Otago announces Professorial promotions for 2022
Monday, 22 November 2021
Twenty-eight University of Otago academics are being promoted to the position of professor this year.
Otago launches Pharmaceutical Science degree, the only one of its kind in New Zealand
Tuesday, 2 November 2021
The University of Otago will be offering a Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science degree from 2022. This is the only degree of its type in Aotearoa New Zealand and can lead to a career at the forefront of science and technology.
Cuddles, bubbles and excellent health care
Wednesday, 19 May 2021
Organised by Otago Medical School students, the Teddy Bear Hospital involved dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and nursing students.
Ones to Watch: Rebekah Amitrano
Wednesday, 27 January 2021
“I’ve known for a long time that I want to do something that helps people and I decided law was a way of helping many people at once.”
Otago scientist joins international call for care in scramble to develop COVID-19 treatments
Wednesday, 10 June 2020
As scientists worldwide scramble to quickly develop a drug to prevent COVID-19, a University of Otago scientist has helped create an international guidance statement urging caution in developing treatments.
Public welcomed back to face-to-face Otago University health clinics
Friday, 15 May 2020
New Zealand’s move to Alert Level 2 means many Otago University health clinics will now be open to the public.
Lecturer and students volunteer time to make sanitiser
Wednesday, 25 March 2020
All the hand sanitiser needed by the University of Otago’s Dunedin campus over the coming weeks has been produced in-house and in record time by a School of Pharmacy senior lecturer and his students.
Possible world-first collaboration for Pharmacy and Dentistry students
Friday, 20 December 2019
For the first time University of Otago pharmacy and dentistry students have collaborated within a clinic setting to improve their training and improve patient care.
Nineteen new Associate Professors for Health Sciences
Friday, 6 December 2019
A swathe of the University of Otago Division of Health Science’s finest staff have been promoted to Associate Professor.
Translational Research Grant applications sought
Friday, 4 October 2019
All academic staff in the Division of Health Sciences are eligible to apply for the Translational Research Grant.
Educational tool developed at Otago makes international launch
Wednesday, 17 July 2019
Real-time decision making equals empowered students. That is the essence of SimPHARM™, a state of the art simulation tool developed at the University of Otago and now commercially licensed by a United States-based company to help pharmacy students learn via a realistic clinical experience.
New virtual lab ‘game-changer’ for Otago’s School of Pharmacy
Friday, 12 July 2019
A freshly-completed laboratory at the University of Otago’s School of Pharmacy will enable pharmacy students to practice vital skills they will need on a daily basis when dealing with patients.
Little drops for little eyes
Wednesday, 17 April 2019
A Cure Kids grant is funding a study into the potential advantages of using smaller amounts of eye drops for routine eye tests on premature babies.
New pharmacy clinic aims to optimise pharmacotherapy and improve patients’ health
Friday, 22 March 2019
A new outpatient clinic in Dunedin to help patients manage multiple medications and improve their health – a joint venture between the University of Otago’s School of Pharmacy and Southern District Health Board – is believed to be the first of its kind in Australasia.
Otago research links deprivation, inequality to poorer blood thinner outcomes
Friday, 8 February 2019
New University of Otago research is warning doctors to be wary of potential health risks for Māori and Pacific patients taking a common blood thinner.
Māori health professional graduand numbers soar to new heights
Wednesday, 5 December 2018
The number of University of Otago Māori health professional graduands has climbed to an historic high.
A future of better healthcare
Friday, 12 October 2018
Otago students are finishing the first year of the modernised bachelor of pharmacy degree that focuses on the vital role a pharmacist plays in the modern, patient-centred healthcare system.
Multi-ethnic approach to diabetes education needed – Otago academics
Wednesday, 26 September 2018
Despite the plethora of information available about type-2 diabetes, the ability to understand it, and willingness to engage in it, differs among ethnic groups, Otago research has revealed.
New Zealand children’s medicine prescriptions examined for first time
Tuesday, 25 September 2018
A study into the pharmaceutical use of 1.4 million New Zealand children has revealed some significant increases in the use of certain prescription medicines, as well as the positive impact of practitioner education.
