice, education and research will go next!’
A minute with... Andy Campbell
As hundreds of pharmacy students graduate across the country, we hear from some young professionals who have used SHPA membership to launch into their early hospital pharmacy careers.
‘I first joined when I was an intern and my SHPA membership started with a bang…
‘In 2015 I was selected as an Intern Representative for the WA Branch Committee. That same year, my honours research was presented at Medicines Management conference in Melbourne.
‘I then joined the Scientific Organising Committee for MM2016 in my home state of WA. I was also an invited speaker, giving insight into ECP perspectives on the development of SHPA’s Residency Program – it’s great to now see the program entrenched nationwide as a crucial stage of experiential learning for early career hospital pharmacists.
‘Through my membership I enjoyed contributing to the mentoring stream at the 2015 Future Summit in Melbourne, which led to another member benefit and source of pharmacist support: the SHPA Mentoring Program, launched in 2017.
‘I have been a WA Branch Committee member since 2018 and I gain my annual 40 credits of CPD through my activity on the WA Branch, either as a presenter or by coordinating CE events.
‘Equally as important at my early career stage is networking, which happens every day through the SHPA Specialty Practice forums. I’m an active member of the Interest Groups for Dispensing and Supply, Sterile Compounding and Leadership and Management and look forward to using the platform to influence and advocate for pharmacists’ essential role in improving patient outcomes in the hospital setting.
‘I’m hoping to present some research at MM2019. I’m really looking forward to networking and sharing ideas with our hospital pharmacy network, and to catching up with colleagues and contemporaries from across the country.’
A minute with... Cindy Lau
Cindy Lau says that she’s been lucky to be in the right place at the right time more than once in her career.
‘During my internship at Mona Vale and Manly Hospital, the Director of Pharmacy sat me down and said, “this is your year to learn as much as you can”, and in that moment I gained a whole new perspective on what I wanted for my career.’
With support from inspiring mentors, a well-timed nudge from her DoP and a love of chemistry and science, Cindy plunged headfirst into an antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist (AMS) role soon after she registered.
‘I was very new to pharmacy but absolutely loved the mix of AMS on wards and the exposure to the challenges of infectious diseases, which when combined with the excellent training I received, propelled me towards a role at St Vincent’s and a Masters.’
But while studying for a Masters might answer a lot of question, for Cindy it created so many more!
‘Every hospital pharmacist is frustrated by medicines shortages and how, as a result of using alternate antibiotics, we’re sometimes seeing more patients with toxicity. Despite this happening, the toxic range for some antibiotics is still really vague.’
It’s exactly this vagueness that inspired Cindy to leap into research, a move that saw her take out the 2018 Pfizer Young Pharmacist Grant for her proposal looking at the toxicity threshold of antibiotics used to treat bacterial infection.
‘I never thought I would go into this field, it’s really been a series of fortunate events, and I can’t wait to learn the basics of pharmacometrics in Adelaide before I travel to Hamburg to undertake a preceptorship with Professor Sebastian Wicha, the man behind the web application TDMx.’
While she’s humble about her achievements and insists her life usually revolves around work, study and research, Cindy divulges that she has a secret double life - as a drummer in a wedding band called The Honeymoon Social.
‘It’s been a lot of fun playing 90s style pop and rock with a group of pharmacists and doctors and stepping out of our normal life - we’ve even had a few gigs which have really amused our friends and family.’
A minute with... Ron Batagol
With over 50 years’ experience in pharmacy and an impressive array of contributions under his belt, Ron Batagol knew applying for Advancing Practice credentials was a worthy challenge.
‘I’m delighted to receive Stage 2 Advancing Practice credentials and learnt so much about aligning practice activities to the advanced level requirements, and the evolving necessity for a career long practice portfolio’.
As a prominent voice in specialist, general and consultant pharmacy, author of ‘Taking Medicines in Pregnancy - What’s safe and what’s not’, and contributor to numerous advisory groups and committees, Ron has a long history of career advancement.
‘From the moment I started my graduate diploma and apprenticeship, I was fascinated by pharmacy, and after 12 years managing in community pharmacy, I wanted to learn more, so I applied for a job at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and after starting studied a Diploma of Journalism and SHPA Fellowship in Hospital Pharmacy’.
Combining an appetite for knowledge and a flair for words, Ron was part of the group of pharmacists who spearheaded the establishment of SHPA’s ‘Guidelines for Clinical Pharmacy Practice’ in 1978.
‘It’s just as relevant now as it was then for pharmacists to measure their current practice competencies against standards, professionally and also medico-legally - you can’t argue with pharmacists doing advancing practice.’
Notwithstanding a lengthy career, Ron shows no signs of slowing down as he continues to pursue his interest in the medico-legal side of pharmacy.
‘I was involved in providing public advice on a major case recently, which was challenging as I put my work forward to researchers and QCs, so I’m keen to continue pursuing that while remaining up-to-date with new drug information and medicines changes.’
When he’s not in the public eye or working as a Senior Pharmacist at Monash Medical Centre and Specialist Advisor to Therapeutic Goods Administration Committees, Ron enjoys catching up with friends and family, and cruising around the world.
‘Good food, good wine and good people to relax with is critically important, taking a break and looking at the world around me has given me the focus I need throughout my career and study to continue achieving my goals.’
A minute with... Tom Simpson
By his own admission, 2018 Tasmanian Pharmacist of the Year Tom Simpson ‘kind of’ got into pharmacy by accident.
After graduating from university with a B.Pharm and working in web development and IT, a move into an information systems role at the Royal Hobart Hospital spurred Tom into completing a pharmacy internship and becoming registered.
‘The key moment for me was at the SHPA National Conference, Medicines Management 2001 where I won a best paper award – that’s when it all came together and I realised I had a real passion for the profession.’
