SHPA awards winners

TASMANIAN hospital pharmacy and health informatics pharmacist, Tom Simpson, has been awarded the 2019 SHPA Medal of Merit at Medicines Management 2019 (MM2019), the 45th SHPA National Conference.

SHPA President and fellow Tasmanian, Peter Fowler (pictured above with Simpson), acknowledged Simpson’s energetic leadership and extensive impact on statewide pharmacy practice.

“Under Tom’s leadership, hospital pharmacy practice in Tasmania has strengthened to a point that was unimaginable only a handful of years ago,” Fowler said.

“He has made lasting impact across many sectors, including policy, acute, rural and education.”

Other pharmacists honoured during the SHPA National Conference included NPS Medicine-Wise CEO and former Chief Pharmacist of South Australian Health, Steve Morris, who received the prestigious Fred J. Boyd Award.

Fowler, pictured above right with Morris, said the award celebrated the NPS chief’s strategic vision, inspirational leadership and his ability to effect service improvement for the betterment of patient care.

Other accolades announced during MM2019 included the Australian Clinical Pharmacy Award for 2019, which went to Matthew Rawlins from WA, recognising his longstanding work in infectious diseases and antimicrobial stewardship as a clinician, researcher and educator on pharmacy practice and patient care.

During the conference gala dinner a number of SHPA Members’ Awards were also unveiled, including Dr Jacinta Johnson, named as Emerging Leader of the Year, while Gemma Kemsley was awarded Technician of the Year.

The team at TOPCare Cardiology Project at Ballarat Health Services was awarded Hospital Team of the Year, with SHPA CEO, Kristin Michaels, saying the standard of achievement this year was “indicative of the depth of talent and innovation across Australia’s leading community of pharmacists and technicians”.

Michaels also highlighted the achievements of Jacinta Costello from Austin Health as part of the SHPA Residency Program.