The newly-established MonashUniversity Victorian College ofPharmacy Foundation aims toensure that the College has thefunds it needs to continue andgrow its excellent work.

Recently I was given thehonour of being elected the firstChair of the Foundation, a bodywhose mission is to support theCollege in maintaining its leadingedge and reputation as a world-class school of pharmacy.

Achievements so far includesupporting postgraduate researchscholarships and establishing theFoundation Chair in PharmacyPractice. Professor Roger Nationhas joined the College to take up this new position.

Other plans for the Foundationare to support programs andfacilities that allow the College o continue to attract the bestquality students, provide thehighest quality teaching andperform world-class research.Important goals are the re-invigoration of the postgraduatestudent scholarship program andan expansion of the College’sinternational focus.

In this issue: > 40th anniversary of the Sissons Mural

> Cossar Hall – past and future > Pharmacy pathway to an MBA

> Pharmacy Practice Symposium in Italy

> Research updates> Alumni news

02Issue 02 May 2002

Farewell to Michael Watson

Michael Watson retired in March aftermore than 25 years of distinguishedservice to Monash University, the pasteight and a half years at the College asRegistrar, Campus Manager and Directorof International Affairs.

See page 4 for excerpts from Michael’sinspiring occasional address at theOpening of 2002 Academic Year andPresentation of Prizes Ceremony.

The AlumniNewsletter of theVictorian College of PharmacyMonash University

Name the Newsletter competition

The selection process was not easy due to the quality and number of entries.‘Scruple’ was a popular choice, harkingback to the name of the old studentnewspaper, as was ‘Pharmacy News’ and‘Postscript’ – unfortunately both clashingwith names of other pharmacy publications.

The winner ‘Alchemy’ was chosen forits originality, catchiness and meaning –although most alchemists were driven bythe obsession of turning base metals intogold, a lesser known, more noble ambitionof these medieval scientists was todiscover a medicine to cure all disease.The winner entry was supplied by Dr Jennifer Marriott from the Departmentof Pharmacy Practice. Dr Marriott (picturedabove) is currently supervising a researchproject that is featured on page 5 (but this in no way swayed the judges!).

> Cricket challenge> Bendigo alumni dinner> Online illicit drug training

A Foundation for the future

Alistair Lloyd AO withProfessor Roger Nation.

The Board of Management ofthe Foundation is made up ofdedicated members from theprofession, industry and themedical community, along withsenior executives from the Collegeand Monash University. Membersof the Board include ProfessorColin Chapman, Ms ValdaComber, Mr Neil Naismith AM, Ms Pam Nieman, Mr Tony Nunan,Mr Bill Scott, Professor PeterStewart, Professor GeoffreyVaughan, Mr John Ware OAM, Mr Ken Windle, and the Hon Dr Michael Wooldridge. Thisimpressive team is responsible for safeguarding the intentions ofdonors as well as ensuring thatfunds are well managed.

The Board will collaborate with the College and MonashUniversity, other healthprofessions and their educationalunits, the pharmaceutical industry,government and the community.It will work closely withpharmacists and their organisationsto assist individual pharmacistsand the profession

to achieve the highest standards of hospital andcommunity pharmacy.

I am sure that the professionand the industry willenthusiastically support theFoundation in these goals toensure the College’s mostimportant place in pharmacyeducation and research into the future.

Alistair Lloyd AO Chair, Monash University VictorianCollege of Pharmacy Foundation

For further information about theFoundation, visit www.vcp.monash.edu.au/foundation/ or contact SarahVincent, Foundation DevelopmentManager, on tel: 61 3 9903 9507.

To read more about Professor Roger Nation see page 6.

Briefitems

Michael Watson with first year students.

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Alchemy

Over the last 40 years, most of

the major events at the College

have been held in view of the

magnificent Sissons Mural, which

dominates the stage area of

Cossar Hall.

Named in honour of DeanA.T.S. Sissons, the mural measures21 metres x 6 metres and portraysthe development of science,medicine and pharmacy. It is oneof the largest mural paintings inAustralia and it reveals greatscholarship, the artist – LeonardAnnois – spending more than ayear in research.

The paintings on each of thethree walls have been designed in the form of ellipses, whichsuggest the cosmos. Within theselarge ‘cosmic ellipses’ are tensmaller individual paintings, allelliptical in form. The storyprogresses through the tenpaintings as: the cavalcade ofevolution in pre-historic times; the civilisations of Babylon, Egypt,Greece and Rome; the destructionby fire of the library atAlexandria; humanity in thechains of the Dark Ages; the riseof Islam; the Middle Ages with

their superstitions and ignorance;the renaissance of the printingpress and the dissemination ofknowledge; and finally, thedominance of atomic chemistry.

The mural is rich in symbolism;the symbols of beauty (the ovaryof the flower), peace (the dove)and progress (the interlockingellipses) indicate the beautiful,peaceful progress of scientificendeavour.

The central paintings arearranged to give an overallimpression of a horse pulling alarge chariot of progress, of whichthe Greek and Babylonian panelsare the wheels. This chariot ofprogress gives the mural a qualityof advancement and motion.

The medium used is frescosecco. The special preparation of the surface is an art in itself.Carbonated lime, hand ground toa carefully controlled particle size,and sand are applied first to give a textured surface of ntense whiteness.

Lime-resistant powdered colour is then mixed with waterand applied.

An item of personal interest is the figure of Galen, the greatphysician-apothecary in theRoman panel. The sitter was DeanNigel Manning, the successor toDean Sissons, a great friend of theartist. Sketches for Galen, the onlyhuman in the mural drawn fromreal life, were taken over severalweekends at the Mannings’ home.Annois later added a beard,Roman hair-do and toga.

