Classnotes - 1990's
Since childhood, Melissa Anderson (BPharm 1997) dreamed of singing opera. After graduating from pharmacy, she completed a Bachelor of Music Performance (Opera) at VCA. Following this she travelled to Scotland and Singapore where she lived for the next five years, working as a pharmacist and managing an opportunity shop. She completed a Masters in Counselling at UniSA Singapore before returning to Melbourne in 2006. As a pharmacist and counsellor, Melissa observed an over-reliance on prescription medication and a limited commitment to developing key life skills. So she established resilience and leadership training providers Shine Academy for Girls and Longford & Fraser Leadership Academy for Boys in 2009. In addition to teaching and counselling commitments, Melissa still undertakes locum pharmacy work.
In May 2002, Angela Calandra (BPharm 1992) joined the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the college to assist with the delivery of the Monash Pre-registration course. She continues to work part time in community pharmacy. Angela enjoys spending time with her young children and helping with their school activities. October 2008
Arthur Christopoulos (BPharm 1990, PhD 1997) is currently Professor of Pharmacology, NHMRC Senior Research Fellow, and co-director of the Drug Discovery Biology theme within the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the faculty and at the Department of Pharmacology (Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences), Monash University. Arthur has developed an outstanding international reputation in the field of G protein-coupled receptors, accepting major leadership responsibilities in his discipline including membership of seven international editorial boards. Over the last five years, he has successfully attracted over $12.8 million as Chief Investigator on competitive grants and industry contracts. Indicators of his success include over 100 publications, two books, national and international science awards and over 50 invited international and 30 invited national presentations. October 2008
Alison Duncan (BPharm 1990, GradDipClinPharm 1999) is now a senior clinical pharmacist at The Alfred, where she leads a group of pharmacists working in the medical specialty directorate, caring for patients under the hematology, medical oncology, radiotherapy, infectious diseases and palliative care units. Her passionate interest is for infectious diseases, and she has specialised in the area of HIV and AIDS for 10 years now. Her specialist knowledge has seen her go to India (sponsored by the Australia India Council) on several occasions, providing education to nurses about HIV, opportunistic illnesses and their therapies. Alison has also given lectures and presentations to students, doctors, pharmacists and community workers in Melbourne and throughout Victoria, when requested. October 2008
Since 2005, Katerina Karanikolopoulos (BPharm 1994) has been working for Phosphagenics, where she is involved in both corporate development and the development of pharmaceutical partnering opportunities. Previous to this, she worked as a consultant in the finance team of Pricewaterhouse-Coopers, where she advised on corporate transactions including initial public offerings, mergers and divestments. Katerina has also served a term as an elected councillor with Manningham City Council. October 2008
Dr Greg Kossena (BPharm 1999, BPharmSc(Hons) 2001, PhD 2006) completed his internship in hospital pharmacy at Monash Medical Centre in 2000, followed by an honours year in pharmaceutical research. This led to a PhD looking at the use of lipid based formulations to enhance the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs, and travelling to Glasgow, where he was involved in a GlaxoSmithKline funded human trial assessing the bio-transit of lipid based formulations. After graduating with a PhD in pharmaceutics, he underwent a complete change of direction when the opportunity arose for an early 'sea change', going into partnership with his former retail pharmacy bosses by purchasing the busy Cowes Pharmacy on Phillip Island.