Tom says it took more than ‘getting the prize, getting registered, and getting a specialist job’ to get him where he is today.
‘I’ve had some great mentors who took me under their wing and I was lucky enough to have a Deputy CEO who taught me about hospital management and finances which led to a bunch of cool opportunities across the health system.
‘Looking back, moving out of pharmacy and working with other areas of a hospital such as the kitchens or cath lab has been a real career strength, not only giving me the context I need to manage the pharmacy ecosystem, but also re-energising me and helping me realise I want to be here, in pharmacy.
Tom was also fortunate to be mentored by a hospital CEO who taught him that just because pharmacists do serious work that affects vulnerable people, it doesn’t mean it should be joyless.
Managing an ambitious state-wide program encompassing the roll-out of seven-day services, establishing a multidisciplinary medication safety unit, evaluating bedside medication management, and looking to implement smart pumps across multiple hospital sites is not without its difficulties.
‘Attracting staff is difficult, even though we offer great work/life balance in Tasmania with no traffic jams or overtime, if I announce a great program but can’t find the staff, it stalls.’
Tom stands by this commitment to work/life balance, spending as much time as he can with his family enjoying Tasmania’s outdoors and looks forward to ‘taking my daughter on a trip to a rainforest to go ziplining’.
His other hobby, particularly in Winter, is ‘blowing things up in video games’.
‘I’ve just finished the new Wolfenstein game and last week attended PAX – a national game conference – with my nephew and brother-in-law where, would you believe, there were some really interesting presentations on mental health and the community health benefits of video games.’
If you want to learn more about Statewide Hospital Pharmacy, why not visit Tom and the Tasmanian team at their booth at Medicines Management 2018 in Brisbane.
A minute with... Mark Clifford
What started as a weekend job filling bags and doing odd jobs at a local pharmacy in his teens led Mark Clifford to a new passion, career and country.
‘I started out as a high school teacher initially and realised pretty quickly it wasn’t for me, but it taught me a lot and, education-wise, that’s the reason I now do what I do.’
After Mark stepped away from teaching to gain his UK pharmacy technician qualifications, he tagged along on a trip to Australia with his partner in 2012 – but didn’t anticipate it would lead to a pivotal training and development role today.
‘The Sterile Production Coordinator, in charge of training pharmacists and technicians/assistants in aseptic technique at Westmead Hospital in Sydney, was running everything on her own. My position as Senior Technician was new at the time (2014) so I was able to take over the training to relieve her.
‘Not long after I joined SHPA, which resulted in developing and hosting Branch technician CE sessions and becoming involved in SHPA’s National Pharmacy Technician Network.’
Mark’s commitment to education and his profession has led to not one, but two speaking slots at Medicines Management 2018 in Brisbane this November.
‘I feel so fortunate to be able to present twice about the Branch committee’s innovative thinking in this space and what we’ve achieved with our technician sessions – it’s such a joint effort.
‘I don’t think a lot of technicians realise how they can get involved with research or by submitting abstracts and we’re encouraging that by setting up the NSW Technician Sub-committee which will help them realise their potential.’
For Mark, pharmacy and teaching have nicely dovetailed and in an ideal world he’d create his own job title - Senior Technician for Education and Development - but in the interim, and just as importantly, he’s travelling when he can, crashing on the sofa after a long week or, as he did recently, eloping with his partner to New York.
Be sure to check out Mark's presentations at MM2018 by viewing the full program for more details or registering now.
A minute with... Brooke Bullock
Brooke Bullock knows that if you want to affect change you have to put your money where your mouth is and turn your passion into proof.
As one of Gold Coast Health’s Principal Medical Education Officers, and a current PhD candidate at the University of Queensland, Brooke’s passion for pharmacy and education is already making waves.
‘I had a lot to learn about the research world when I started my PhD, and even though research is not everyone’s cup of tea, I really believe research is the key to change,’ says Brooke.
Focusing on the impact of clinical pharmacists on post-take ward round prescribing, medication appropriateness and cost, the findings of Brooke’s PhD have already been well-received by doctors and pharmacists alike.
‘I am yet to submit my PhD thesis, however the Royal Brisbane and Womens hospital have already implemented placing pharmacists on post take ward rounds because our interim findings were so positive, so that’s a win in itself,.’
Brooke has undertaken numerous volunteer teaching positions abroad and is intent on driving the pharmacy agenda forward and advocating for safe prescribing; naturally drawn to education, she is presenting as an invited speaker at Medicines Management 2018 with Dr Christy Noble.
‘Christy and I are really excited to share the details of our learning program at Gold Coast Health which focuses on equipping junior pharmacists with the skills to take on a greater supervisory role of junior doctors. This provides an opportunity to further empower young pharmacists and doctors in the early stages of their careers.’
With so many irons in the fire, Brooke says she makes sure she keeps a healthy work life balance: running a small home based plant & kokedama business, coordinating craft workshop and most importantly, being a new Mum to her 4 month old daughter Lulu.
Make time to listen to Brooke and Dr Noble’s presentation at MM2018 and check out the full program for more details or register now.
A minute with... Brian Dolan
Promising to be one of MM2018’s most dynamic keynote presenters, Professor Brian Dolan, knows a thing or two about getting people moving.
Brian created a social movement encouraging health professionals to get patients up, dressed and moving while in hospital to maintain autonomy and dignity and reduce the risk of deconditioning.
Having clocked up 350 million (and counting) Twitter impressions, Brian says at its heart #EndPJParalysis is about flipping the script on the final years of life.
‘We ask the simple question: if you have 1,000 days left to live, how many would you want to spend in hospital?
‘If you are 80 years old or over, a week in bed in hospital can lead to 10 years of muscle ageing, 1.5 kg of muscle loss, and leave you five times more likely to end up in institutional care on discharge rather than going home.