Looking Back02 x

40th anniversary of the Sissons Mural

Leonard LloydAnnois was bornin 1906 inMalvern, Victoria,and died in 1966.He was adistinguishedpainter in watercolour and fresco,and was the onlyAustralian tobecome amember of theRoyal Society ofPainters of WaterColours. Annoiswas in his mid-fifties when he

began theSissons Muralproject, whichtook three yearsto complete.

His paintings arein all AustralianState galleries,universities andRoyal collections,and his muralsare featured inmany public andprivate sectorbuildings.

The section of the muralshowing Dean Manning.Note the large scratch – the mural has previouslyundergone an extensiverestoration due to damageincurred from the Hall’shigh level of usage, but isdue for further work.

The mural during severalstages of its development;the preparation of thesurface (above right), theopening ceremony duringthe painting process (above)and in its finished stagepre-renovation (abovecentre).

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The artist

Point of InterestAnn Lane Petry, Author (1908-1997) – The first Black female author to sell over 1.5 million copies, graduated with a PhD inpharmacology from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy. Her aunt and father were both pharmacists and she worked forseveral years in her father’s business.

03Looking Forward

The renovation ofCossar Hall

Major renovations at the College over recent years have vastly

improved many teaching and administration areas throughout the

three campus buildings. Now the last piece of the refurbishment

puzzle is set to be completed – the renovation of the College’s jewel,

Cossar Hall.

When the College finally made its home at the Parkville campus in 1960, the centrepiece of the campus was Cossar Hall. It was namedin honour of David Cossar and the Cossar family, who were majorbenefactors to the appeal to build the Parkville campus. The Cossarsare a notable family of pharmacists who were principal owners of theHenry Francis pharmacies for over eighty years.

The construction of a complex series of dividers now allows Cossar Hall to be used as a flexible additional teaching facility withoutcompromising its continuing use as a ‘great hall’. The creation of onemedium-sized lecture theatre and two small tutorial rooms will befacilitated by allowing the top and bottom sections of the mezzanineareas to be closed off with folding partitions. As well, the whole hallhas been air-conditioned, making it a much more comfortable venueon a year-round basis. Cossar Hall has also had a coat of paint, newcarpet and chairs, new lights, tinted windows and a new PA system.

For more information about the renovations or to arrange a tour, email sarah.vincent@vcp.monash.edu.au

Cossar Hall during therecent six monthrefurbishment and after the renovations.

Dr David Cossar, NormanCossar, Dr G. Allen Cossarand Brian Cossar at thepresentation of the Francisindentures.

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04

Michael Watson retired in March after more than 25 years of

distinguished service to Monash University, the past eight and a half

years at the College as Registrar, Campus Manager and Director of

International Affairs.

As Registrar, Michael took on the daunting task of student selection

with distinction. His door was always open for students and staff (and

they came in their droves). As Director of International Affairs, he was

instrumental in establishing the College’s ‘Study Abroad’ program,

creating experiential placement opportunities for senior pharmacy

students in the USA and Singapore, and fostering links with

universities in the USA, Japan and Thailand.

He retires after achieving a great deal for Monash University, and

for the Victorian College of Pharmacy in particular.

An excerpt from Michael’s inspiring occasional address at the

Opening of 2002 Academic Year and Presentation of Prizes Ceremony:

“Thank you for inviting for me to deliver the occasional address onthis important occasion.

What my résumé doesn’t include is that my first paying job wasdelivering prescriptions for the local chemist after school. Which gives a certain symmetry to my working life.

It also doesn’t mention that I dropped out after Year 11 to gojackerooing. I returned home somewhat crestfallen two years later to get a fairly menial job, go to night school, and start my science degree.Which I mention only to show that doors don’t slam shut. Opportunitiesare only limited by a lack of sufficient resolve.

When the Dean invited me to deliver this address, my first instinctwas to hide under my desk. Then I realised that it was a valuableopportunity to say something of moment to you, after twenty-five yearsworking at Monash University. And then I thought, what can I say? I’mnot a pharmacist or a formulation scientist. I’m not a learned professor.I’m a Registrar on the way out. Better stick to something simple Ithought, avoid the big picture stuff. So I decided to talk to you about the meaning of life!

What I want to say is, pursue your careers by all means. Stretchyourselves professionally. And the rewards will be fulfilling. The Collegewill see that you’re well fitted to the task. But pursue other things too.Take the time to ask yourselves every now and again, “What am I?” and“Who am I?” I sincerely hope that the answer will always be much morethan ‘a pharmacist’ or ‘a formulation scientist’.

If I ask myself, “Who am I?” I’m the Registrar, which determines how I conduct myself for a major part of my time. But I’m also a husbandand a father and more recently, a grandfather. I’m a friend, a brother,

Michael Watson at hisdesk, with the Celia RosserBanksia water colour, hisfarewell gift from theCollege, in the background.

The many lives of Professor Colin Chapman have beenfeatured in the latest issue of the Monash magazine,covering his career as a pharmacist, vet, farmer and hislong connection with the College.

Professor Colin Chapman, dean, pharmacist, vet, farmer, family man

Farewell to Michael Watson

a neighbour. Sadly, not a son anymore, but a son-in-law, a father-in-law. These roles define who I am. They give me my greatest joys and mydeepest anxieties. They’re important to me. And I make time for them.

