A Curtin University student has been named Western Australia’s Pharmacy Student of the Year.
Zach Nizich, a fourth-year pharmacy student, recently received the prestigious accolade, which is based on a student’s exceptional pharmaceutical counselling skills, at a presentation at the chambers of the Pharmaceutical Council of Western Australia.
Mr Nizich, 21, from Mount Pleasant, competed against pharmacy opponents from the University of Western Australia and Murdoch University to scoop the distinguished award.
He said he could not believe he was selected as the Curtin candidate let alone win the state final.
“I’m still in shock. I’d like to credit lecturers Sue White and Ciara Bambrick from the School of Pharmacy, who put me through the paces and spent a lot of time helping me to practise my counselling skills,” Mr Nizich said.
“I really enjoyed participating. I was presented with two mock scenarios where I had to counsel patients on separate presenting complaints in front of a live audience.
“It’s great to win an all expenses paid trip to attend the finals at the national competition that will be held at the Pharmacy Australia Congress in Melbourne from 6 – 9 October.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to compete against the other state finalists and spending time learning about the pharmacy profession.”
The overall national winner will have the opportunity to attend the International Pharmacy Student Federation congress in Egypt in August 2012.
The annual competition is open to all final-year pharmacy students and is organised by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and sponsored by the pharmaceutical company – Alphapharm.
Contact:
Kristy Jones / Teresa Belcher, Public Relations, Curtin University
Tel: 08 9266 9085, Email: k.jones@curtin.edu.au, teresa.belcher@curtin.edu.au
Web: http://curtin.edu.au
