Emma Larouche
1 August 2023: Bachelor of Pharmacy student Ingrid Stroud won the People’s Choice Award for this year’s Pharmacy Student of the Year (PSOTY) Award, at the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) National Conference from 28-30 July in Sydney.
The University of Canberra had a strong showing, with Ms Stroud joining the competition as a wildcard entry and fellow Bachelor of Pharmacy student Brett Spicer representing the ACT.
Ms Stroud earned her spot during the 2023 National Australian Pharmacy Students Association Congress, held at the University in January.
She grew up in Canberra and started working in a pharmacy during high school, then went on to study engineering at the Australian National University (ANU) for two years, before deciding to change universities and degrees.
“I ended up realising that I'm truly passionate about pharmacy,” Ms Stroud said.
“It’s an exciting profession to be a part of, COVID-19 has really highlighted how much more pharmacists can do.
“A pharmacist really is the most accessible health care professional – you can just walk in and get free advice.”
Mr Spicer had been named ACT finalist earlier this year. He grew up in Pambula on the NSW South Coast and moved to Canberra in 2019 to study pharmacy at the University.
“What really interests me about pharmacy is how medicine works and its effect on the human body,” Mr Spicer said.
In the course of his studies, he has undergone two placements in a community pharmacy setting and has continued to work at one of those pharmacies. He recently returned from a hospital placement in Wollongong, in NSW.
During the PSOTY final Mr Spicer and Ms Stroud were each tested with a real-life clinical situation, where a patient presented with symptoms or a specific product request. They were then required to use their clinical knowledge and communication skills to identify the most appropriate course of over-the-counter treatment, tailoring their responses to provide the most appropriate advice.
“It’s been a fantastic opportunity to learn and make some industry connections,” Mr Spicer said.
A judging panel assessed all finalists before selecting the national winner, and Ms Stroud’s people’s choice award was based on an audience vote.
University alumna Elise Apolloni was named Pharmacist of the Year at the conference. Ms Apolloni obtained a Graduate Certificate in Counselling in 2018 and was a Professional Associate at the University from 2016 to 2019 within the College of Adjuncts and Faculty of Health.
Early career pharmacist and University alumna Alicia Martin took home the People’s Choice Award in the Pharmacy Shark Tank event, after delivering a pitch for the development of a mobile app to help people safely stop medications that cause withdrawal symptoms. Ms Martin graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) in 2018.