‘The more time you spend in bed in your PJs, the more harmful it is. The goal of “End PJ Paralysis” is to minimise development of painful pressure ulcers, reduce risk of falls and reduce patients’ length of stay.’
Brian says #EndPJParalysis now belongs to everyone, and pharmacists in particular can help spread the word.
‘It’s reaching New Zealand and Canada and we’re keen to expand accessibility further through a dedicated app.
‘More importantly, and this is where pharmacists come to the fore, we want to change conversations around healthcare.
‘We used to say “come to hospital, it’s the best place to be” but now we’re saying “lying down is not really good for you”. Pharmacists can help patients understand the rationale and encourage them to stay mobile.’
Brian says he is looking forward to his keynote address at MM2018 in November and he connects strongly with the conference theme.
‘Time is the currency of healthcare, not money.
‘Time hold us all together – waiting lists and access targets are measured in time; time is dangerous for someone at risk of sepsis awaiting antibiotics; time can be wasted going to meetings or looking for equipment.
‘Seventy per cent of health service budgets in Australia are spent on time. It’s called “salary” and “wages” but this is the purchase of our time. So how do we make sure we don’t waste it?’
A minute with... Ruby Graham
8 June 2018
Ruby Graham knew moving to Alice Springs to start an internship would take her out of her comfort zone, but she never anticipated how rewarding it would be.
‘On both a professional and personal level, the last five months at Alice Springs Hospital really have been a gift.’
In search of an adventure after studying, working in community pharmacy and completing a placement on the Sunshine Coast, Ruby secured both a regional internship and a place in the University of Queensland (UQ) Pharmacy Intern Training Program.
‘I decided to take a chance - moving to the outback was an adjustment at first, but the pharmacy team here have been very welcoming and UQ have provided support every step of the way.’
Ruby says the transition hasn’t been without it challenges – from severe disease states to language and health literacy barriers, her clinical and cultural understanding have been put to the test.
‘The first time I had to treat Norwegian scabies was really challenging because it was completely different to what I was used to, but thanks to the amazing insights and clinical knowledge of the health team it was an excellent learning experience.’
While Ruby misses her family and friends at home, she’s taking every opportunity to experience all the outback has to offer.
‘Every couple of weeks we’ll take a picnic to one of the watering holes nearby or I’ll climb up Mount Gillen and watch the sunset or rise over the beautiful orange desert and red rocks – there’s really nothing like it.’
A minute with... Chris Pointon
On his second trip down under Chris Pointon, co-founder of #hello my name is… shares how healthcare professionals are embracing he and his late wife Kate’s inspirational campaign.
‘Everyone working in healthcare, from pharmacists to doctors, nurses to hospital staff make a difference to patient’s lives every single day and it’s amazing to see Australians adopting these four simple words on such a large scale’, says Chris.
In Australia to reiterate the campaign message prior to his keynote address at World Hospital Congress 2018 in Brisbane this October, Chris says starting a therapeutic relationship with a simple introduction is the first step to getting patients to open up, even in countries where English isn’t a first language.
‘During an Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone healthcare professionals sent us pictures of the campaign logo handwritten onto t-shirts as they couldn’t verbally say the words hello my name is…because of infection control’.
Since Kate’s passing in 2016 Chris has taken the social media based campaign on the road, sharing the message and encouraging healthcare professionals to adopt it irrespective of culture or setting.
‘Change takes time and cultural difference come into play but there are a lot of people who actively support the campaign and we’ve had pictures of the smile logo taken in the cockpit of a plane, at the top of the tallest building, and even in Antarctica.’
Outside of the campaign trail, Chris aims to raise $750,000 for two UK-based cancer charities, is writing a book aimed at helping people supporting a terminally ill partner, and is speaking at events.
‘World Hospital Congress is going to be an amazing event and I really look forward to sharing my life story and inspiring people to make a difference in their lives and in the world.’
Find out more or share the campaign message on Twitter.
A minute with... Melita Jensen
As one of only three hospital pharmacists in Western Australia’s 155,000 square kilometre Wheatbelt region, Melita Jensen knows what ‘going the extra mile’ means.
‘While I’m a ward pharmacist based in a 35-bed hub hospital, I spend one day a week on the road covering 13 other sites as there’s no single location in the region with more than 10% of our population’.
Providing acute and aged patient care and monitoring pharmacy stocks across vast areas comes naturally to Melita, who grew up in WA’s sparsely populated Pilbara region.
‘Working in the country and being part of a close community has always been appealing to me, so when my husband Trevor suggested moving to a 25-acre property in the Wheatbelt to build a house and raise our family, it sounded ideal.’
After 15 years working as a retail pharmacist in Toodyay, Melita recognised that clinical input was the piece of the puzzle missing from her career.
‘Even though I’d done relief work in hospitals, I saw retail and hospital pharmacy as separate entities, so in 2006 I gained Home Medication Review accreditation to help with the transition’.
Melita continued on her journey toward hospital pharmacy by becoming a home medication review facilitator in 2008 and completing a Masters of Clinical Pharmacy in 2015 through distance education.
‘Studying online while I was working as a facilitator was a big advantage as I could travel up to 400km a day in my role, so there was no way I could attend a campus’.
Now her children have finished university, Melita spends her time working on their self-build home, training for half-marathons and enjoying the beautiful natural surrounds of the Avon Valley.
‘I love bushwalking the Bibbulmun Track but I also miss the solitude and peacefulness of outback Australia, so now my husband has a motorbike license we plan to explore more of the Wheatbelt and get off the beaten track’.
A minute with... Stuart Birnie
When Stuart Birnie booked a round-the-world trip jetting off from Glasgow, he never imagined he would end up settling in Australia and changing his career focus.
‘I’d already travelled through Africa and South East Asia and had every intention of continuing to New Zealand, Fiji and America but then I decided to make a go of it here and convert my Masters Degree in Pharmacy.’
