August

Gout is a painful, chronic condition affecting more than 24,000 people in the Counties Manukau DHB area. To combat this problem, a team consisting of clinical pharmacist Diana Phone, Ko Awatea project manager Rebecca Lawn, pharmacist Katy Boulton, DHB portfolio manager Trevor Lloyd, Very High Intensity User team leader Ta-Mera Rolland, pharmacist Cathy Martin and gout patient Arthur Te-Anini got together and created the Owning My Gout project.

Delivering proactive medicines management support to the community is the name of the game for Diana Phone and the team at Waimauku Village Pharmacy.

Pharmacy is a passion for Hamilton pharmacist Ahmad Zareh. Although only a young pharmacist himself, Mr Zareh already co-owns three pharmacies. He is dedicated to advancing the pharmacy profession by mentoring and supporting young pharmacists.

Olivia Lyons' winning entry was titled "Expanding the role of a clinical pharmacist in general practice" and the title sums it up well. Ms Lyons was contracted by Pharmacy 547 in Hamilton to work in the Te Rengarenga Medical Centre.

Future pharmacist Sonja Bimler believes communication with parents is key to improving vaccination rates.

Had Diana Phone turned her back on pharmacy, as she once felt tempted to do, it would have been a sad loss for the profession.

After a night of glitz and glamour, the New Zealand Pharmacy sector has its new champions, with the night's top award going to a pharmacist who combined her community and clinical skillsets.

Success in the Pharmacy Awards is all about embracing change and creating results, the judges say.