THE Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) announced the winners of the PSA New South Wales Pharmacist Awards at a ceremony on Sat night in the Hunter Valley.
NSW Pharmacist of the Year was awarded to Bente Hart of Braidwood, recognised for her leadership, proactive problem-solving, and a deep commitment to rural and vulnerable populations which has made a lasting impact on both the profession and the community she serves.
Her contributions reached across Multipurpose Services (MPS) and Residential Aged Care Homes (RACH), supporting medication audits, National Antimicrobial Prescribing Surveys (NAPS), and addressing medication-related quality improvement issues.
Kate Gray, who is based in Orange, was awarded the PSA NSW Lifetime Achievement Award for over 50 years of commitment to advancing pharmacy practice through leadership, mentorship and community service.
The NSW Early Career Pharmacist of the Year was awarded to Mitchell Budden, who is completing a PhD at the University of Newcastle on pharmacist prescribing for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in NSW and the ACT.
His research is focused on evaluating safety and efficacy outcomes to inform policy and practice, and has already contributed to shaping extended scope models that improve patient access and reduce system pressures.
The NSW Intern of the Year award recognised Karina Angelucci for leadership in professional services focused on patient care and medicine safety.
Her achievements included the restructure and growth of her pharmacy's DAA service, as well as boosting vaccinations in a local community that lags behind others in terms of embracing their uptake.
PSA NSW president Luke Kelly congratulated each of the award recipients, who have demonstrated excellence in their practice and dedication to the profession and improved healthcare outcomes for their communities.
"Their work drives forward patient care locally, across New South Wales, and beyond," Kelly said.
"With the health needs of our community continuing to grow, it's important to celebrate innovation, dedication and passion which takes health care to the next level.
"I congratulate all of the award recipients and thank them for their contribution to the profession and to their local communities," he concluded.
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