Congratulations Professor Gregory Peterson - 2007 Pharmacist of the Year!
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia recognised their stars of 2007 at the Pharmacy Australia Congress (PAC) opening ceremony on Friday afternoon, celebrating 150 years of Pharmacy as a Profession in Australia.
The Pharmacist of the Year is awarded based on a significant achievement in the area of excellence within the year or a recent period. The winner's achievements are an inspiration to those pursuing innovative practice; to those striving to raise standards; and to pharmacists who, through their professionalism, provide models for others in related disciplines, eduational institutions, government, industry and community service.
Professor Gregory Peterson of the School of Pharmacy, University of Tasmania, is the recipient of the 2007 Pharmacist of the Year.
Professor Peterson, throughout his career in the profession spanning over 20 years, has worked tirelessly in pursuit of excellence and ground-breaking research, work which has resulted in sustainable improvements in pharmacy practice.
Professor Peterson, in accepting his Pharmacist of the Year award, paid homage to his own mentor, Roly Hill, who was local pharmacist to the Peterson family and inspired the young Greg to study pharmacy, and with whom he completed his training as a pre-registrant.
In addition to an impressive academic career, Greg still makes the time to work in community pharmacy and has an ownership interest. He has authored a prodigious portfolio of published papers and books, supervised over 60 candidates for higher degrees, acts as a Medical Advisor to Sigma Pharmaceuticals and leads the Unit for Medication Outcomes Research and Education (UMORE) at the School of Pharmacy, University of Tasmania, where his research team has attracted competitive external funding of over $4.5million to evaluate innovations designed to expand the professional roles of pharmacists. Projects include:PROMISe - an assessment of the sustainability and economic benefit of an ICT based clinical service and intervention documentation system in community pharmacy,
He said he was hopeful the award would make a difference to his children's perceptions of his work, "No longer the nerd and nutty professor, but the nerd and nutty professor with the Gold Medal".
The implementation of Professor Peterson's research in practice will help expand the professional role of pharmacists in Australia.
More information... Greg Peterson and UMORE
Pharmacy News article 30 August 2007 (PDF 115.0KB)
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is the professional organisation representing all pharmacists. It provides standards of practice, education, training and practice support for pharmacists and helps members of the profession to deliver the best health care to their patients.