With a strong background in community pharmacy and dogged determination, Stuart worked steadily through the process of becoming a qualified pharmacist in Australia.
‘Although I’d worked in community pharmacy since high school and was qualified in the United Kingdom, I had to fall back on my experience from my university days as a swimming teacher while I progressed through each stage of the registration process’.
It was while working at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre another serendipitous moment occurred.
‘About two years ago I began teaching the daughter of a pharmacist at the swim centre and this led to a job in his pharmacies in the suburbs of Parkdale and Narre Warren, before I branched out to pharmacies in Hawthorn and Chelsea.’
Picking up where he left off in community pharmacy was a natural fit at first, but Stuart says he began to yearn for a change and a short-term opening at Monash Health seemed like just the opportunity to expand his clinical knowledge.
‘I really enjoy my new role - the interprofessional contact with nurses and doctors and the being part of conversations that influence a patient’s health are making me a better pharmacist.’
While he loves the laid-back lifestyle in Australia and the friends he’s made, Stuart still has unfinished business.
‘I’m taking a chunk of holidays in August to head home to catch up with family and friends but, on the way, I’m going to finally finish the last leg of my round-the-world trip!’
A minute with... Susanne Weress
A natural curiosity, desire to learn and interest in other cultures led Susanne Weress to a career in hospital pharmacy.
‘When I started in pharmacy the bar on employing married women in the Commonwealth Public Service had just been abolished, so it was seen as ‘a good job for a woman’, but I saw opportunities to contribute to public healthcare and travel’.
So that’s exactly what Susanne did. After landing a Commonwealth scholarship to study a Bachelor of Pharmacy at The University of Sydney, Susanne finished her registration year at Prince of Wales Hospital and took off to work in London before returning to locum in rural New South Wales.
‘I worked in community pharmacy, raised two children, lived and worked in Singapore, and started a job-share at Royal North Shore Hospital in1989 - the first and longest of its kind in the Northern Sydney Health area – before being accredited as a consultant pharmacist in 1997,’ she says.
Susanne’s thirst for adventure couldn’t be quelled, her interest in Indigenous health led to locum work at Tennant Creek Hospital and a chance encounter with a doctor returning from Banda Aceh started a 10-year journey with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).
‘Being part of MSF has given me the opportunity to work and project visit Kenya, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Kyrgyzstan, to sit on their Board, and advocate for the establishment of a peer support network in Australia for MSF field workers’.
Always on the lookout for a new adventure, Susanne carried out Home Medication Reviews in Bourke, Brewarrina and Walgett, was an NPS MedicineWise Therapeutics Educator/Facilitator, and became an Accredited Tour Manager and Guide, and volunteer trainer for GetUp!
‘The thread of travel has been strong in my life and in the lead up to the Sydney Olympics I heard there would be a shortage of tour guides, so I picked up a TAFE Handbook and thought: why not do it?!’
Eighteen years later Susanne still works as a tour manager, contributes to her profession as a rural/remote locum and social causes, and prioritises time with her grandsons.
‘When I’m home I spend a day a week supporting my daughter Andrea and her baby boys, Oscar and Harley, developing my interest in meditation and yoga, as well as being a keen film-goer, and bushwalker.’
Read more about Susanne’s exciting adventures in the Spring edition of Pharmacy GRIT, free to SHPA members.
A minute with... Duncan McKenzie
A commitment to practising what he preaches is driving Duncan McKenzie, as he prepares to debate for the ‘yes’ team at SHPA’s inaugural International Women’s Day Breakfast Debate in March.
‘My wife, Amy is a pharmacist who specialises in paediatrics, and we have two young children, so our family benefits from flexible working arrangements’.
As Royal Hobart Hospital Pharmacy Manager, Duncan oversees 100 staff across pharmacy, technician, administration and stores roles and he knows that flexibility isn’t just a key enabler and driver of good performance, but a necessity.
‘In Tasmania our staff are mostly home-grown, so we nurture them from internship - we offer flexibility and work-life balance to encourage staff retention because we can’t recruit experienced staff from another local tertiary hospital, we are the only one in town – and mainlanders rarely (but increasingly) migrate south!
‘There’s also been a national shift in the type of clinical work pharmacy departments undertake because of extended hours, shift work and seven-day services, so by its nature we need to be flexible, and at Royal Hobart we’re transitioning as we speak.’
While Duncan would love to fit more clinical work into his role, he feels there are stones left unturned in his management and leadership career.
‘This role keeps me on my toes and I’m proud that we’re moving forward in Tassie. Just recently we secured funding for expanded clinical pharmacy services, new pharmacy educator positions as well as SHPA residency positions, and we’re looking at expanding our ward technician service next.'
So how does Duncan make the most of flexibility in the workplace?
‘My focus is on spending my downtime with my family but I’m also a keen photographer and am passionate about open water swimming – I just try not to think about sharks!’
A minute with... Wendy Huynh
For Wendy Huynh, prioritising work-life balance is everything, which is why she's joining the 'yes' team at SHPA's inaugural International Women's Day Debate in March.
Wendy says she wants pharmacists to start talking about how teams can retain staff and skills, increase morale, beat stress and fatigue and improve patient care through flexible hours.
'Flexibility at work isn't just about starting a family or looking after loved ones, it's essential if you're going to develop your career, further your education or participate in extra curriculum activities with pharmacies governing bodies.
'It doesn't just happen organically either, which is why the International Women's Day Debate on flexible hours in clinical pharmacy practice is so important, to keep the conversation going.'
Wendy says making less sacrifices does not mean devaluing patient care.
'As healthcare professionals we tend to sacrifice our own time because we care about our patients, but we're working in a world where patients aren't nine to five - it's time to advocate for flexible working hours if we want our careers to remain viable.'
