2025 PSA MIMS Intern Pharmacist of the Year

2 August 2025

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has today named Perth-based pharmacist Rachel Lawson as the 2025 PSA MIMS Intern Pharmacist of the Year, awarded at PSA25’s opening plenary this morning (Saturday 2 August).

 

Rachel Lawson began her journey in pharmacy while studying for a Bachelor of Health Promotion and working part-time at Pharmacy 777 Applecross in Perth, Western Australia where she quickly developed a passion for pharmacy. Six years later, she completed her intern year at the same pharmacy.

 

During her intern year, Rachel refined her dispensing skills and focused on health promotion and service provision. She conducted wound care consultations and sleep apnoea trials, provided supervised vaccinations, and coordinated two bone health clinics and a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease screening program. She has also initiated HIV self-test consultations and collaborated with a local researcher to deliver a presentation on sleep health to over 150 attendees.

 

Over her six years in community pharmacy, Rachel has cultivated a keen interest in harm reduction which she hopes to build on into the future as she advocates for patient-centred care that acknowledges and addresses risky behaviours while striving to minimise harm.

 

Presenting the award, PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS congratulated Ms Lawson on the impressive start to her pharmacy career.

 

“Intern and early career pharmacists like Rachel remind us that the future of our profession is in exceptionally capable hands,” Associate Professor Sim said.

 

“It’s inspiring to see pharmacists like Rachel embracing the challenges and opportunities of community pharmacy, particularly through her work in health promotion, harm reduction, and adapting to new models of service delivery.

 

“Congratulations Rachel, all of us at PSA look forward to continuing to support you throughout your pharmacy career, wherever it may lead.”

 

MIMS CEO Robert Best also congratulated Ms Lawson, reaffirming MIMS commitment to supporting the next generation of pharmacists.

 

“At MIMS, we are proud to continue our legacy as being the most trusted provider of drug and medicines information across the Australian healthcare industry,” Mr Best said.

 

“The Pharmacy profession has, and continues to be, one of the most important and pivotal parts of our medicines ecosystem when dealing with consumers and patients, and in particular, the interns play an important role with respects to advising, educating and dispensing medicines across Australia. Ultimately, they are the future of the Pharmacy profession.”

 

“For more than 6 decades, MIMS has been the trusted provider of drug and medicines information across the healthcare industry and we are committed to continue to provide the Pharmacy profession with the most of up-to-date drug and medicines information available at the point of care,” Mr Best concluded.

 

 

 

Media contact:   Georgia Clarke   M: 0480 099 798  E: georgia.clarke@psa.org.au