UQ launches Pharmacy Intern Training Program  Australian pharmacy graduates are being given the opportunity to build on their internship experience, thanks to a new UQ training program.
The Australian Pharmacy Council has accredited the School of Pharmacy to deliver the National Alliance for Pharmacy Education's (NAPE) Pharmacy Intern Training Program.
The program offers students the opportunity to enhance their internship year by completing a further year of part-time study and obtain a formal postgraduate qualification from UQ, the Graduate Certificate in Pharmacy Practice.
Head of the UQ School of Pharmacy, Professor Nick Shaw, said the program would provide students with further opportunities to gain valuable postgraduate qualification.
“Our intern training program will provide a case-based learning experience that will enhance the transitioning of interns into cutting-edge practitioners,” he said.
“We have experienced educators and pharmacy experts, practicing in a variety of settings, who will assist the interns on their educational journey.”
The program uses online, face-to-face and self-directed modes of education, and allows pharmacy interns to easily access their coursework, irrespective of their location.
Formed in 2010 by UQ, Monash University, The University of South Australia and The University of Sydney, NAPE aims to support the ongoing advancement of the pharmacy profession as a key contributor to the healthcare team. 
The NAPE Intern Training Program offers cutting-edge education from universities at the forefront of pharmacy education and research in Australia.
Minimum entrance requirements are a degree or equivalent qualification in pharmacy from Australia or New Zealand. All applicants must be registered as an intern pharmacist with the Pharmacy Board of Australia.
Commonwealth-supported places are also available for this program.
For further information visit www.uq.edu.au/pharmacy/itp
PACE opens doors to showcase pharmacy
 The School of Pharmacy hosted its 2nd Annual "Pharmacy Open Day" on August 29th.
Around 160 prospective students and their parents,from Queensland & Interstate, attended the event which is designed to give a taste of what it's like to study pharmacy.
Head of School, Professor Nick Shaw, welcomed the group to the Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence (PACE), and 2010 graduate Joe Monteith followed with a first hand account of "A Day in the Life of a Pharmacy Student".
A series of activity sessions followed, with students enjoying some hands-on time in the labs, a dispensing exercise in one of the simulated-pharmacies, Q&A with a group of current students from all year levels and a tour of PACE, led by Prof. Shaw.
Around 30 academic, scientific and administrative staff were on hand to welcome the students and answer their questions.
At the conclusion of the activities, guests and staff shared a BBQ on the PACE deck.
The School of Pharmacy will hold the event annually in August.
For all enquiries related to the 2012 UQ Pharmacy Open Day, please contact Stephanie Dunn at s.dunn@uq.edu.au.
PICTURED: Year 11 student Jarrod Pace (Grace Lutheran College, Rothwell) dispenses a simulated prescription at the Open Day.
Next generation health professionals embrace teamwork
 PACE played host to the 3rd Annual National Health Fusion Team Challenge (Oz HFTC) on August 26th, with eight university teams from across the country taking part.
Pharmacy student Michael Fletcher was part of the team who represented UQ, after they took out the UQ HFTC earlier this year.
Teamwork, fun and a bit of healthy competition combined as health sciences students battled it out at the day-long event, which featured a range of new activities designed to test teams on a number of key areas.
Teams were required to present a prepared patient management package in response to a challenging clinical case study in front of a panel of judges.
This year, the event was based around an Indigenous case that centered on a fictional young Aboriginal man recovering from an acquired brain injury.
Teams were assessed not only their ability to address patient “Stephen’s” physical needs, but his cultural needs and that of his family as well.
Project Director Dr Monica Moran said the event organisers deliberately put up a range of different activities as a way to test teams outside the boundaries classroom thinking.
“In the real world, every team works differently and we wanted to test them not just on their ability to produce, but to think under pressure, and their ability to work creatively as a team”, Dr Moran said.
The competition title was eventually taken by HFTC first-timers, Deakin University, who were ecstatic to win in their inaugural year.
The University of Sydney came a close Runner’s Up and The University of Queensland was awarded the Audience Choice Award by a comfortable margin.
The HFTC is the first competition of its kind in Australia and is designed to educate the next generation of health practitioners in effective teamwork and interprofessional collaboration.