None of this comes without a cost. Your resolve to have a rounded lifewill be tested many times. There’ll be strong corporate pressures tocompete, to conform, which you’ll need to weigh up against your ownlifestyle demands. It will involve choices, and quite possibly sacrifices. A relentless preoccupation with work, unreasonable travel demands, theculture of working ridiculously long hours, might put at risk things orpeople of more value to you. If you have a clear view of who you are,who you love, and what you care about, the choices will be clear. And if the foundations of your life are secure, you’ll find more often thannot that the choices you make will be bolder, and the outcomes moresuccessful, than if you’d been more single-minded.

What I’m saying is, have a life. Have a good life. I wish you well.”

Michael Watson, Registrar 20 March 2002

College News x

Point of InterestCoca-Cola was invented as a ‘brain and nerve tonic’ by pharmacist, Dr. John S. Pemberton, who sold the secret formula for U.S.$2,300in 1887 to Asa Candler, a wholesale druggist, who sold the company in 1919 for U.S.$25 million.

For further information, consult your copy of theMonash magazine – or view the magazine online atwww.monash.edu.au/ pubs/monmag/ (If you are a graduate of the College and don’tcurrently receive the Monash magazine, make sureyou update your details on the update form at theback of this newsletter.)

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05Teaching News

To meet the needs of currentpharmacy managers, and to giveaspiring health professionals a newflexibility in their career paths,Monash University has developedAustralia’s first pharmacy pathwayto an MBA called the PharmacyManagement Program (PMP).

The PMP is a joint projectbetween the College and Monash’s Faculty of Business and Economics. Developed withsignificant input from the relevantpeak pharmacy bodies, the coursewill foster management skillsdevelopment for pharmacists,nurses and health professionals,utilising the considerableeducation capabilities of Monash University.

Combining the strengths of thetwo faculties makes for a cuttingedge education program. It offersprofessional track electives such as Retail Pharmacy Management,Pharmaceutical Economics, theAustralian Healthcare andPharmaceutical Environment,and Pharmacy Risk Management as well as core MBA units such asManagerial and Leadership Skills,Information Systems, Marketingand Managing People at Work.

The course offers a high degree

Dr Kay Stewart – a‘woman of substance’

Dr Kay Stewart being presentedwith her award by Professor ColinChapman and two of her PhDstudents – Phyllis Lau and Johnson George.

Professor Colin Chapmanwith Bill Suen, CourseDirector and Professor RobWillis, Director of theMonash MBA program.

The College’s own Dr Kay Stewartwon the Monash PostgraduateAssociation’s Supervisor of theYear Award for 2001. Dr Stewart,from the Department of PharmacyPractice, was taken by surprisewhen a regular departmentalmeeting turned into a presentation ceremony.

The Monash PostgraduateAssociation has made the awardannually since 1992.This is thefirst time a supervisor from theCollege has won.

Dr Stewart was nominated for theaward by two of her postgraduatestudents –Phyllis Lau and JohnsonGeorge – who described theirsupervisor as ‘supportive,understanding and motivating’and ‘a source of inspiration’.

They wrote in their nomination… ‘When you first meet Kay, shemay look to you like the friendlylady next door. It is not easilyapparent that she is a Doctor ofPhilosophy and a leader in herfield of research, a senioracademician at a major universityas well as a daughter, wife andmother. Once you get to know her,it does not take you long thoughto realise that here is a woman of substance.

‘Kay has a very broad-basedknowledge in all areas concerningthe practice of pharmacy. Sheactively involves herself ineducation and research, and strivesto maintain excellent professionalrelations with educators andresearchers in allied fields.’

In accepting her award Dr Stewart said she felt touchedthat her students had nominatedher and appreciated hersupervisory style.

Dr Stewart’s research interestsinclude the quality use of medicines,community pharmacy services,quantitative and qualitative aspectsof medication usage and continuingpharmacy education.

A pharmacy pathway to the prestigiousMonash MBA

of flexibility in exit points, frompharmacy continuing professionaleducation (CPE) points toGraduate Certificates, GraduateDiplomas and, ultimately, theprestigious Monash MBA.Thisallows individuals to choose their own levels of participationdepending on their needs andresources. It is envisaged thatparticipants will be able to achievethe Graduate Diploma level bypart-time off-campus mode withintwo years, allowing rural, interstateand international candidates toundertake the program.Thecommencing units will be offeredfrom second semester 2002.

“The strengths of this course areits flexibility and the impressivelist of professional organisationsthat have been involved in itsdevelopment through the courseadvisory committee,” says CourseDirector Bill Suen.

For further information and course description, visitwww.vcp.monash.edu.au/postgrad

For enquiries and expression of interest, email bill.suen@vcp.monash.edu.au

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“

Professor Nation was previously Professor of Pharmacy in the School of Pharmacy at the University of South Australia, where heworked for the last eighteen years. Hecompleted his undergraduate training inpharmacy at the Tasmanian School ofPharmacy. After working in communitypharmacy in Tasmania for a period, he moved to the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Sydney, where he completeda Master of Science degree followed by aDoctor of Philosophy degree.

His research, teaching and clinical activitieshave taken him to the College of Pharmacy in Chicago, Illinois, the Glaxo Inc. ResearchInstitute in North Carolina, USA, the Universityof Sydney and the Queen Elizabeth II MedicalCentre in Perth.

Professor Nation has a broad range ofresearch interests that are focused primarily inthe area of basic and clinical pharmacokinetics.His research activities have includedinvestigation of pharmacokinetics in theelderly, therapeutic drug monitoring to aid inthe selection of optimal drug dosage regimensfor individual patients, the disposition of drugsin pregnant women, the transfer of drugsacross the placenta and the handling of drugsby the newborn, and investigating the practice of the crushing of tablets prior toadministration to residents in aged-carefacilities.