Otago International students equipped to effect change
Friday, 3 August 2018
School of Pharmacy international undergraduate students, Wei Ying Yong (23) and Michelle (Pui Shih) Li (21), received two of 12 $1,350.00 IPE Conference Student Sponsorships to attend this year’s conference, sponsored by the Division of Health Sciences Centre of Interprofessional Education (IPE Centre) and the Otago Medical School.
Postgraduate Taught Programme lecturers' contributions “extraordinary”
Friday, 3 August 2018
Three long-standing School of Pharmacy lecturers have been instrumental in successfully developing its postgraduate programme, resulting in several “firsts”. Professor Pauline Norris, Dr James Green and Arlene Print speak of their time at the University of Otago.
Students consider future pharmacists
Friday, 3 August 2018
'New technology changing the way pharmacists work' is the essay focus of a School of Pharmacy student who has won the Future Pharmacist of the Year Award.
Celebrating a heritage of heart and stone
Friday, 3 August 2018
School of Pharmacy alumni are being invited to Dunedin for a reunion which will form part of the University of Otago's 150th celebrations next year.
Otago researcher secures funding for therapy to help prevent disorders in preterm babies
Wednesday, 1 August 2018
A University of Otago researcher has received funding from the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand to investigate a new therapy which could potentially prevent disorders developing in children born prematurely.
Almost $19 million awarded to Otago researchers in Health Research Council funding
Monday, 18 June 2018
A new study investigating for the first time the health of occupants of leaky homes in New Zealand is one of many University of Otago-led projects being funded this year by the Health Research Council to the tune of almost $19 million.
More than meets the eye in pharmacy
Monday, 28 May 2018
The School of Pharmacy's first Otago-Singapore Ambassador is an enthusiastic proponent of the concept that pharmacy is much more than preparing, packing and dispensing medication.
Pharmacy graduate thesis, not quite the norm
Monday, 28 May 2018
The University of Otago is renowned for its research and the School of Pharmacy is no exception. Four PhD students graduated at the mid-year graduation ceremony on Saturday 12 May in Dunedin.
Pharmacists' role discussed at Symposium
Friday, 25 May 2018
Pharmacists' role in mental health and addictions care was a topic of discussion at the 2018 Forward Pharmacy Symposium at the University of Otago, Wellington, in March.
Dr Andrea Murphy from the College of Pharmacy at Dalhousie University spoke about the Bloom Program, a successful mental health and addictions community pharmacy partnership in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada.
Continuing education workshops strengthen the profession
Friday, 25 May 2018
School of Pharmacy have been travelling New Zealand, sharing an overview of the school and delivering the workshops.
Receptors, research and travel
Friday, 25 May 2018
University of Otago, School of Pharmacy recent graduate, Dr Anna Cooper, talks about her thesis, receptors, research and travel.
P2 students makes sense of pharmacy
Friday, 25 May 2018
Debora Maea graduated with a Bachelor of Science on Saturday 12 May 2018, continuing her study of medicines as a second year student at the School of Pharmacy.
Debora’s nana first introduced her to the world of pharmacy when she contacted the local pharmacy in the Cook Islands to help find her a summer job. Debora worked with a pharmacist there, who recognised her interest in medicine.
Dr Nagham Ailabouni Q&A
Tuesday, 1 May 2018
Every day, older New Zealanders take piles upon piles of medicines; some of which may be causing more harm than good. Deprescribing is the process of reducing or stopping such medicines.
Patients are not always receiving information about medicines, Otago research reveals
Monday, 23 April 2018
Some patients in New Zealand may not be receiving adequate information about their newly-prescribed medicines, new University of Otago research suggests.
Green Cross Health Pharmacy Awards celebrate excellence
Monday, 9 April 2018
The University of Otago Green Cross Health Awards were held in March, providing an opportunity for the School of Pharmacy to celebrate the innovation and excellence of its students and staff.
