NSW Branch of PSA elects new officer bearers

16 May 2014

reference: http://www.psa.org.au/media-releases/nsw-branch-of-psa-elects-new-officer-bearers

The NSW Branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has announced the election of community pharmacist and academic Stephen Carter as its new President.

Dr Carter has owned and operated Milton Pharmacy Chemmart on the NSW South Coast for the past 20 years. He is also an accredited pharmacist He currently holds a full-time academic position in Pharmacy Practice at the University of Sydney and his research aims to engage with consumers with a view to increasing the use of pharmacists’ expertise in medication management services. He is also involved in a series of projects dealing with medicines information-seeking behaviour, adherence, and consumers’ perception of quality in community pharmacy. His teaching of undergraduates and graduate students includes professional practice, dispensing, patient counselling medication review.

His work has recently been internationally recognised, winning Best Paper 2013 in the journal, Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy.

Dr Carter said he looked forward to serving the NSW Branch members and acknowledged the fine work of his predecessor Mr John Bronger OAM.

“Over the past three years, John has really lifted the profile of the PSA in NSW. He has developed and grown our advocacy program and activities, as well as developing a stable, respectful working relationship with Ministers, Members of Parliament, government officials, bureaucrats and of course our professional pharmacy colleagues in the Guild and SHPA in particular,” he said.

“It is my wish to extend this vital work. In particular, I look forward to working with NSW Ministry of Health to facilitate hospital and community pharmacists’ involvement in better discharge planning and introducing pharmacist-provided immunisation, among other issues.”

The branch also elected John Chapman and Lisa Kouladjian as Vice Presidents.

Mr Chapman is Education Editor of the Australian Journal of Pharmacy and formerly held the positions of Chief Executive Officer of the Australian College of Pharmacy and CEO of the Australian Institute of Pharmacy Management.

John said he was surprised but honoured to have been elected as a NSW Branch Vice President in his first year as a NSW Branch Committee member.

“I look forward to working with Stephen and Lisa over the coming year, meeting with members and advocating their needs,” he said.

Lisa Kouladjian is an accredited community pharmacist who locums in community pharmacies on the Northern Beaches, and conducts HMRs in the north-west of Sydney. She is currently undertaking her PhD candidature through the University of Sydney aiming to optimise prescribing in older Australians.

Ms Kouladjian was the recipient of the IMS Health-Australian College of Pharmacy Young Pharmacist Innovation Grant (2013), and has been awarded various national and international awards and prizes for her research.

Lisa is looking forward to working with Dr Carter and the rest of the NSW Branch Committee in the coming years.

“It is a great privilege to be elected as vice president and in this position I will continue to be the voice for pharmacists in Australia in all aspects of pharmacy practice”.

Outgoing NSW Branch President John Bronger has been elected to represent NSW as a National Board member of the Society.

As President of the NSW Branch of the PSA for the past two years, Mr Bronger led the reconciliation between the PSA, the Pharmacy Guild and other industry bodies since becoming President.

He also developed and led a series of fora held throughout NSW for PSA members called Pharmacy Futures: thriving not just surviving. These events gave members an opportunity to learn about and discuss future pharmacy practices that are valued by consumers and profitable for pharmacies.

Prior to that, Mr Bronger held the role of President of the NSW Pharmacy Guild for five years, before serving as national president for another 11 years. He has been a proprietor of community pharmacies for more than 30 years and is a Director of the Chemist Works group of pharmacies.

Mr Bronger received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for “service to the pharmaceutical industry through roles with professional organisations”.

Mr Bronger said he was proud to be elected to represent NSW pharmacists on the National Board.

“Pharmacists are facing exciting but challenging times and I will strive to secure the best outcomes for NSW pharmacists and pharmacists across the country,” he said.

Media contact: Peter Waterman Public Affairs Director 0419 260 827