Professor Nation has been involved inteaching across many parts of the Bachelor of Pharmacy program in Adelaide, from basicaspects in pharmaceutical science through topharmacy practice and appliedpharmacotherapeutics.

“I enjoy teaching as much today as I didwhen I started my career and believe thatthere is no more important academic activity,”he said.

Professor Nation has attracted substantialresearch funding from a number of sources.He has published 240 research and reviewpapers in peer-reviewed international journalsand research communications. His professionalaffiliations have included membership of thePharmacy Boards of South Australia andVictoria, a long period as a Councillor of thePharmaceutical Society of Australia in SouthAustralia and as Chair of the Drug andTherapeutics Committee at the Women’s andChildren’s Hospital. He serves on the editorialboards or as a reviewer for a number ofjournals and books, including the AustralianMedicines Handbook. Professor Nation is anauthor of a number of sections in theAustralian Pharmaceutical Formulary andHandbook, designed to support the practice of pharmacy.

Professor Nation is excited about the move to his new position. “While there arechallenges confronting the tertiary educationsector in general, including the pharmacycomponent of it, there are also significantopportunities. I look forward to working withothers in the College, with members of theprofession and the wider community toenhance the practice of pharmacy.”

For further information about the Department of Pharmacy Practice, visitwww.vcp.monash.edu.au/practice/

Research News06

Professor Roger Nation inthe Sigma CounsellingRoom at the College.

The newProfessor ofPharmacyPractice

Professor Roger Nation joined the College in

November 2001 as the Foundation Professor

of Pharmacy Practice. He brings with him an

impressive background in teaching, research

and collaboration with the profession and

industry at national and international levels.

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I look forward toworking with othersin the College, withmembers of theprofession and thewider community toenhance the practiceof pharmacy.

07Research News

Pharmacologist Dr Ian Coupar,Medicinal Chemist Dr MagdyIskander and their research teamare investigating chronicconstipation and diverticulardisease, while working to designa drug to treat patients withirritable bowel syndrome.

The overall aim of the project is to examine the biological rolesplayed by 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) in the human colon. 5-HTis a naturally occurring substanceof the body, normally involved in

controlling many body activities.In this project, relevance is placedon the possibility that 5-HT isinvolved in causing orcontributing to certain clinicalconditions, either by excess ordeficiency. There are no specifictreatments for these conditions to date. The project will increaseknowledge in this area so thattreatments can be developed.

The project has received aNational Health and MedicalResearch Council (NHMRC) grantof $345,000 over three years toinvestigate 5-HT receptors.

Team working to solve irritablebowel syndrome

As the focus on health care in

Australia becomes acute, a project

is aiming to solve one of the

system’s most vexing problems.

A six-month trial in the Alfred

and Austin hospitals is about to

tackle medication misadventure,

the often life-threatening result

of a discharged patient’s

confusion over an altered

medication regimen.

During hospitalisation, a patient’s medication isoften changed: doses are reduced or increased, new medication is prescribed and old medicationstopped.

According to trial supervisor Dr Jennifer Marriott,lecturer in clinical pharmacy at the College, theproblem is one of continuity of care.

“Patients often become confused followingdischarge from hospital,” Dr Marriott said.

“They come home with a lot of information and sometimes get into trouble. They can take the wrong dose, start taking medication they weretaking before they went into hospital, or take adouble dose of the old and new medication.”

Under the trial funded by the VictorianDepartment of Human Services, a community liaisonpharmacist (CLP) at each hospital will help ensurethat patients at risk take the correct medication inthe prescribed doses. Tam Vuong is investigating the issues associated with implementation of theCLP as her PhD project.

The CLP will form a bridge between the hospitaland all the community services, including thepatient’s GP and their pharmacist, Dr Marriott says.

“The idea is to send the CLP to the patient’s homein the first few days following their discharge fromhospital to sort out any problems, and to ensure thepatient has appropriate information. In addition, theCLP will communicate with the community healthpractitioners. Everybody then knows what is meantto be happening with the patient’s medication.”

In the past, many patients who had just lefthospital simply fell through the cracks in thesystem, Dr Marriott says.

“There was no one to liaise between them, theircommunity pharmacist, their GP and the hospital.Many ended up in hospital again because they hadnot taken their medication as intended.”

Discharged patients are usually given medicationdesigned to cover them for three to seven days,after which time they are expected to go back totheir doctor for further supplies.

There are two problems with this, Dr Marriott says.“Firstly, it puts the onus on the patient, who may

still be recovering from their illness and secondly,they have to make an appointment with their GPthat may need to be several days in advance. Whileall this is going on, their community pharmacistknows nothing about their altered medicationregimen, what has been changed and why. Whilstthe GPs are sent discharge information concerningtheir patients, the community pharmacists receive no information from the hospital.

“The CLP service will especially benefit theelderly and chronically ill, but can help anyone whohas a lot of medication and is at risk of medicationmisadventure.

“This project is being conducted not only to show that it is economically viable, but also todevelop a model that will see the CLP service ableto be implemented more widely throughout Victoriaand the rest of Australia.”

For further information about research in the Department ofPharmacy Practice visit www.vcp.monash.edu.au/practice/research.html

Community liaisonpharmacist trial to curbdrug confusion

Tam Vuong.

Dr Ian Coupar (above right), Dr MagdyIskander (below left) and their team.

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08

Since 1881, the Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria,followed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia(Victorian Branch) has awarded a gold medal to theCollege’s top student. (The only gap was in 1999 when there was no graduating year due to the extension of the Bachelor of Pharmacy from three years to four.)

