PSA announces Community of Specialty Interest for Hospital Pharmacists
21 January 2025
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) announces its Hospital Pharmacy Practice Community of Specialty Interest (CSI), a new forum focussed on strengthening support for pharmacists practising in Australia’s hospitals.
The Hospital Pharmacy Practice CSI is dedicated to improving care in hospitals, including embedding pharmacists within healthcare teams, facilitating pharmacist prescribing within collaborative care models and improving pharmacist stewardship of medicine management to improve outcomes of transitions of care.
Led by an experienced team of hospital pharmacy leaders, the CSI addresses emerging practice needs through collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Hospital pharmacists now have access to a members-only Facebook group where they can connect with the CSI, with a dedicated online webinar to be hosted in early 2025.
Leading hospital pharmacist Professor Michael Dooley MPS has been appointed to chair the new CSI.
On behalf of the PSA Board, National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS welcomed and thanked Professor Michael Dooley for leading this important work.
“The establishment of this CSI is a testament to PSA’s ongoing commitment to all pharmacists as the peak body representing pharmacists across all areas of practice”
PSA Chief Executive Officer Adjunct Associate Professor Steve Morris emphasised the importance of leadership in evolving areas of pharmacy practice.
“PSA has heard members’ feedback and are moving to provide more support for pharmacists practising in hospitals. We’re excited to welcome Professor Dooley as Chair of the Hospital Pharmacists CSI, where he will work with us to develop a package of support tailored to the needs of pharmacists practicing in this setting.
“Hospital pharmacists have unique experiences in practice and face evolving unique challenges. PSA is proud to continue strengthening our representation of hospital pharmacists with the extensive experience and expertise of Michael and the CSI leadership group.”
Hospital Pharmacy Practice CSI Chair Professor Michael Dooley MPS said: “Every day in Australia there are over 24,000 presentations to emergency departments 30,000 admissions into hospital and 100,000 patients receiving non-admitted care through hospitals. Pharmacists have a crucial role in the care of these patients especially as they transition between settings and services.
“I am excited to be part of this great initiative and look forward to working alongside such an experienced team at the PSA to help inform and shape the future for hospital pharmacy practice.”
The Hospital Pharmacy Practice CSI is an exclusive community for PSA members. The CSI leadership team are set to host a webinar in early 2025 to formally introduce the CSI and its program of work.
Chaired by Professor Michael Dooley, the Hospital Pharmacy Practice CSI is led by:
- Choi-Ling Batten
- Professor Ian Coombes
- Lauren Fraser
- Hannah Knowles
- Associate Professor Sue Kirsa
- Richard Marotti
- Professor Lisa Nissen
- Associate Professor Bhavini Patel
- Prasin Rodrigues
For more information and to join the new community, visit www.psa.org.au/communities-of-specialty-interest/hospital-pharmacists-csi/
About Hospital Pharmacy Practice CSI Chair Professor Michael Dooley MPS
Professor Michael Dooley is an experienced clinical pharmacist and leader. His career has focused in the acute healthcare sector and has spanned special clinical roles in oncology through to senior leadership positions within health services. He has led a wide range of initiatives progressing improvement in medication use and clinical pharmacy practice in Australia including development of profession standards of practice and formal training programs.
Having practised across cardiology and oncology before becoming a senior oncology pharmacist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and then appointed as Director of Pharmacy He undertook research into medicine use in oncology which became the focus of his PhD, and in 2005 he became the Director of Pharmacy at Alfred Health in Melbourne and the inaugural Chair of Clinical Pharmacy of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Monash University. In this role he has led the development and implementation of a range of innovative pharmacist led practice models spanning inpatient and ambulatory settings.
Professor Dooley contributes to many national and local professional committees and working parties related to improving the delivery of quality health care services. Michael has also worked with many health services within Australia and overseas in implementing services to improve medication use, transition of care and uptake of innovative pharmacy services.
Professor Dooley is a former President of the Society of Hospital Pharmacists (SHPA).
Media contact: Georgia Clarke M: 0480 099 798 E: georgia.clarke@psa.org.au
