THE Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has recognised exceptional pharmacists at the New South Wales Excellence Awards as part of the Annual Therapeutic Update taking place in Port Stephens, last Fri.
The awards were presented by PSA's immediate past President, Prof Peter Carroll MPS (pictured).
The NSW Pharmacist of the Year Award was presented to former PSA State Manager Simone Diamandis FPS (pictured), for her leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and advocacy for the expansion of pharmacist-administered vaccines.
As the NSW PSA State Manager, Diamandis worked closely with pharmacists, the State Government, the health department, and other key stakeholders to drive policy change and improvements for pharmacists to better support their communities.
Her work has resulted in better health outcomes for NSW residents.
The NSW Intern of the Year Award is Elizabeth Langdon, an intern pharmacist practising on the South Coast.
She has been recognised for her work in implementing harm minimisation strategies in three pharmacies.
Langdon drove the rollout of the Opioid Harm Minimisation Strategy and SafeScriptNSW in Priceline Pharmacy Shell Harbour, Amcal North Nowra, and Callala Bay Pharmacy.
For the Take-Home Naloxone program, she played a pivotal role in educating patients on its benefits and teaching patients how to use the drug correctly.
The NSW Early Career Pharmacist of the Year was awarded to Dr Jack Collins MPS for his research at the University of Sydney School of Pharmacy, which focused on the role of community pharmacists in facilitating self-care.
Dr Jack Collins' research has employed a number of research methods in his work to optimise the medicines management role of pharmacists, focusing on non-prescription medicines, and mental health services.
The NSW Lifetime Achievement Award recognised the contributions of Warwick Plunkett FPS over nearly 55 years, especially to pharmacy professional bodies including as PSA past president, the continuing professional education of pharmacists, and improvement to the quality use of medicines.
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