The College has tracked down the past decade of goldmedal winners to see where their lives and careers havetaken them. Following is a fascinating snapshot, coveringall areas of pharmacy and pharmaceutical research in

urban, regional and international settings, showing the career flexibility and diverse options open to College graduates.

Many thanks to the gold medallists who have helpedwith this project, sharing their news, travels, successesand some interesting diversions with us. We wish themwell in their careers as community and hospitalpharmacists, researchers, managers, product specialists and even as doctors and missionaries.

I studied pharmacy simplybecause I did not want to beignorant of the medicines I wasprescribed. I graduated in 1995and then I did a traineeship in a retail business. It took meanother two and a half yearsbefore I was fully convinced that I could make pharmacy mylifelong career.

While working as a part-timepharmacist, I went on to furtherstudies at RMIT. I completed aGraduate Diploma in BusinessSystems and have almost finisheda Master in Business(Information Technology).These studies, though unrelated to pharmacy, help me to broadenmy thinking, increase my interestin business, remove my computerphobia and equip me with thecomputer skills that are soessential today.

In 1995 I did my traineeship atDallimore’s Pharmacy in Malvern,Victoria. From 1996-1997 I was aProduct Executive for B.BraunPharmaceutical Industries,Penang, Malaysia. I thenundertook and completed aMasters of Business Administrationwith Heriot-Watt University ofEdinburgh, Scotland, by distancelearning. In 1998 I was a ProductSpecialist for Merck, Sharpe &Dohme, Malaysia.

In September 1998, I wasgranted permanent residencystatus in Australia and returned toMelbourne. From November 1998to September 1999 I worked atthe Royal Melbourne Hospital,and then at St Vincent’s PrivateHospital until June 2000. FromNovember 1998 until now, I haveworked as a weekend pharmacistat Keate Woodgate Pharmacy,Croydon. In July 2000, I wasaccepted into the GraduateMedical Course at the Universityof Melbourne. I am currently inthe third year of the course andwill graduate in 2004. On apersonal note, I tied the knot inJanuary 2001 and was blessedwith a baby boy, Isaac, early this year.

After graduating in 1994 andcompleting a year’s traineeship atSt Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne,I went back to Malaysia. Almostimmediately, I landed a job at aprivate hospital in Kuching, my hometown.

Three years later I took up afull time MSc course in Clinicaland Health Service Pharmacy inManchester, UK. The courseprovided a greater insight into theins and outs of pharmacokinetics,a good and thorough introductioninto pharmaco-economics and alot of clinical education. At theend of the course I went into ajob as a communitypharmacist. Since then, asBranch Manager of a pharmacychain in the UK, I am now quitefamiliar with the National HealthService (NHS). In the meantime, I continue to enjoy the vocation I have chosen, and look forwardto facing all the challenges it will bring.

Since finishing the pharmacydegree at the College in 1992, I have worked mainly at theBendigo Hospital in myhometown of Bendigo in central Victoria. Also in my careerI spent a year as a practical classdemonstrator in the pharmaceuticsdepartment at the College,teaching first, second and third year pharmacy students.

Being a keen traveller,pharmacy has given me manyopportunities to travel, the latest being during 2001 where I worked at the Radcliffe Hospitalin Oxford, England. In 2002 Iwill commence a Masters degreeat Sydney University, as well as apart time Certificate in Theology,with my long-term goal being touse my skills to serve as aChristian missionary overseas.

Digging for Gold – a decade of gold medal winners

92 93 94 95Jane Lennan 1992 Beatrice Teo 1993 Stephanie Tang 1994 Angela Wong 1995

Alumni News xPoint of InterestPrior to the invention of the kerosene lamp in 1854, crude oil was sold as a patent medicine.

I have only been out of uni ayear and a bit so there isn’t a lot to tell (yet). I completed my traineeship with the AlfredHospital and Bristol-MyersSquibb pharmaceuticals lastyear. It was good to do a jointtraineeship because I saw a widerange of situations that will helpme become ready to be apharmacist.

I continued on at the Alfredsince passing my Board exam,working on the wards. I will berotating through other areasthroughout the year – next will be drug info/HITH/clinical trials.I have been enjoying the breakfrom study (five years was longenough) although I have been tothe SHPA ‘Seminars in ClinicalPharmacy’ and some of the CPElectures. I’m hoping to take someholidays later in the year and gooverseas for a bit of an adventure.

09Alumni News

The silver medal kindlydonated to the College bythe Towl family.

Following completion ofundergraduate studies at theCollege, I undertook a traineeshipat My Chemist in Broadmeadows.I then registered as a qualifiedpharmacist at the end of 1999 and was employed at thatpharmacy for several months. At this time, I decided that Iwould like to enter the world of pharmaceutical research.

In 2000, I commenced apostgraduate degree (Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science – Hons)working on a project that focusedon the enhancement oftestosterone transdermal delivery.In 2001, I embarked on a PhDproject, which is an investigationof the delivery of drugs throughthe buccal mucosa and the use of various chemical agents aspotential enhancers for drugdelivery. I am now approachingthe end of the first year of myPhD and am enjoying thechallenges that it delivers. InDecember 2001, I presented mywork on testosterone transdermaldelivery at the AustralasianPharmaceutical ScienceAssociation (APSA) annualconference held in Melbourne.

I graduated from the College in1997 then began my traineeship at the Alfred Hospital. During my trainee year, I was married. In May 1998, I was awarded ascholarship by the MonashUniversity Golden KeyAssociation. I successfullycompleted the Final Examinationin 1998, and registered in 1998.During my traineeship at theAlfred Hospital I also workedpart-time at Gelb & Ischiacommunity pharmacy inBlackburn. On completion of mytraineeship, I began working atKnox Private Hospital, part of theHospital Pharmacy Services group.From January 1999 to January2001, I provided a broad range of pharmacy services whileworking for this company.