While she still considers herself an early-career pharmacist, Wendy is committed to building her clinical pharmacy skills through continuous professional development.
'At Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in New South Wales, I've been exposed to a lot of different fields but I'm particularly passionate about neonatal pharmacology in intensive care as it's a relatively new field that requires a lot of training'.
As a big believer in leaving work at work, Wendy knows Monday is always around the corner, so weekends are sacred.
'I may not go on adventures to far flung destinations as often as I'd like, but I'll always make sure I get out and enjoy the outdoors!'
A minute with... Diana Sandulache
Diana Sandulache fell in love with hospital pharmacy before she graduated but never imagined where it would take her.
‘My parents are physics and maths teachers, so science has always been a part of my life, but it was only after I undertook a placement at Royal Melbourne Hospital that I realised the impact I could have on patients as a hospital pharmacist.’
After graduating and working in a clinical pharmacy role at Royal Melbourne, Diana says she took a chance applying for a clinical education role supporting interns and students.
‘When I interviewed for the role I’d just joined SHPA’s Medicines Management 2015 Conference Committee and started participating in an education stream, so even though I didn’t have a lot of experience, I was able to answer all their questions and I got the job.’
With 15 residents now under her wing at Alfred Health, Diana feels confident managing an SHPA accredited Foundation Residency Program but wants to further empower the pharmacists supporting the program, especially as they move towards advanced practice.
‘I saw an email about the National Translational Research Collaborative 2017 Pfizer Young Pharmacist Grant and thought why not give it a go, I never imagined my proposal would be successful and I’d be lucky enough to go the United States to learn about supporting preceptors from some of pharmacy’s leading minds’.
Before setting off to the States this year Diana plans to spend some quality time brunching with her husband and relaxing with her cat, Rocky.
A minute with... Fawn Birch
Fawn Birch says a world of opportunities opened when she made the move to hospital pharmacy technician work.
After moving to Queensland and transitioning from community pharmacy to an assistant role at Gold Coast Hospital, Fawn says she received the training and encouragement she needed to become a pharmacy assistant manager supervising up to 20 technicians.
‘I love my job – working as a hospital pharmacy technician or assistant ticks a lot of boxes, you get to problem solve, be part of a team, have patient contact and drive your career forward in an integral part of healthcare.‘
Since leaving Gold Coast Hospital nearly four years ago to return to her home town of Wollongong in New South Wales, Fawn has continued pursuing a career in hospital pharmacy by working as an oncology technician, while developing, training and implementing a new ward-based inpatient liaison technician role that helps pharmacists take medication history.
‘I’m passionate about the growing role technicians and assistants play in hospital pharmacy and am really interested in SHPA’s Tech Role Redesign project as I’d like to see more structured career paths and a consistent framework across Australia - especially for new pharmacy technicians and assistants’.
Moving home has been an important step for Fawn.
‘Spending time with my two children, family, and friends is really important to me, especially in such a beautiful town.’
A minute with... Amanda Horiniak
Amanda Horiniak says she always wanted to join a profession that helps people – and she found it in hospital pharmacy.
‘This job is about more than medication, it’s about dealing with comorbidities, surgeries and other illnesses that you just aren't always exposed to in community pharmacy and I find that incredibly fulfilling.’
After finishing her internship and transferring to renal and endocrinology pharmacy, Amanda quickly decided that starting an SHPA-supported Residency Program at the Alfred Hospital would steer her career in the right direction.
‘The residency program has been brilliant – I’ve been well supported by mentors and educational staff, given opportunities to further my skills and knowledge, encouraged to attend seminars and conferences and, more importantly, audits and research projects.’
Amanda’s passion and dedication for continued improvement and her ability to turn any challenge into an opportunity saw her receive the inaugural SHPA Resident of the Year Award at Medicines Management 2017 a fortnight ago.
‘I’m really enjoyed learning the business aspects of pharmacy in my first rotation in dispensary management and am proud that I completed a four-month audit of medication orders in relation to patient demographics, and developed a dispensary orientation handbook for pharmacists which has been adopted by other sites.’
And the next step for Amanda, apart from indulging in some much-loved Melbourne brunches – ‘I’m passionate about pharmacy and clinical education and want to work towards advanced practice.’
A minute with... Glenn Valoppi
Glenn Valoppi entered hospital pharmacy as a 20-year old intern and hasn’t looked back since.
After spending 15 years in public hospital pharmacy, Glenn followed his specialty passion when making the leap to private practice in 2014.
‘I got into infectious diseases through general and transplant surgery and was really excited to be given the chance to move into antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) at a private not-for-profit hospital.’
As a dedicated AMS pharmacist fighting against the very real threat of antibiotic resistance, Glenn notes it’s been a challenging 12 months for pharmacists.
‘While we’ve been good stewards and our messages are gaining traction in the community, the lack of availability of antibiotics – particularly intravenous and recommended first-line antibiotics – has made it hard for doctors and pharmacists to make the right choices for their patients.’
Beyond working to fight antibiotic resistance and recommend modified therapies, Glenn also commits his time to the SHPA Victorian Branch Committee, and to his family.
‘After 10 years I’m retiring from the branch committee this year, but I am really proud of the work we’ve done and what we’ve achieved, particularly on intern allocations – I think we’ve created a fair program that gives students the best chance to start their hospital pharmacy journey.’
While he’ll miss inputting into the committee, Glenn hopes he’ll gain more time to spend with his family and even squeeze in a bike ride or two down Melbourne’s best bike trails.
This week is World Antibiotic Awareness Week, visit NPS Medicinewise for more info
A minute with... Natalie Tasker
Natalie Tasker can’t wait to catch up with old friends and make new ones at Medicines Management 2017.
As Conference Committee Chair Natalie’s excited about this year’s scientific program - but says she’s nervous about missing out with so much on offer.
