NPS MedicineWise CEO, Adjunct Associate Professor Steve Morris, will step down in Jul to take on a new role in South Australia, which will allow him to support a family member "who is dealing with the challenges and opportunities of living with autism".
Announcing Morris' departure, NPS MedicineWise Chair, Dr Andrew Knight, thanked him for his leadership of the organisation since Sep 2018.
"We are very sad to see Steve go, however we understand and applaud his decision to prioritise his family member at a challenging time," Knight said.
"He has led the organisation through some very difficult challenges to now be in a good position to continue to deliver on its role as a steward of quality use of medicines in Australia and fulfill its mission to improve the health of Australians through the safe and wise use of medicines and other technologies."
Morris said he was leaving NPS MedicineWise to take up the position of CEO at Arthritis South Australia, with "genuine sadness", but was "pleased to be leaving the organisation in a good position to continue to enhance its role".
"I am truly grateful for the support that the committed and dedicated staff of NPS MedicineWise have provided me in my time as CEO," he said.
"My new role, closer to home, will allow me to also focus on caring for a family member.
"I truly believe NPS MedicineWise plays a unique and impactful role in the Australian health system and is well positioned to continue to support quality use of medicines across all settings in Australia."
Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) CEO, Kristin Michaels, said Morris' leadership has coincided with a further strengthening of connections between the organisations.
"On behalf of the SHPA Board of Directors and our members across the country, I thank Steve for his incredible dedication and creative vision for improving the quality use of medicines to improve clinician and consumer decision-making in health," she said.
"SHPA is a proud and long-standing member of NPS MedicineWise, and we are committed to our mutual organisational mission to improve and champion quality use of medicines and medicines safety whenever medicines are used, and wherever Australians receive care."
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