In January 2000 I becameaccredited with the AustralianAssociation of ConsultantPharmacists. In January 2001, we moved to Horsham, and Iaccepted a position at WimmeraHealth Care Group as the DeputyDirector of Pharmacy. In March2001, I will fill in as the Directorof Pharmacy at the hospital for six months.

After graduating with Honours in Pharmaceutical Science fromthe College in 1997, I went hometo Singapore where I practiced inthe largest tertiary hospital there,the Singapore General Hospital.However, I felt that practicingpharmacy was not my calling. Idecided to take on a sales job. My first sales experience was with Roche, where I was aProduct Specialist (a fancy namefor a sales representative) for theanti-obesity drug, orlistat.

My present position is ProductManager in Abbott Laboratories.My job responsibilities revolvearound all aspects of marketingan ethical product from the pre-marketing stage, through thelaunch phase, to the day-to-daymarketing support of a team ofsales representatives. I amcurrently marketing another anti-obesity drug, sibutramine. I conduct product training, take part in trade shows andcongresses, deal with the media,and work closely with the salesmanagers to formulate andexecute marketing plans. I havefound my calling in marketing. It is truly rewarding.

Silver Medals are awarded to the top finalyear students in a subject. The pharmacymedal pictured has kindly been donated tothe College by Douglas Hutchinson,descendant of Edward Towl, a pioneerpharmacist of the Ballarat goldfields andpatriarch of a family of pharmacists whoopened his first pharmacy in 1853.

Pharmacy – and the winning of medals– runs in the Towl family. Edward’s sonCharles gained a gold medal in the finalexaminations at the College in 1881,opened a pharmacy in Collins Street in thelate 1890s and was elected President ofthe Pharmacy Board in 1913, holding thatoffice for six years. The medal shown isthat of Douglas E. Towl, who was the sonof Charles, won in the subject of Materia Medica.

This year’s gold medal winner is NatalieTrevaskis, who was presented with heraward at the Opening of 2002 AcademicYear and Presentation of Prizes Ceremony by Valda Comber, President,Pharmaceutical Society of Australia(Victorian Branch).

Where will Natalie be in ten year’s time?

Silver medals– the past

Gold medals– the future

96 97 98 00

Let us know your news. Send your newsto: alumni@vcp.monash.edu.au

Min-Hui Lau 1996 Darlene Smith (nee Ockwell) 1997

Joseph Nicolazzo 1998 Jaclyn Baker 2000

Natalie Trevaskis withProfessor Colin Chapman.

10 Alumni News

Dr Reddrop is now Vice President and Head, Respiratory andInflammation Therapy Area, AstraZeneca Rearch and Development in the UK.

After qualifying as a pharmacist, he continued his studies in the USA and the UK (PhD, Brunel, London) in biochemistry and drug disposition in models of liver injury. In 1974 he joined thepharmaceutical industry in Basle, Switzerland, working for the recentlymerged Ciba-Giegy.

In 1980, Dr Reddrop joined Astra Pharmaceuticals in Sydney, wherehe served in a number of executive positions, ultimately leading themedical affairs function in Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia.

He has been an active member of the Australian PMA, the DrugInformation Association and was a founding Executive of the AustralianAssociation of Regulatory & Clinical Scientists. He has served on theboards of Astra Pharmaceuticals Ltd (UK), Loughborough University and De Montfort University, Leicester.

Dr Reddrop is married with three grown-up children and lives withhis wife Janette in a village just outside Loughborough, Leicestershire.He enjoys sports, including golf, skiing, scuba diving and tennis, aswell as reading, theatre and walking the family dog.

The first Pharmaceutical Society ofAustralia (Victorian Branch) continuingeducation lecture of each year, traditionallyknown as the State of the Nation Lecture,has been renamed the Neil W. NaismithLecture in honour of the extensivecontributions to the profession of Neil Naismith, AM (1958).

At the inaugural Neil W. Naismithlecture on 5 February 2002, Valda Comber

Congratulations to John Ware (1950), who received an OAM (Medal of the Orderof Australia) in this year’s Australia DayHonours List.

John was a community pharmacist forover 33 years, also serving on the CollegeCouncil and as a past President.

He is a past national President of thePharmaceutical Society of Australia andhas served as a Councillor of the Victorian

Inaugural regional dinner in Bendigo

On 21 November last year the College held the first in a series of dinners to thankpreceptors and their staff who hostedpharmacy students on their placements.The dinners are also a way of keeping intouch with our regional graduates.

The Bendigo dinner was attended by 25 local pharmacists, along with ProfessorColin Chapman, Professor Roger Nation,Sarah Vincent, manager of the alumniprogram, and Vanessa Pellat, anadministrator of the placement program.

Professor Chapman spoke about thegreat many changes to the College in thepast few years, including new staff

members, the four year pharmacy course,the introduction of the placement programand the extensive campus refurbishments.Professor Chapman introduced ProfessorRoger Nation, the new Chair of PharmacyPractice and Head of the Department ofPharmacy Practice. Professor Nation spokeof how highly the College was regarded,his plans for the department and issuesregarding the future of pharmacy practice.