‘Rahul Singal’s presentation on increasing productivity will be particularly interesting as I think it will challenge us to question why we’ve always done things a certain way and how we can dial back on aspects of our work.’
As a big believer in girl power, Natalie is eager to hear from Emma McBride, Federal Member for Dobell and a leader in the profession, as she recounts her story of leadership and advocacy.
‘I also think Ian Whyte’s presentation on medicines and murder will be thrilling, especially for anyone who is a CSI or forensics lover – I can’t wait to hear it.’
'With 15 streams, keynotes, workshops, contributed papers, and posters, there's so many opportunities be inspired to do more at this year's event.'
Despite a busy workload in medication safety and paediatrics – and squeezing in a trip to California to celebrate her first wedding anniversary! – Natalie’s contribution to SHPA won’t stop once MM2017 wraps up.
‘I’ve been elected to the SHPA Specialty Practice Leadership Committee for Paediatrics and Neonatology and look forward to working with a group of inspiring professionals to make our hospitals a safer and better place for children to receive treatment.’
A minute with... Rohan Elliott
Rohan Elliott loves the diversity of roles in hospital pharmacy
‘Over the years I’ve had a chance to work in so many areas, ranging from dispensary and manufacturing, to drug information and ward pharmacy, not to mention across education and research – boredom is never a factor!’
‘Being able to work in multidisciplinary teams, contribute to decisions about patients' drug therapy, and enhance the appropriateness and safety of patient care has always been a big attraction to me.’
Rohan says actively contributing to numerous initiatives within his area of expertise including SHPA's Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research and Specialty Practice program has opened up new opportunities.
‘Being a part of SHPA's Geriatric Medicine stream has given me a chance to network with and learn from like-minded colleagues, contribute to advocacy and education work, and develop resources for pharmacists working in geriatric medicine.’
When he's not working or volunteering his skills, Rohan loves spending time with his kids or in the outdoors.
'You'll usually find me at my kids' basketball, gymnastics, tennis, or other activities – but if I get the chance I'll catch some live music, or escape the city for a bush walk or camping trip.’
A minute with... Karen Chin
Karen Chin says interacting with patients is why she loves hospital pharmacy.
‘My first placement was in a hospital pharmacy, and I was attracted to the work after seeing pharmacists involved in both patient interaction and clinical pharmacy.’
After working part-time in community pharmacy while at university, Karen decided hospital pharmacy was a better fit for her and she jumped at the chance to do an internship at Frankston Hospital.
‘Working in a public hospital really suits me – I enjoy working in a large team and being supported by my colleagues as we work together to achieve the best patient care.’
Always on the lookout for a challenge, Karen was keen to become one of the first residents at Frankston Hospital to participate in the SHPA Residency Program.
‘I really wanted to challenge myself and I knew that being part of a formalised, structured residency program meant I would be rotated to many different clinical areas, particularly general medicine and specialties like oncology.’
Karen says living close to the hospital on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is a blessing, as she avoids long commutes to work and can immerse herself in her work.
‘At the same time, this is why on weekends I’m keen on heading into the city to catch up with friends over a good cup of coffee!’
A minute with... Shirley Liang
Shirley Liang applied for a pharmacy technician role to ‘give it a go’ – two years later, she’s hitting her stride.
'I had no idea how varied and important the work is behind-the-scenes for hospital pharmacy technicians, overseeing sterile and chemotherapy manufacturing and working on hospital wards, as well as dispensing and distributing medications.’
Shirley says the opportunity to help conduct clinical trials is the most exciting and rewarding aspect of her job.
‘Located in a major tertiary hospital, our pharmacy department supports many trials of new medicines and therapies, and I take part in reviewing protocols, drug ordering and receipting, dispensing and taking returns – it’s almost a “mini-pharmacy” in itself!
‘It is an exciting feeling seeing a drug pass beyond Phase 3/4 trials and onto the PBS and knowing that you played a small role ensuring it was safe and effective for patients to use.’
Looking into the future, Shirley says she is looking forward to the possibility of broader roles for hospital pharmacy technicians.
‘It was great to see SHPA’s white paper on expanded technician practice and I think rolling out standard qualifications and realising roles where technicians have more responsibility will help ensure pharmacy departments everywhere are stronger and more productive.’
For now though, Shirley says her weeks are busy and satisfying at Royal North Shore Hospital – and an ideal weekend sees her relaxing with a nice meal with family and friends.
‘To be honest, it doesn’t matter where, as long as family or friends are there!’
A minute with... Nallini McCleery
Nallini McCleery never imagined hospital pharmacy could be so diverse.
'It’s just different to what you envisage at university.'
‘Working in a public hospital, in particular is very busy, but it’s also incredibly fulfilling and supportive – there is so much on-the-job guidance around pharmacy and clinical roles.’
After migrating from South Africa after high school and graduating from university in 2001, Nallini completed an internship and began her career working in community pharmacy.
‘I only contemplated hospital pharmacy when I travelled to the UK, and ended up working within the NHS for 5 years.’
After returning to Australia and making the leap to Senior Clinical Educator at Gold Coast University Hospital and Health Service, Nallini accepted the challenge of applying for the SHPA Residency Program.
‘The paperwork was extensive but really valuable, as it helped my department understand that we were already fulfilling a number of the practical elements required by the program. The program, itself, would help formalise our process.
‘Structuring our program has been a balancing act – it has to work for the department but also engage the residents – and having support and guidance from SHPA has been crucial.’
Nallini says she really enjoys being a program leader but admits it takes a community to raise a resident.
‘We have 10 residents and I would recommend this program to any early career hospital pharmacist!’
‘Constantly learning and sharing information is integral , which is why I’ll be heading to the Residency Symposium next week.'
A minute with... Michele Cree
Like all hospital pharmacists, multitasking is in Michele Cree’s blood.
