Victorian College of Pharmacy - Alumni

Classnotes - 2000's

Phil Abramson (BFormSci 2002) works for Acrux in Melbourne. He is an R&D scientist working on formulation development for transdermal drug delivery systems. Phil’s role includes formulation design and in vitro feasibility studies of drugs permeating the skin. October 2008

Anthony Agnew (BFormSci 2003) is a formulation scientist in the Injectables Development Formulation Group at Mayne Pharma. He specialises in the research and development of injectable drug formulations for the treatment of cancer (oncology) and infectious diseases. October 2008

Cathy Amarantidis (nee Smith) (BFormSci 2003) works as Project Coordinator at Cardinal Health, managing major projects for multinational drug companies within Australia and Asia. She also looks after local OTC projects, including leading vitamin and mineral supplement brands within the Australian market. This includes everything from speaking with the customer to making sure the product is delivered on time. October 2008

After graduation, Steve Baraz (BPharm 2007) decided to continue working with the My Chemist group, progressing to a trainee pharmacist position on rotation between Doncaster, Chirnside Park and Lilydale pharmacies. After completing his trainee year in 2007, he continued to do a rotation all over Melbourne and even ventured to Traralgon. Recently, he commenced in a permanent position as pharmacist manager at My Chemist in Greensborough. October 2008

Max Boyarovsky (BPharm 2002) For the past year, Max has been working part time in an Irish pharmacy. He hopes to spend next year travelling around Europe before returning to Australia. October 2008

Jana Dostal ( Pharmacy 2006) is completing her pre-reg year at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Jana returned from East Timor earlier in the year. Read more about her experience in Alchemy issue 10. September 2006

After registering as a pharmacist in 2007, Rachelle Downie (BPharm 2006) commenced a graduate law degree, the Melbourne Juris Doctor, at the University of Melbourne. In addition to study, she continues to work part time as a community pharmacist. After graduating from law, Rachelle intends to combine the knowledge she has acquired from both degrees by practising in the area of intellectual property law. October 2008

Elizabeth Dyson (GradCertWoundCare 2006) was a clinical nurse consultant for the Northern Chronic Wound Service and is now Clinical Specialist and Assistant Lecturer for the Wound Foundation of Australia. This involves being a Graduate Certificate unit advisor and delivering educational programs for practice nurses and nursing homes. Elizabeth is also a committee member for the Wound Management Association of Victoria. October 2008

Bronwyn Flanagan (BPharm 2002) practised in Gippsland for a number of years after graduating and now works as a pharmacy manager in Kensington. Heavily involved with the Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria (Victorian branch), she is an active member of the Young Pharmacists Committee and was its chair until she was elected to the role of councillor of the society. Bronwyn was recently selected by Rotary International District 9800 to take part in a vocational group study exchange to Nebraska in March 2008. She hopes to visit the Pharmaceutical Society of Nebraska and establish links between pharmacy professionals in Nebraska and Victoria. October 2008

Khay Fong (BFormSc(Hons) 2008) decided not to start a full time job or a PhD immediately after completing her studies, so her 2008 has been an eclectic mix of work and travel. She worked at Orica Mining Services in Kurri Kurri (NSW) as a summer vacation research assistant, enjoying the opportunity to apply her knowledge and to ‘blow things up’. Khay is currently on a six-month trip in Asia doing some volunteer work and travelling. She spent two months in Indonesia and is currently in Chennai teaching English/music/kindergarten and running holiday programs for an orphanage. Khay will be applying for a 2009 PhD scholarship and hopes to return to the faculty next year. October 2008

Amanda Galbraith (Pharmacy Management 2006) recently completed the Graduate Certificate in Pharmacy Management. Amanda is the first recipient of this award from Monash University and the Victorian College of Pharmacy. She commenced this course to help her before she purchased a pharmacy, to make sure she had sufficient business and financial knowledge. She has since been busy running her pharmacy in Canberra, which won the 2005 QCPP Pharmacy of the year. In the meantime, Amanda has become the Vice President of the ACT Branch of The Pharmacy Guild and helped to organise Canberra's first Women For Pharmacy Network Dinner as she believes strongly in being a part of her industry. September 2006

Working and studying have been occupying Catherine George's time this year (Pharmacy 2006). Catherine is completing her pre-reg year at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and is really enjoying her time there. She also works in community pharmacy part-time and is keen to travel the world in the next few years. September 2006

Mohamed Azmi Ahmad Hassali (PhD 2006) is an academic staff member at Universiti Sains Malaysia in the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences. October 2008

Rebecca Kanati (BFormSc 2006) works as a development chemist for Ross Cosmetics, a cosmetic and personal care manufacturer. Her role involves formulating preparations using the latest techniques and materials. Rebecca must carefully balance the technical attributes of the formulations and ensure that all requirements of compatibility, stability, regulatory standards and client expectations are met. She works closely with clients to maximise product potential, providing the latest marketing information and formulation updates. October 2008

Kiran Manya (GradCertPharmPrac 2006) enrolled in the graduate medical program at the University of Sydney after completing his pre-registration year. He works part time as a community pharmacist and locum pharmacist in rural areas of Australia. October 2008

Alana Meaklim (BPharm 2006) is completing her pre-reg year at the Austin Hospital. In addition to her busy pre-reg workload, Alana has been actively involved in NAPSA and has just finished a 12-month term as national secretary. October 2008

In December 2005, Dhineli Perera (BPharm 2006) started her pre-registrant position at Austin Health, Heidelberg. She has since accepted a position with Youth Challenge Australia to embark on a two-month project to Guyana in February 2007, involving HIV prevention programs and women’s capacity building. Dhineli looks forward to completing her trainee year and is excited about the future. October 2008

Now a researcher in drug design at GlaxoSmithKline, UK, Benjamin Tehan (PhD 2003) previously held a postdoctoral position at Monash in partnership with the Victorian Partnership for Advanced Computing and the Victorian Infectious Disease Research Laboratories. His work there included investigation of dynamic G protein-coupled receptors, analysis of homology models of mutant viral receptors in relation to ligand binding resistance, and non-linear scoring functions for protein/ligand docking complexes. At GlaxoSmithKline Ben’s work supports psychiatry department programs with membrane bound receptors, with a specific interest in G protein-coupled receptors. He is also involved in all other aspects of drug discovery, from pharmacophore development and library design to compound selection and ADMET analysis. October 2008

Shelly Whittle (BFormSc(Hons) 2008) is currently working in the R&D department at PZ Cussons as a development chemist in their graduate program. She is primarily focusing on the formulation of dishwashing liquid (Morning Fresh), which is sold both in Australia and internationally, and is also researching the formulation of dishwasher tablets. Shelly is enjoying her work in this field of chemistry and is looking forward to seeing products she has helped formulate appear in the supermarkets. October 2008