For information about the placementprogram, visit www.vcp.monash.edu.au/placements/

The Neil W. Naismith Lecture

(1972), President of the PSA (Vic Branch)outlined Neil’s extensive contribution tothe PSA, the SHPA and pharmacy practicein Victoria and Australia. In addition, shenoted Neil’s contribution to the broaderhealthcare industry through his work onthe Australian Council of HealthcareStandards, the Pharmacy Board of Victoria,the Victorian Drug Usage AdvisoryCommittee and the Health Services Review

Alumni in profile: Dr Colin ReddropA distinguished graduate of the

College, Dr Colin Reddrop (1971),

recently returned to Australia to

present the keynote speech at the

CSIRO’s ‘Beyond the Genome’

conference in February. He also

returned to the Parkville campus

for a tour of the new facilities

with Professor Colin Chapman.

Council. Despite ill health, Neil was able to attend the lecture to thank PSACouncil and members, and to express hisappreciation for the honour granted by his peers.

As the first CE lecture of the year often addresses important practice issuesand the broader philosophy relating topharmacy, it is most appropriate that thisshould be named in Neil’s honour.

John Ware OAM

Branch since 1981. He is the foundingPresident of the Pacific-based pharmacyforum, established by the World HealthOrganization Western Pacific Region and the International PharmaceuticalFederation (FIP) on which he is arepresentative. He also serves on theBoard of the National Asthma Council.John has previously received a RuralHealth Week Award for outstanding

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Photo courtesy of PharmacyNews.

contribution to the health of thecommunity of the Hume Region, and is aLife Governor of the Seymour & DistrictMemorial Hospital.

John’s award recognised hiscontributions to pharmacy, pharmaceuticalsciences and to the health care of thecommunity of Seymour. It is a richlydeserved public recognition of his manyactivities and achievements.

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The 70s reunionThe College is organising a hugereunion for its 1970, 1971 and 1972 alumni.

The organising committee for thisevent is made up of graduates fromthis era, including Colin and MargaretChapman (1970), Valda Comber (1972),Anne Leversha (1971, 2001), SteveMarty (1970), Dr Jennifer Marriott(1971, 2000), Pam Nieman (1971) andBill (1970) and Helen Scott (1971).

The night will include a sumptuousdinner, dancing and tour of the newfacilities at the College. If you are a1970-72 graduate, make sure that theCollege has your correct addressdetails so that we can send you aninvitation to this memorable event.

Alumni News

Alumni words ofwisdomAs part of Orientation Week 2002, allfirst year students at the College weretreated to a presentation by DavidSlade (1997, 1999), a 27 year oldgraduate who now manages 140 staff!

David is the College’s first graduateof the Pharmacy/Commerce doubledegree and is now a manager in hisfamily’s business, which incorporates a community and hospital pharmacy,with services to nursing homes andeight private hospitals. David spoke of how useful the double degree hadbeen in his career with his pharmacyqualification giving him a profession,and the commerce degree giving himthe necessary business skills to be amanager. The students enjoyed hearinga real-world perspective from such asuccessful graduate.

Interstate Cricket Challenge – NSW vs VictoriaSat 27 and Sun 28 April, 2002

The College joined forces with the PSA (Vic Branch) for the right to keep theChemists’ Interstate Cricket Shield inVictoria. The shield was last played for in1934 and has been contested 19 timessince 1908.

The match, a challenge from theUniversity of Sydney Alumni Association,was played at the historic Bradman Oval at Bowral on Sunday 28 April 2002, with apre-match dinner the night before. Guestspeaker at the dinner was Jim Maxwell,

Graduating doesn’t mean your connectionswith the College are at an end. We hopethat your years of study are just thebeginning of a lifelong relationship withthe College.

There is no joining fee and nomembership forms to fill out. If you are a past student, a retired or past staffmember, or a parent of a current or paststudent, we are keen to stay in touch andto involve you in the life of the College.

Members of the team, their family andfriends at a practice match (above) andBradman Oval (below).

VALE Nanette Green OAM

The College community was saddened by the passing of Nanette Green inJanuary 2002.

Nanette (1955, 1981) undertook herapprenticeship at the College, and thenreturned to complete a Graduate Diplomain Clinical Pharmacy. She was Director ofPharmacy at Wangaratta & District BaseHospital 1972-1987 and President 1996-2000. She was extremely active in theadvancement of rural hospital pharmacyand continuing education for pharmacists.

Through a broad range of roles, Nanettecontributed enormously to her community.

She was a Rural City of WangarattaCommissioner 1994-97, and served asState President of Business andProfessional Women, WangarattaHistorical Society President and PresidentWangaratta Institute of TAFE Council 1987-1996; Wangaratta Music Theatre president1978-1983 and she established theWangaratta Chorale in 1985.

Nanette received an OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia) in last year’sQueen’s Birthday Honours List. Her awardrecognised her contribution to health,education, history and women’s issues.

Alumni cricket match

the leading and most experienced memberof the ABC’s cricket commentary team. A pre-match presentation was made toboth teams of their souvenir PharmacyMatch Cricket caps in their State colors by Ian Craig OAM, Chair of the Bradman Foundation.

Unfortunately, Victoria lost the gameand the shield now resides in NSW(temporarily, we hope!).

For information about joining nextyear’s team, contact Sarah Vincent ontel: 61 3 9903 9507

See the next issue of the newsletterfor a full match report.

What does alumni mean?

Twice a year we will send you anewsletter with teaching and researchnews, continuing education developments,historical items of interest as well asfuture developments at the College andupdates on alumni in Australia and aroundthe world.

The College can also help you to:• contact friends from the College• share your news with the College

community or update your details • organise a reunion • find information about further study

at the College • hire a room at the College for an event

or function.

Please also note that we take yourprivacy seriously. Monash University issubject to the Information Privacy Act2000 (Victoria). Personal informationsupplied to the alumni program is onlyaccessed by the University staff inconducting the business of the University.Staff do not give out names and addressesto other organisations or individuals, butwe are always happy to pass onmessages. We also do not print newsabout the careers or lives of alumniwithout permission.

