Fellowships Recognise Contributions - Pharmaceutical Society Of Australia

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 31 Jul 2008 - 1:00 PST

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The contributions of two Pharmaceutical Society of Australia stalwarts - John Ware OAM and Professor Shalom (Charlie) Benrimoj - have been recognised with the recent awarding of Fellowships.

In awarding a Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain Fellowship to Mr Ware, President Steve Churton cited his contribution to the profession in a wide variety of roles.

Mr Ware is president of the Western Pacific Pharmaceutical Forum (WPPF) of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and has been FIP's representative to the World Health Organisation, Western Pacific Region, since 1990. He is also a pharmacist consultant engaged in the consultative process for the delivery of continuing pharmacy education services and the facilitation of home medicine reviews (HMRs) within the Australian General Practice Network and to pharmacists accredited for HMRs.

Mr Churton said Mr Ware's work had involved him in advisory and support roles that helped advance the pharmacy profession in countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan and China.

"More recently, in a voluntary capacity, he has been involved in rewriting the statutes and standards for good pharmacy practice in Vietnam, which have now been enacted into law and organising and delivering training programs in the new statutes for pharmacists in that country," Mr Churton said.

PSA President Brian Grogan said, "John has made a wonderful contribution to the pharmacy profession, not just within Australia, but also internationally.

"In particular he has made an outstanding contribution of experience and time in his work through the WPPF which has helped to develop the profession in our region."

The second PSA figure to be honoured was Professor Benrimoj when he was awarded a PSA Fellowship last month, soon after he was also awarded a RPSGB Fellowship.

Professor Benrimoj has been a long-serving member of the PSA National Council and Interim Board and steps down once the permanent Board takes over in early August.

Fellow PSA Interim Board member and NSW Branch Councillor, Warwick Plunkett, said, "The PSA Fellowship recognises Charlie's highly significant contribution to PSA and its objectives through his service as the NSW Branch President for four years - a record term - and at the national level through his membership of the Council, the PSATA committee and lastly the Interim Board.

"He managed to bring to those fora an incisive intellect which challenged traditional thinking and helped develop a more progressive policy for PSA in the area of practice development.

"His corporate knowledge within the university structure was also highly significant in formulating the vision for the PSA Transitional Authority model and negotiating that through to a final agreement between all parts of the PSA family.

"Apart from this contribution at a national level he will probably be best remembered for his vision and drive in initiating the concept of practice support for PSA members regarding the uptake of newly remunerated professional services from the last two Community Pharmacy Agreements."

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia is the organisation that represents the professional interests of Australia's 18,000 pharmacists. It provides standards of practice, education, training and practice support for pharmacists and helps members of the profession to deliver quality health care to consumers.

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia