Pharmacy Today holds its first Popcorn Panel tomorrow night

Sign up for Pharmacy Today’s first-ever webinar on the future of community pharmacy – it’s happening online tomorrow night. Register here.

The free Popcorn Panels have been launched by The Health Media as a new way to discuss key issues in health.

Following the success of The Popcorn Panels at our sister publication, New Zealand Doctor | Rata Aotearoa, Pharmacy Today | Kaitiaki Rongoā o te Wā is holding its first Popcorn Panel to chat about “What can save community pharmacy? Bring your best ideas”.

Tune in tomorrow night at 7pm to join Pharmacy Today editor Ruth Brown and panellists, for an hour on Zoom, as they chat and take questions from the audience about the direction the pharmacy sector should be taking and what you think is the way forward.

You can post questions in Zoom on the night or send questions in advance to Ruth Brown editor@pharmacytoday.co.nz.

Taking part in the first Popcorn Panel are Pharmacy Guild New Zealand chief executive Andrew Gaudin, Kaikōura pharmacy owner David McKee and community pharmacist Katrina Azer.

Pop in and chat for a while; we’d love to see you tomorrow night.

To aid proceedings, The Health Media managing editor Barbara Fountain is sharing her simple recipe for homemade caramel popcorn, guaranteed to invigorate.

Caramel popcorn

2 tablespoons canola (any neutral flavoured oil)

4 tablespoons popping corn

120g brown sugar

50g golden syrup (maple syrup is a less sweet alternative)

25g butter

¼ teaspoon baking soda

You’ll need to time your making of the caramel coating with the popping of the corn because you want the corn to be hot when you add the caramel.

Life a baking tray with baking paper. Preheat the oven to 160 degC.

Pop the corn in the oil. Remove from the heat.

Caramel coating

Put the sugar, golden syrup, butter and a tablespoon of water in a small saucepan. Bring to the boil then boil for about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool for 2 minutes then stir in the baking soda.

Stir the caramel through the popcorn and then spread the popcorn over the baking tray.

Bake for 15 minutes, stirring after 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Can be stored in an airtight jar for a week but you will probably it in one sitting.

Andrew Gaudin

Andrew Gaudin was appointed chief executive of the Pharmacy Guild in July 2016. He had previously spent more than 20 years in a variety of leadership and advisory roles at the Crown Company Monitoring and Advisory Unit, Ministry of Health, DHBs and healthAlliance, including five years as a strategic advisor in the director-general of health’s office.

Mr Gaudin is professionally qualified as a chartered accountant. He also has a bachelor of science (honours) degree in operations research and a bachelor of business studies in accountancy.

Mr Gaudin is currently also a board member on Federation of Primary Health Aotearoa New Zealand.

Katrina Azer

A Christchurch-based pharmacist with 12 years of community pharmacy and management experience, Katrina Azer has a primary focus on disease prevention through implementing projects and initiatives for better health outcomes.

Appointed to the Pharmacy Council in 2019, Ms Azer won two categories in the New Zealand Primary Healthcare Awards | Te Ohu Mauri Ora: The Pharmacy Guild Community Pharmacy of the Year, and the Research and Education Award, together with Halswell Physiotherapy in February this year.

She also chairs the Christchurch City Council Multicultural Advisory Group, and is a past member of the PSNZ Early Career Pharmacist Steering Group.

David McKee

Pharmacist David McKee has been managing director and owner of Kaikoura Pharmacy in Kaikōura since 1998.

Before that, from 1995 to 1997, he was staff pharmacist at Robertson’s Drug Store in St George, Bermuda. This followed a stint in 1994 as acting pharmacy manger at St John’s Hospital for Diseases of the Skin in London.

Mr McKee has a special interest in gout, with the Kaikoura Gout Project, as well as in rural pharmacy practice and the provision of pharmaceutical services to patients in a collaborative environment.