For further information about alumniactivities, visit www.vcp.monash.edu.au/alumni

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www.pharmaCe.vic.edu.au

Victorian College of Pharmacy Monash University (Parkville Campus)

381 Royal Parade Parkville Victoria 3052 Australia

Tel: 61 3 9903 9000www.vcp.monash.edu.au

Irvine Newton (1970), who contributed tothe development of the program, in hisKensington pharmacy with Paul Loughran,Director of the College’s Centre forContinuing Education.

Online drug training service to help rural Australia

helping drug dependent people gain access todrug maintenance and withdrawal treatmentsin regional Victoria.

“Health professionals who service rural andregional communities are often hampered by a lack of resources and limited services,’’ he said.

“Using the Internet is one way to counter the reduction in services and missededucational opportunities experienced by ruralcommunities. Since the launch of the firstonline program in May last year, more than100,000 screens have been viewed by morethan 7,000 health professionals.”

The program is hosted on the College website atwww.pharmace.vic.edu.au

The program was launched by the DeputyPremier and Minister for Health, the Hon JohnThwaites, at the Bendigo Regional Arts Centrein February and is designed to trainpharmacists, doctors and nurses to deliverdrug substitution and withdrawal programs toillicit drug dependent people across Australia.

The College developed the program inpartnership with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (Victorian Branch), Turning PointDrug and Alcohol Centre and the South CityClinic, with funding from the Department ofHuman Services.

It was developed in response to thePenington Report, which highlighted an urgent need to train more regional and ruralpharmacists and doctors in how to delivermethadone services within the community.

Director of the Centre for ContinuingEducation at the College, Paul Loughran, saidthe program would go a long way towards

The magnificent PalazzoVaj, the Monash ItalianCentre, Prato, Italy.

The MonashPharmacy PracticeSymposium Prato,Italy 2002Experiential Teachingand Learning inPharmacy9-10 September

The Symposium will takeplace at the magnificentPalazzo Vaj, Monash’sItalian Centre, Prato,Italy (on the outskirts ofglorious Florence) and isconveniently timed tostart four days after theFIP Congress in Nice.

For furtherinformation about theSymposium, visitwww.vcp.monash.edu.au/practice/prato

This symposiumpresents an opportunityfor academics,preceptors and studentsto explore and share theexperience of novelteaching in pharmacyaround the world.Speakers from acrossthe globe will presenttheir experiences andshare some of theirinsights into dynamicand flexible teaching in pharmacy.

International News

There are an estimated 74,000 Australians addicted to heroin. The Victorian College of Pharmacy is helping to tackle this major healthcrisis by hosting Australia’s first online training program to help healthprofessionals provide drug services to regional and rural Australia.

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The international research edge

Two College researchers successfully obtainedgrants in the latest round of Funding OpportunitiesResearch Grants from the Monash Research Fund(MRF) 2002. The MRF provides funding to supportinternationally competitive research in identifiedareas of research strength or emerging potential.

Dr Craig Rayner from the Department of PharmacyPractice was granted $30,000 for his project“Placental transfer and perinatal metabolism of anti-HIV protease inhibitors”. This research will provideimportant insight into the dosing of anti-HIV drugs toprevent transmission of HIV from mother to baby.

A group of senior staff in the Department ofPharmaceutical Biology led by Professor ColinPouton, Professor of Pharmaceutical Biology, wasgranted $255,000 to be used to develop assays usingmammalian cells in culture, for use in drug candidateselection. The project will generate precise data onthe selectivity of drug action at biological receptors,in relation to the interests of the co-applicants (Drs Ian Coupar, David Taylor and Helen Irving) inneurotransmitters. The cell-based assays will be avaluable tool for selecting the most promising drugcandidates from within a small library of compounds.

2002 Pfizer Quality CarePharmacy of theYear competitionwinners

Mark Feldschuh (1971), second place winner, at hisBelvedere Park pharmacy.

NewsLet us know your news! Fill in the update form andkeep us informed aboutyour personal and careerachievements.

Alumni news

Four Victorians were among the 14finalists in this year’s Pfizer Quality CarePharmacy of the Year competition.

Mark Feldschuh (1971) of BelvederePark Pharmacy, Seaford, was awardedsecond place and Cheryl Symons (1969)from Symons Amcal Pharmacy,Wangaratta, was placed third. The finalistsalso included Allan McCasker (1969) ofMcCasker’s Amcal Pharmacy, Kerang; andAlison Tolstrup (1973) of The MedicineShoppe, Malvern.

The Quality Care Pharmacy of the Year award recognises and rewardsexcellence within the Quality CarePharmacy Program (QCPP). The award has,since its inception in 2000, developed intoone of the most prestigious recognitions of pharmacy excellence on the calendar.Entrants provide details on how the QCPPhas influenced the day-to-day managementof their pharmacy, their staff and customer relations.

The competition is a Pfizer initiative,which has the full support of the PharmacyGuild of Australia and the AustralianInstitute of Pharmacy Management. With$54,000 in prizes, consisting of $18,000 incash, $36,000 in advertising plus aprestigious trophy, it was hotly contested.

Congratulations to all the Victorianfinalists and their staff.

Please help to keep us – and your fellow alumni – up to date with your latest news. Fill in the update form, tear it off and send it to: Alumni NewsletterVictorian College of PharmacyMonash University (Parkville Campus)381 Royal ParadeParkville Vic 3052 Australiaor fax to: 61 3 9903 9581 (confidential fax).

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