Peers and residents celebrated at SHPA's MM2019

The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) celebrated the achievements of its members at Medicines Management 2019, the 45th SHPA National Conference.

The annual scientific pharmacy conference saw Jacinta Costello named 2019 SHPA Resident of the Year. In the 2019 SHPA Members’ Awards, Dr Jacinta Johnson was awarded Emerging Leader of the Year; Gemma Kemsley was awarded Technician of the Year; and the team at TOPCare Cardiology Project at Ballarat Health Services was awarded Hospital Team of the Year.

SHPA Chief Executive Kristin Michaels said the standard of achievement was indicative of the depth of talent and innovation across Australia’s leading community of pharmacists and technicians.

“The high calibre of the nominees was outstanding, and showcased SHPA members’ achievements across important areas in hospital pharmacy, from medication safety and management and patient care, through to education and research and antimicrobial stewardship.”

Representing the SHPA SA/NT Branch, SHPA Vice President Dr Jacinta Johnson was recognised for the impact of her leadership on pharmacy practice education and research through multiple roles at the University of South Australia and SA Pharmacy, broad-reaching presentations and research publications, and the shaping of key developmental initiatives such as the SHPA Residency Program. Representing the SHPA Vic Branch, Gemma Kemsley, Senior Pharmacy Technician at Alfred Health, was recognised for her training, education, credentialling and leadership of a large hospital pharmacy technician team and spearheading technician-led, ward-based medication management services across multiple hospital departments and settings.

Also from Victoria and flying the flag for regional services, the TOPCare Cardiology Project team at Ballarat Health Services was recognised for their innovative telehealth cardiology pharmacist clinic. This unique pharmacist-led service has proven to increase the efficiency of cardiology outpatient clinic appointments, the accuracy of medicines information and patient safety and patients’ overall healthcare experience in Australia’s third-largest inland city.

Michaels also congratulated Jacinta Costello from Austin Health on her achievements in the SHPA Residency Program.

“Jacinta’s research looked at opioid use following surgery, a key priority area for medication safety across Australia, and the subject of increasing clinical and community focus.

“Through her work, she has contributed to greater understanding of opioid prescribing at all-important transitions of care as patients move from the acute setting back into the community, and her dedication and passion have made her a truly deserving 2019 SHPA Resident of the Year.”

MM2019 conference awards:

• Best first-time poster presentation: ‘Waves of Change in Rural Pharmacy Workforce — Are you riding the wave of change?’ Euna Hwang, South East Regional Hospital, NSW.
• Best poster presentation: ‘Infliximab for the management of treatment resistant Central Nervous System (CNS) Vasculitis: A case report’, Anna Mejia, Eastern Health, Vic.
• Best technician poster presentation: ‘Technicians and NUMs building stronger partnerships to optimise imprest services’, Melanie Anderson, John Hunter Hospital, NSW.
• People’s choice award for best poster: ‘Review of a pharmacist medication management plan referral program for a small private regional hospital’, Alyssa Pidgeon, Epic Pharmacy, St Vincent’s Hospital Lismore, NSW.
• Best oral presentation: ‘The PainChek Story: Converting a Good Idea into Clinical Practice’, Professor Jeff Hughes, Curtin University of Technology, WA.
• Best first-time oral presentation: ‘Pharmacists’ role in identifying uncommon endocrinopathies associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors’, Niki Ferreira, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, WA.
• Best technician oral presentation: ‘Medicines Management Technicians (MMT) – progressive roles for pharmacy technicians’, Gemma Kemsley, Alfred Health, Vic.