As Pharmacist Lead for Critical Care at Brisbane’s Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital (LCCH), Michele and her team cover a 36-bed paediatric intensive care unit that manages patients with congenital heart disease, oncology diagnosis who may require extra-corporal life support and/or continuous renal replacement therapies and anaesthetics providing unique insight into the specific pharmacy needs of young people in Queensland.
In addition, the unit cares for paediatric emergencies, with 200 presentations a day, and a dedicated cardiac ward. Michele says this broad coverage has allowed the team to lead improvement measures in Queensland, particularly around standard medicine concentrations.
‘Since 2008 we’ve moved away from individualised concentrations based on patient weight, as we know from research and practice that standardising is safer and more reliable, not to mention more efficient.
‘Australia lags behind Canada and the United States in this regard – where standardisation is a mandatory requirement – so we are enthusiastic about partnering with other hospitals in Victoria to work towards a better, national approach, which may eventually also be adopted in New Zealand.’
Michele says other advances at LCCH have fuelled collaborative efforts to improve patient care, especially at Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Townsville and recently Mackay hospitals.
‘We were quite early in our adoption of a paperless workplace, in Paediatric ICU, for all our monitors and medicines administering, ordering and prescribing, so we have a long period to look back on and share learnings.
‘Our role as the main provider of paediatric hospital care in Queensland has also meant we can make valuable contributions to understanding pharmacists’ role in areas like advanced paediatric life support, and provide advice on how to better manage young people in adult hospital settings.
Michele says for improvements to have strong impact it is important to maintain connections and keep conversations active – such as through SHPA’s Specialty Practice.
‘The local and even statewide pharmacy scenes may be full of familiar faces, but it is fantastic to have nationwide streams to bring together diverse ideas and refine truly practice-defining advice and guidance on policy, education and advocacy.
‘Specialty Practice allows that and I’ll certainly be putting my hand up for a shot at Leadership Committees – not only to improve my own practice, but to see the advances we’ve made Queensland have an impact on the care of young people across the country.'
Alex Kusiak
Alex Kusiak describes herself as a city girl, but a ‘why not?’ attitude took her from Melbourne to Broken Hill after her internship.
‘The move really allowed my career to take shape and it’s been a great experience working to build a reinvigorated clinical pharmacy service, doubling the size of our small team and shaping the department in a way that best serves the community.
‘I’ve also enjoyed working closely with very talented technicians, who handle a broad range of important activities here – this has spurred my strong support for ongoing research into expanding technician roles across the board.’
Alex says her pathway to hospital pharmacy was not always clear
‘I must say I was pretty naïve heading into my degree, I thought hospital pharmacy was all about supplying medicines to a ward! But once placements came around and I discovered there was so much more, I was hooked.
‘The direct interactions with patients, influencing medicines regimes and changes and really being part of the decision-making process is so rewarding.’
Alex says the move from the Southern capital to the Silver City has seen challenges as well as successes.
‘On one hand there is rapid pace, such as guiding junior doctors – on rotation from Sydney – through steep learning curves over three month placements.
‘Then on the other there is the usual difficulties and constraints of time and resources being in regional facility and servicing remote areas.
‘You gain an entirely new perspective of what “timely access” to medicines means when you’re serving Outback communities, and all of sudden complex stock management and much earlier discharge planning becomes part of your core skill set!’
As for her next move, Alex says the future isn’t quite as clear as it once was.
‘I do picture myself moving back to a bigger city and focusing my attention on a pharmacy discipline, so it’s fantastic to see SHPA’s Specialty Practice Streams up and running this year!
‘That said, I’m not in a rush just yet. Broken Hill has a wonderful sense of community, and I’ve made great friends throughout the relocated workforce of nurses, teachers and other young professionals.
‘That’s the biggest reason I’ve stayed out here for a few years, and why I may do so for a few more.’
Kylee Hayward
Kylee Hayward has lived and breathed hospital pharmacy from both sides of the fence, on the ground in healthcare facilities in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia and, since 2013, as Lead Education Pharmacist at SHPA’s Federal Secretariat.
Kylee says the shifts in direction over her career can be traced back to a love of variety.
‘I always wanted to be a hospital pharmacist – my uncle was an anaesthetist, so from an early age I understood the challenges of hospital work.
‘This was certainly realised during my internship at a very progressive hospital in South Auckland, which served a population base with a high prevalence of complex and chronic diseases.’
After a stint in the UK (I was all over the place), in which she met her future husband at a Christmas party (among other things), Kylee settled in Australia and moved into clinical education before joining SHPA.
‘The step up from local level to a national view of healthcare is fascinating, and I feel lucky to be able to partner with members in every state and territory to help ensure every patient, Australia-wide, experiences the same excellent medicines management.
‘Ultimately my work is about the next generation and it’s a joy helping people develop as practitioners and spending time with people committed to helping other people grow.’
Above all, Kylee says interacting with SHPA members as they redefine pharmacy’s role in healthcare is the strongest source of inspiration and enjoyment in her work.
‘I love meeting members, getting to know them and what they’re doing – and not just the whizz bang stuff.
‘SHPA members are truly leading practice to influence change, and this doesn’t just build to a crescendo around conferences or publications, it happens day in and day out across the country.’
And as for her ideal Sunday, away from clinCATs, summits and CPD?
‘I’m sleeping in… and not taking my children to 7,000 activities!’
Jeanie Misko
Jeanie Misko thought she’d made her mind up to skip hospital pharmacy in her student days.
‘I told the Chief Pharmacist on my fourth year rotation that I hated hospital pharmacy and that I’d never be interested.
‘They told me “come back when you change your mind” and, after two years in community pharmacy, I missed the clinical challenges of the hospital setting… so they were right… I did come back’.
Jeanie says having clear goals and making the most of opportunities throughout her career have begun to pay dividends.
