PSA announces 2019 Excellence Award winners

26 July 2019

 

Three outstanding pharmacists have been honoured for their high standards of commitment and professionalism in the 2019 PSA Excellence Awards.

 

The Early Career Pharmacist of the Year, Pharmacist of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement Award were announced at PSA’s flagship conference PSA19 in Sydney today.

 

PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman said he was delighted to congratulate this year’s award winners.

 

“The Excellence Awards show the impact pharmacists have throughout the various stages of their careers,” he said.

 

“What unites today’s winners is not only their commitment to the profession and innovative practice, but their dedication to improving patient outcomes.”

 

The 2019 PSA Excellence Awards winners are:

 

• Early Career Pharmacist of the Year – Dr Fei Sim, WA

 

• Pharmacist of the Year – Peter Crothers, NSW

 

• Lifetime Achievement Award – Col. (Rtd) Bill Kelly, ACT

 

In accepting her award, Dr Sim spoke of her many influencers and mentors who have helped shape her career. She said not only was the award very meaningful to her, but it was also recognition that she was on the right path.

 

“I see it also as an acknowledgement of the great mentorships I have received from my mentors and the amazing team I work with every day, at Curtin University, Caring Pharmacy, PSA and the communities,” she said.

 

Mr Crothers said his award was recognition of the work of rural community pharmacists and highlighted the unique career opportunities to be gained in rural pharmacy.

 

“One of the best ways to become highly clinically competent is by combining formal learning with rural practice – especially remote rural practice – where you’ll be exposed to more patient-intimate and collaborative models of care and a wider range of clinical, logistical and other situations that you must ‘own’ and deal with,” he said.

 

Lifetime Achievement Award winner Col. (Rtd) Bill Kelly commented on the greatest change he has observed in the profession over his career.

 

“It has undoubtedly been the change to a more clinical, responsible and responsive role to the provision of health care with not only an increased emphasis on medication management through various initiatives such as medication reviews and the like but also now with pharmacy’s immunisation role and the potential to work to an enhanced scope of practice,” he said.

 

The award winners each receive a Symbion Education Grant valued at $9,000. The grants are possible thanks to Symbion’s long-standing support of the awards.

 

CEO Symbion Brett Barons said the PSA Excellence Awards provide much deserved recognition of those pharmacists who have made a substantial contribution to the profession.

 

“On behalf of everyone at Symbion, we extend our congratulations to this year’s winners and thank them for their dedication and for inspiring all sectors of the profession,” he said.

 

“As a proud sponsor for the past 15 years, we are delighted to be supporting their ongoing education and efforts to provide an exceptional level of care to the community.”

 

Videos of the award winners are available on PSA’s YouTube page.

 

 

Media contact:
Carly Lusk,
Public Affairs Officer
0487 922 176