LAST weekend's PSA17 conference in Sydney saw the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia name the winners of its 2017 Excellence Awards, with national president Shane Jackson saying the accolades "applaud individuals at the apex of our profession's achievements".
Ervine Newton OAM FPS from Kensington in Melbourne was named the 2017 Pharmacist of the Year, highlighted for his life-long contribution to pharmacy which had "led to extensive changes in pharmacy practice and improved the health and wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of people and their carers," Jackson said.
Newton has also played key roles within the PSA, being a Victorian Branch councillor for many years and Branch president from 1997 through to 1999.
The Early Career Pharmacist of the Year category was awarded to ACT-based Elise Apolloni, who is a community pharmacist, pharmacy owner, asthma educator and mental health first aid instructor.
Apolloni was the first ACT-based Credentialed Diabetes Educator and has been an active member of the PSA Early Career Pharmacist group since 2008 and a PSA branch committee member since 2013.
The third major award went to John Bell AM - also known as "the friendly pharmacist" - who was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for his long-time contribution to pharmacy in academia, the community, industry and pharmacy.
Bell has been a practising pharmacist for over half a century, and continues to own a pharmacy along with his other wide-ranging commitments to the profession.
Other accolades he has received include being made a member of the Order of Australia in 1993 as well as the International Pharmaceutical Federation's Andre Bedat Award for services to international pharmacy practice.
Each of the winners receives a Symbion Education Grant worth $9,000, with Symbion executive gm Pharmacy Brett Barons congratulating all the winners.
Symbion has sponsored the PSA Excellence Awards for the last 13 years.
Barons is pictured above with, from left: John Bell, Elise Apolloni, Irvine Newton and PSA national president Shane Jackson.
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