PSA24: Intern Pharmacist of the Year
3 August 2024
Photo: Josh Woning
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has today named Bowen-based pharmacist James Oh as the 2024 PSA MIMS Intern Pharmacist of the Year, awarded at PSA24’s opening plenary this morning (Saturday 3 August).
Mr Oh graduated from James Cook University in 2023, receiving the Professor James Dare Graduate of the Year award recognising both academic success as well as excellence in leadership, ethics and community engagement.
Throughout his intern year, Mr Oh has seen first-hand the impact that accessible pharmacists have on his community in Bowen, Queensland. James takes a lead role in his community practice, demonstrating a strong appetite for areas of practice that are forward-facing and impactful on patient outcomes, with a particular focus on Meds Checks and immunisation as opportunities to optimise patient care.
Mr Oh’s positive attitude and leadership qualities endear him to the local community, forming strong relationships with both patients and his peers. Outside the pharmacy, Mr Oh works with undergraduate students at James Cook University as a role model and mentor, actively participating with student organisation NAPSA and the PSA.
Presenting the award, PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS congratulated Mr Oh.
“Intern and early career pharmacists like James Oh show us that the future of our profession is very bright.”
“It’s great to see pharmacists like James going to regional and rural Australia, taking challenges head-on and embracing all of the opportunities that are coming our way.
“Congratulations James – we at PSA cannot wait to continue supporting you throughout the rest of your pharmacy career, wherever that takes you,” Associate Professor Sim concluded.
MIMS CEO Robert Best also congratulated Mr Oh, reaffirming MIMS commitment to supporting the next generation of pharmacists.
“Last year, in 2023 MIMS celebrated our 60th Anniversary as the most trusted provider of drug and medicines information across the Australian healthcare industry,” Mr Best said.
“We see the pharmacy profession as the most important and pivotal part of our medicines ecosystem when dealing with consumers and patients, so, as we approach the halfway point of this 2024 Olympic year, we will continue to acknowledge the Gold Medal role that pharmacists and their interns play with respects to advising, educating and dispensing medicines across Australia.
“For more than 60 years, MIMS has been the most trusted provider of drug and medicines information across the Australian healthcare industry. We will continue to provide the Pharmacy industry, from interns through to Chief Pharmacists, 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
