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New Curtin University of Technology pharmacy graduate, Simeon Ngweso, completed his exams with flying colours and also made history in his final year as a student.
The 23-year-old from Bentley is the first WA pharmacy student to win the 2009 PSA Alphapharm Pharmacy Student of the Year Award.
Mr Ngweso said winning the award at the annual Pharmacy Australia Congress was tough but he had been well prepared.
“The competition required a strong knowledge of theory as well as good interpersonal communication to deal with the different scenarios presented,” he said.
“I put in a lot of effort to brush up on legislative and therapeutic theory before the competition and also drew confidence from the practical nature of Curtin’s pharmacy course.
“I already had significant exposure to real-world situations and found myself well-equipped to handle the communication and counselling aspects of the competition.”
In addition to the 2009 Pharmacy Student of the Year Award, Mr Ngweso also took out the coveted Audience Choice award in which spectators were asked to select their winner after the first round.
As the 2009 winner, Mr Ngweso received a travel prize and will attend the 2010 International Pharmacy Student Federation Congress in Slovenia.
Now that he has graduated, Mr Ngweso is fulfilling a one-year pharmacy internship at Royal Perth Hospital and then wants to further his studies.
“I see myself specialising in clinical pharmacy and I want to undertake a graduate course in this area,” he said.
“I hope to work in a hospital for the first stage of my career, but I eventually want to broaden my horizons and am very interested in international health.
“It would be wonderful to one day utilise my experience and skills in the developing world and contribute to health care on a global level.”
