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A passion for community pharmacy and helping young pharmacists realise their potential as health professionals has seen a PhD student and tutor from The University of Western Australia honoured for being a role model to others in her profession.

Pharmacist and lecturer Kim Watkins, whose independent High Wycombe pharmacy regularly takes UWA students for their clinical placements, was named the Five Star Role Model Pharmacist by the Pharmaceutical Society of Western Australia at its annual awards dinner last week.

The prestigious State award is given to a PWSA member who is considered inspirational to others in the profession.

Ms Watkins, who has taught and mentored young pharmacists in various roles for years, described herself as a ‘garden variety' pharmacist with real-life experience who had entered academia to help students understand the value of their role within a changing health system.

"A lot of our work is about inspiring pharmacists to do better - to be health professionals and not just fall into the rut of being retailers and shop keepers, which is often the perception out there in the community," Ms Watkins said.  "I think pharmacists are so much more than that."

She said she aimed to teach young pharmacy students that being an effective pharmacist wasn't just about applying their university-gained knowledge but about building relationships with people. With the emphasis in the health system shifting to self-management, pharmacists had an important role to play in helping patients take care of themselves.

"You can have fantastic clinical knowledge but you need to connect with people and understand what is important to them to make a difference," Ms Watkins said.  "Empowering people to manage their own health is the key."

The PSWA said a pharmacist who earned the Five Star Role Model Pharmacist was one who encompassed best practice and professional excellence, advanced the profession and its impact on the community, and motivated others to reach their full potential.

Professor Rhonda Clifford, director of the Division of Pharmacy at UWA's School of Medicine and Pharmacology, said the award was exciting.

"Kim really is an amazing PhD candidate, sessional staff member - and in addition her pharmacy takes UWA students for their clinical placements," Professor Clifford said.

Media references

Professor Rhonda Clifford (School of Medicine and Pharmacology)  (+61 8)  6488 3135
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783