For further information on the HFTC, please visit http://www.healthfusionteamchallenge.com/
UQ Pharmacy student elected to NAPSA council
 3rd Year UQ Pharmacy student, Aaron Sparkes was elected as The National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association (NAPSA) secretary for 2011-12.
The announcement of the incoming NAPSA council was made at their Annual General Meeting held in Canberra on July 9th.
Incoming National President Timothy Mizzi (Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga) will be leading an executive committee of Stacey Gough (Curtin University of Technology, Perth), Arron Sparkes (University of Queensland, Brisbane) and Ezekiel Steind(Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane).
For more information on NAPSA, visit www.napsa.org.au.
Pictured (L-R): Ezekiel Steindl, Timothy Mizzi, Stacey Gough, Arron Sparkes
Pharmacy business competition success for UQ
 The UQ School of Pharmacy team took out 3rd place in the 2011 National Student Business Plan Competition in July.
The team was made up of Michael Fletcher (4th year), Belinda Swan (3rd year) and Benita Suckling (3rd year).
The finalists pitched their business plans to delegates at the Guild's Pharmacy Women's Congress in Cairns on July 16.
The competition, which commenced in 2006, is designed to encourage innovation among pharmacy students, who will be the future owners of Australia's community pharmacies.
This year entrants were given details of a fictitious "Foundation Pharmacy", from which they built their innovative businesses. Having a Foundation Pharmacy to use as a basis for entries made the competition easier to get into and more fun.
The competition was open to all pharmacy schools and provided $12,000 in cash prizes to the top 3 teams.
Pictured (L-R): Belinda Swan, Michael Fletcher & Benita Suckling
Research group raises cash for Pink Ribbon Day
 A group of PhD candidates have raised a total of $1621 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).
The group organised a Pink Ribbon Fundraiser at PACE on October 13, which included a sausage sizzle, mouthwatering baked goods & pink ribbon merchandise.
The new Pacemaker Cafe at PACE contributed to the success of the day, donating $1 for every cup of coffee sold on the day. Staff and students at PACE were buzzing, with more than 200 cups sold in total.
Generous online supporters also added $550 of online donations to the group's total.
PhD candidate Ms Diana Ross thanked everyone who helped make the event a great success.
"We would like to extend a very big thank you to students and staff at PACE who came and supported us on the day, as well as an extra big thank you to everyone who baked and cooked sausages!" Ms Ross said.
All money raised goes to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).
Pictured (L - R): Diana Ross, Banafsheh Sadat Afshar Imani, Elena Perra, Nicole Luc, and Merril Curry
UQ Pharmacy seminar series
The School of Pharmacy hosts weekly seminars throughout the academic year for all interested attendees including academics, RHD candidates, researchers & any UQ staff who wish to attend. No RSVP is required.
Guest speakers present 45 minute lectures, starting at 12:00noon each Friday in the PACE Seminar Room, Level 5, 20 Cornwall Street Woolloongabba.
To view the program of upcoming seminars, visit www.uq.edu.au/pharmacy/public-seminars.
Enquiries and expressions of interest should be directed to the seminar coordinator:
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A dedication to the profession of pharmacy, and a motivation to practice within the profession, has seen a UQ School of Pharmacy PhD student, Chris Freeman, named the 
4th Year Bachelor of Pharmacy student, Thomas Mylne, was recently awarded one of 3 Indigenous scholarships by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
"The scope of this international conference was one of the main factors which attracted my interest along with the opportunity of visiting the US, which has a major influence on the development of new therapeutics. 
"The symposium, held over 6 days, covered a broad spectrum of topics under the theme of ‘Building Bridges’, highlighting the important role of peptide science in connecting the chemical, biological, pharmaceutical and medical sciences. 
"The meeting was held over six days at the Asilomar Conference Grounds, and was attended by approximately 250 international delegates. 
"Since its first congress, held in 1988, IATDMCT has dedicated its constant efforts to promote the interest and knowledge in therapeutic drug monitoring and clinical toxicology internationally. 
One of UQ Pharmacy's PhD candidates, Ms Hemalatha Rajaram, was awarded a Solander Travel Grant to visit Lund University, Sweden, from March to May 2011.
The School of Pharmacy hosted the annual 3-Minute-Thesis (3MT) competition heat on August 5, with seven candidates taking part.
