Translate
Tasmanian specialist pharmacist Peter Fowler has been bestowed the prestigious Fred J Boyd award by Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha), recognising decades of commitment to the organisation and the profession.
Mr Fowler, a long-time staff member of the Launceston General Hospital, was presented with the award at Medicines Management 2024, the 48th National Conference of Advanced Pharmacy Australia, in Adelaide on 15 November.
AdPha president Tom Simpson presented the award to Mr Fowler, saying he personified clinical excellence as well as calm and steady leadership.
"Peter has provided critical care education to many of Australia’s ICU pharmacists and intensivists through on-the-job education and presentation at innumerable seminars, symposia and conferences as an invited and contributing speaker," Mr Simpson said.
"At a time when clinical pharmacists had to fight for their right to be on the ward, Peter's limitless knowledge and gift for complex therapeutics ensured the respect of the multidisciplinary teams with whom he worked – leading the way for hundreds of pharmacists to follow.
"Many members will recall the importance of Peter's leadership during the turbulent years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the important role the Society played both for patients, through advocacy for nationally consistent approaches to medicines, and for pharmacists, urgently pivoting to online education, leadership support and ICU training.
"Beneath this calm exterior, Peter was leading the organisation at a time of rapid progress, which paved the way for the evolution to the inclusivity of Advanced Pharmacy Australia.
"This followed the embedding of residency programs, expansion of Specialty Practice, and the first stage of investment into the new digital platforms that underpin AdPha Communities, member offerings and the Australian and New Zealand College of Advanced Pharmacy (ANZCAP), which spans all initiatives. The impact of these for our profession cannot be underestimated."
Dr Scott Parkes, former Director of Intensive Care at Launceston General Hospital, said Mr Fowler excels as a pharmacist, clinician, teacher and mentor.
"Peter has the knowledge base, intellect and commitment to do so, but it is his core values and fundamental decency that define him. He is driven by a passion for patient care and a desire to do the best for all,'' Dr Parkes said.
"It is the combination of talent, diligence and the best of human qualities that has made him a mentor and role model for the pharmacists and doctors who have had the fortune to work with him."