News & Stories

Finding a place in Pharmacy

Daniel Hoyle, originally from the North West Coast and with a background in health, didn’t know what he wanted to do when he finished year 12.

At school, Daniel Hoyle was interested in rugby, athletics and playing in bands. He also enjoyed studying chemistry, biology and maths, which led to his interest in how chemicals work in the body.

When Daniel finished year 12, he didn’t know what he wanted to do. Originally from the North West Coast, he came from a background in health. His father was a GP in Devonport and taught him the valuable role pharmacists play in our healthcare system.

“After year 12, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. After speaking to my parents, they suggested I go into pharmacy because it’s like a trade (there is always a need for pharmacists and the training you receive at university directly contributes to your role as a pharmacist), and you can go in a variety of directions with your career.”

Daniel now works as an accredited pharmacist, specialising in medication reviews, after undertaking further training to become a Certified Geriatric Pharmacist. He is also about to complete his PhD in medication management in aged care. Previously, Daniel has worked as a community and hospital pharmacist in various locations throughout Tasmania.

Medication reviews are critical to the safety of patients who may be on multiple medications. As medication experts, accredited pharmacists are referred by physicians to review the therapies of patients at high risk of medication-related issues. Specifically, accredited pharmacists ensure that medications are used appropriately in order to maximise their effectiveness and minimise the risk of harm.  

Daniel’s experience providing medication reviews has been rewarding. In this role, he has found that even the slightest changes to therapy can bring about big improvements to his patient’s quality of life.

“It may be that a patient has stopped using their inhaler because they are not getting any benefit from it. From spending time, teaching them how to use it correctly, the patient may find that they can breathe more easily.”

During his time at the University of Tasmania, Daniel went on placement in Port Douglas and on the North West Coast. He also chose to undertake independent research (honours degree) as an overload subject in his final year, where he investigated changes in brain chemistry associated with Alzheimer’s disease. This work led to successful grants to perform further investigations using one of Australia’s most significant pieces of scientific infrastructure, the Australian Synchrotron.

Find out where Pharmacy can take you. Apply now to study.