Aspiring pharmacists inducted into professional programme
Friday, 2 March 2018
Over 130 aspiring pharmacists were officially welcomed into their first professional year of Otago’s Pharmacy programme at the School of Pharmacy’s White Coat Ceremony on 24 February.
Pharmacy, a meaningful career
Thursday, 21 December 2017
On interviewing 2017 Honours graduate, Bhamini Rangnekar, it was obvious she had found her niche in pharmacy. Bhamini’s love for people drives her interest in medicines research, a field of study that has proved to be a great success for this Otago student.
School of Pharmacy's inaugural whānau hui
Thursday, 21 December 2017
The School of Pharmacy saw nine Māori tauira (students) graduate this year, initiating the first, whānau (family) hui (gathering), prior to the Health Science Māori Graduation Function and the School of Pharmacy Graduation Function on Friday 8th December 2017.
"Prevention is better than cure," quotes Fiji's newest doctor, Sujita Narayan.
Wednesday, 20 December 2017
One of four PhD students to graduate from the School of Pharmacy this December, Dr Sujita Narayan celebrates the success of being the first Fijian pharmacist from the Fiji School of Medicine (now Fiji National University) with a PhD.
Otago School of Pharmacy congratulates graduates of 2017
Wednesday, 20 December 2017
4 PhD students, 1 Masters student, 9 BPharm Honours students and 110 undergraduate students crossed the stage at the University of Otago graduation ceremony on Saturday 9th December 2017. The School of Pharmacy celebrated these students at the annual pre-graduation function held in the Link of the Information Services Building (Dunedin) on Friday 8th December 2017.
Focus Group Report
Tuesday, 19 December 2017
PhD student, Yasmin Abdul Aziz has been traveling New Zealand evaluating the unpaid services pharmacies provide. Yasmin has held focus groups in Invercargill, Christchurch, Wellington and Palmerston North, speaking to 23 pharmacists as part of these focus groups with the pharmacists representing a range of pharmacy backgrounds from retail-focused to dispensary focused, independent to chain pharmacies as well as small and large pharmacies.
Primary prevention strategies a focus for soon-to-be-intern pharmacist
Saturday, 11 November 2017
Final-year pharmacy student Sonja Bimler is looking forward to putting her passion for primary prevention strategies to work in a couple of months’ time when she begins her internship.
Students and wider sector reap benefits of new fellow's mental health knowledge
Friday, 10 November 2017
New professional practice fellow Emma Smith is keen to spread her enthusiasm, passion and knowledge for pharmacy as widely as she can.
Unpaid services pharmacies provide into the spotlight in PhD student's research
Thursday, 9 November 2017
PhD student Yasmin Abdul Aziz is evaluating the unpaid services pharmacies provide, the cost of these and their impact on patients’ health.
“We know currently the funding for pharmacy is tight and could worsen, so it could impact on these services,” Miss Abdul Aziz says.
PHCY 470 Elective Study Research Symposium
Tuesday, 17 October 2017
Around 130 fourth year Pharmacy students gathered at the Hutton Theatre, Otago Museum on Friday 13th October 2017 to present their posters for the inaugural PHCY 470 Elective Study Research Symposium.
Symposium honours research students' years
Friday, 13 October 2017
Highlighting a year of research, culminated with the Honours students' symposium presenting their work to the School community.
Te Puna Kaitaka encourage te reo Māori
Thursday, 12 October 2017
Te Puna Kaitaka (Māori Students Pharmacy Association) held a quiz night on Tuesday 12 September to create awareness for Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (the week of speaking Māori).
Interprofessional education project positive for both pharmacy and physio
Wednesday, 20 September 2017
Two pharmacy students who participated in a pilot interprofessional learning project, together with student physiotherapists, are enthusiastic about their experience.
Green Cross Health Pharmacy Awards Ceremony
Friday, 18 August 2017
Our inaugural Green Cross Health Pharmacy Awards ceremony was held at St David Lecture Theatre on Friday 11 August 2017. Over 140 people attended the ceremony to celebrate and recognise the achievements of our outstanding students, staff, and alumni as well as the pharmacists that train and mentor our undergraduate students on placements, our preceptors.