‘I always wanted to work at Fiona Stanley Hospital so I was really excited when an opportunity arose. At the moment I’m enjoying my involvement with smart infusion pumps that reduce dosage errors through a “Guardrails” program.
‘In the future I’d like to specialise further and open up broader medicines information services to the wider community, and look at improving smart infusion pump technology across the state.’
Beyond her busy days poring over medicines information and the latest pharmacy research, Jeanie says you can find her in literature of a different kind.
‘I run a book review blog – samstillreading.wordpress.com – so on a day off I’ll often be reading, writing, or both, preferably in a park on one of Perth’s many, many sunny days.
‘It keeps me busy and also in touch with the local book scene – I’m @samstillreading on Twitter and Instagram if you’re interested!’
Although she’s now happily furthering her career as Senior Pharmacist for Medicines Information, Jeanie says it was a brief exchange with West Australian footy royalty that sparked her pharmacy journey.
‘I’m a huge West Coast Eagles supporter and when I was 15 I met John Worsfold, who is a pharmacist, and basically made the decision to emulate him then and there.
‘I even told him on the spot so we both went bright red, hopefully he doesn’t remember!’
David Morton
An hour is all it took for David Morton to commit to entering the world of hospital pharmacy.
‘It’s still very vivid for me, in my third-year placement at the Austin Hospital I was thrown in the mix with some really highly motivated pharmacists running the student program and it just felt right.
‘I’d assumed I would end up in community pharmacy but the pace and the challenges of the hospital environment actually looked…fun.’
Following that moment, other turning points for David, who is currently the Director of Pharmacy at St John of God Bendigo Hospital, have been equally as spontaneous.
‘Five years ago I was a junior pharmacist in a team of 60 exceptional pharmacists. I wouldn’t have believed I’d be a hospital pharmacy manager today,’ he says.
‘My motto was, and still is, don’t predict too far in the future, enjoy what you’re doing at the time and if you do a good job opportunities will open up for you.’
Originally from Wangaratta, Victoria, David began his career at the Austin, then spent some time in Brisbane before his current role in Bendigo, a major centre in Victoria’s Goldfields region. He has thoroughly enjoyed all different settings.
‘What interests and drives me is in a city the size of Bendigo you can have a big impact on public health through influencing how pharmacy is managed, and this influence can have a wide-reaching impact on the community.’
‘For instance, we’ve completely changed our pharmacy provider model, setting a higher standard of clinical pharmacy services. This means country patients from central Victoria all the way up to the Murray, who access our service, can expect the same level of pharmaceutical care as metropolitan patients.
At the end of the day, David says his main motivation is found at home.
‘I’m a pretty new dad and my three-year-old and one-year-old keep me very busy.
‘My ideal Sunday usually involves a beer and the TV but these day’s it’s less likely to be the footy, and more likely to be ABC for Kids.’
Emma Bartlett
For Emma Bartlett, variety is the crucial ingredient in her pharmacy career.
‘Integrating research and managing different roles in my everyday work really appeals to me,’ she says.
‘Hospital pharmacy – particularly in regional and remote area – is the perfect environment for staying on top of the latest developments in medicines management.’
In her fourth year of university, Emma was placed in Port Augusta, at the head of South Australia’s Spencer Gulf, which she says opened many doors for broadening her expertise and experience.
‘As a regional city servicing a huge area of remote communities, being in P.A. has allowed me to work with the Royal Flying Doctor Service on outreach to Outback towns.
‘This involves monthly trips to supply medications, educate local nursing staff, engage with fly in / fly out clinicians to review inpatients and discuss new therapeutic guidelines.’
Emma remains in Port Augusta today and has begun pharmacy research aimed at improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
‘One opportunity I truly enjoyed was working closely with Pika Wiya Health Service to collect information for my internship project “Learning From Aboriginal Experiences Of Infection Management In a Regional Hospital.”
‘An area of focus for the service is improving the supply of and compliance with medicines and, in my intern year, I conducted a project looking at patients that self-discharge to follow and understand what factors affect their medicines use at home.’
When she’s not working Emma, who was born and raised in Keith in South Australia’s south east, is usually in the great outdoors, making the most of desert state’s dramatic landscape.
‘All around Port Augusta there is spectacular scenery – my pick of the bunch is Devil’s Peak near Quorn, where a reasonably difficult hike is rewarded with incredible views.’
Ashleigh Boatman
Ashleigh Boatman says it was seeing her education come alive that attracted her to hospital pharmacy.
‘At uni I loved learning all about bloods and disease processes and, in the hospital pharmacy setting, I could put this knowledge into practice much more easily.’
Hailing from Ararat in Victoria, today Ashleigh is the only oncology pharmacist on the wards at Dubbo Base Hospital, an environment that sees her closely integrated into multi-disciplinary teams at an exciting time for the region.
‘People travel to us from as far as Bourke and Cobar Lightning Ridge near the Queensland border, sometimes driving over four hours each way for one appointment, so we have great determination to improve access in the region, starting with a pilot RVAC (remote video assisted chemotherapy) clinic in Coonabarabran in April.
‘Serving such a large catchment area, we’re working to expand staff and clinical capacity with a 5-10 year goal that all patients can still receive pharmacy services outside Dubbo.’
After prepping for patient discharges and managing complex complementary cancer treatments, Ashleigh says she enjoys the lifestyle on the Western Plains.
‘Dubbo is a perfect fit – it’s large enough that it has everything I need, but small enough so there’s no congestion… I can always get a park!
‘It’s also incredibly easygoing. Lots of people are in the same situation as me, so it is very easy to meet people and make friends.’
Outside the working world, Ashleigh describes her ideal afternoon as in a sunny park reading a book under a tree, ‘although maybe not right now, because all I’m reading at the moment are my pharmacy journals!’