Understanding the Start of Health Careers
Monday, 7 August 2017
The influence of interprofessional education on career trajectories and attitudes to collaborative team work are being explored in a 5-year study run by the University of Otago, in collaboration with Otago Polytechnic and the Eastern Institute of Technology.
2016 Hospital Preceptor of the Year
Friday, 4 August 2017
Hannah Soper accepts 2016 Hospital Preceptor of the Year award at the School of Pharmacy Green Cross Health Award Ceremony.
2016 Rural Preceptor of the Year
Friday, 4 August 2017
The School of Pharmacy create a Rural Preceptor of the Year award for the inaugural Green Cross Award Ceremony. 2016 winner, Graham Provis says "Spend time with your student and exchange the knowledge you have. Encourage your student to work steadily toward their goal".
Years of postgrad study culminates in Master's degree for specialist pharmacist
Friday, 4 August 2017
Rajeshni has been a specialist paediatric pharmacist at Kidz First Hospital in Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, since 2009.
Since graduating with her Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from the school in 2002, she has accumulated a wealth of experience in a wide variety of pharmacy practice in hospital and community pharmacy both in New Zealand and the UK and, together with continual postgraduate study, has achieved the necessary skills for her role.
Curriculum update
Friday, 4 August 2017
Today, many of the services pharmacists provide require them to work at the top of their scope. These services move them away from the traditional manufacturing and dispensing roles of the apothecary towards more clinical roles where they interact with patients as medications experts. In the 21st century, pharmacists are spending more time working with doctors to prescribe medicines and interacting with patients, to reconcile their medicines use.
Wellington pharmacist goes full-circle, promoting pharmacy to Pasifika community
Friday, 4 August 2017
Wellington pharmacist Kasey Brown has been appointed to a part-time role at the School of Pharmacy as Pacific adviser.
It’s a natural progression for the New Zealand-born Samoan who was a member of the Pacific Island Health Professional Students’ Association throughout her Bachelor of Pharmacy Studies.
Her passion for both Pacific and Māori health was also strengthened during the almost five years she lived in Gisborne, working in both hospital and community pharmacy.
“I have a much better appreciation for the culture as I have been literally immersed in it, with visits to marae up the coast, pōwhiri, food experiences and Te Reo [the Māori language],” Kasey explains.
Inaugural Green Cross Health Pharmacy Awards Ceremony
Friday, 4 August 2017
The University of Otago, School of Pharmacy, is excited to announce the inaugural Green Cross Health Pharmacy Awards Ceremony, which will be on Friday 11 August 2017.
Historically, the school has recognised undergraduate students in an annual awards ceremony, but thanks to the support of Green Cross Health, the awards ceremony has been expanded to be a celebration and recognition of outstanding students, staff, preceptors and alumni.
2016 Community Preceptor of the Year
Friday, 4 August 2017
Karen Crisp is awarded 2016 Community Preceptor of the Year at the School of Pharmacy's Green Cross Health Pharmacy Award Ceremony.
Double treble: Three sets of twins begin pharmacy studies this year
Monday, 3 July 2017
Otago University School of Pharmacy staff could be forgiven for doing a double take - not once, not twice, but three times this year with three sets of twins beginning their pharmacy studies.
Researchers propose turning philosophy of pharmacy on its head
Monday, 3 July 2017
School of Pharmacy researchers propose a philosophical framework for the profession in a paper recently published in the journal, Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy.
Evidence plan gathers momentum to drive pharmacy forward
Monday, 3 July 2017
Work is continuing behind the scenes to develop an evidence plan resulting from this year's Forward Pharmacy symposium to drive the profession forward.
PhD student's research backbone of the introduction of a new role in pharmacy
Monday, 1 May 2017
Community pharmacist-turned-PhD student Patti Napier’s research is behind one of the newest initiatives in pharmacy – accuracy-checking technicians.