Sandip Manku (BPharm 1995) started his career as Pharmacy Manager for the My Chemist Group in Moonee Ponds after completing his undergraduate degree. When an opportunity came up to move to the Goulburn Valley to run his own practice in the town of Tatura, population 2560, Sandip jumped at the chance. In the early 2000s Sandip made another move. This time he relocated to the UK and completed his MBA while working as a hospital pharmacist in various UK locations. Completion of his MBA opened up a range of opportunities that allowed Sandip to integrate his pharmacy background with business and management. He then went on to work in a range of roles in industry and has now returned to Australia working as Business Manager (Hospitals) for Dr Reddy’s Laboratories. This was the perfect stepping stone into his current role as Director of Pro Pharmaceuticals Group, a company focusing developing special access medicines, hospital injectable generics, clinical trial sourcing and orphan drugs for hospitals. Sandip thoroughly enjoys his work and in particular being able to use his scientific expertise in an industry environment. He currently lives in Bayside Melbourne and enjoys keeping active with his GP wife, two children and family dog. September 2016
Scott McLaren (BPharm 1990) has been leading a double life since graduating. While practising as a locum pharmacist and owning his own pharmacy, he has had a very successful career as an AFL umpire. Scott made his umpiring debut in 1994 and has umpired over 300 games, including five Grand Finals, breaking the record of consecutive games umpired. Scott married another medically-minded person, in physiotherapist wife Catherine, and they have two children. May 2009
Pauline Lai Siew Mei (BPharm 1991) is currently undertaking a PhD in pharmacy practice at the University of Malaya. October 2008
Dr Tim Morgan (BPharm 1992, BPharmSc(Hons) 1994, PhD 1999) In July 2005 Tim left Acrux Limited, the ASX-listed company he co-founded in 1998 at the college. His new venture, Lachesis Biosciences, is currently developing a preventive health care service. Tim continues as Treasurer for the RACI Pharmaceutical Science Group (Victorian branch) and has recently been challenged by the 100km Oxfam Trail Walk that raises money for the Oxfam charity. October 2008
Sunil Narula (BPharm 1993) is state manager for My Chemist and Chemist Warehouse in Western Australia, where he is directing and managing the expansion in the state. His role involves the selection and planning of sites, beginning with the purchase of the pharmacy and doing everything in between until the pharmacy is up and trading. He also oversees the training of graduate pharmacists, educating them on the practice of pharmacy as well as pharmacy management. October 2008
Peter Nguyen (BPharm 1997) worked part time in both hospital and community pharmacies. In the community setting, Peter has worked in very busy pharmacies (dispensing more than 800 scripts), forward dispensing, semi-rural (Whittlesea) and small medical centre pharmacies. Each has presented its own challenges. Peter hopes to become a pharmacy owner one day, so he can draw his past experiences together and make a significant contribution to the health and well being of the local community. October 2008
After completing his PhD, Joseph Nicolazzo (BPharm 1999, BPharmSc(Hons) 2001, PhD 2005) commenced at the faculty's Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation. In 2007, he was appointed lecturer in the Department of Pharmaceutics. Joseph's main teaching duties focus on oral drug absorption, pharmacokinetics and biopharmaceutics, and he teaches in both the Bachelor of Pharmacy and Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science courses. He is a member of Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics theme within the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, where his research efforts focus on understanding the mechanisms involved in drug transport across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), novel formulation approaches to improve BBB drug transport, and the impact of Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy on the permeability of the BBB. October 2008
Dr Craig Rayner (BPharm 1995) In August 2005, Craig stepped down as co-director of FADDI and senior lecturer at the college to take a position as Clinical Pharmacologist with Roche in the UK. Craig is responsible for new development initiatives for Tamiflu (anti-influenza drug that is considered the first line treatment of bird-flu) as well as supporting another early development program. Craig and wife Michelle look forward to using his air miles for an exotic vacation somewhere. October 2008
Following completion of his internship at the Austin Hospital, Puneet (Sunny) Rewal (BPharm 1998) worked in Cairns before returning to Melbourne. For the next six years, he worked in community pharmacy before joining HPS Pharmacies at Melbourne Private Hospital. Subsequent to that, he was offered a partnership with HPS Pharmacies. He is the Chair of the Professional Services Group at HPS, a committee that benchmarks clinical standards in private hospital settings across the company’s sites around Australia. He is a member of the Australasian College of Health Services Managers and the Emerging Health Manager Special Interests Group, which provides a forum and networking opportunities for new managers in the sector. Sunny is also an observer for the Pharmacy Board of Australia and a consultant pharmacist with the Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy. January 2013
Emily Roberts (BPharm 1999) moved to Bendigo in 2002 in response to a perceived shortage of pharmacists, and found her future husband there. She bought a pharmacy three years ago and finds being a solo owner challenging but satisfying. Emily has maintained friendships she made while studying at the faculty, and she values this professional support. As a pharmacy owner her challenges have been learning to manage staff, financial aspects, and continuing to ensure all patients are provided with quality service and advice. Emily has implemented Residential Medication Management Reviews and Home Medicines Reviews, services which she hopes will grow. She has also begun compounding medications - the only pharmacy in Bendigo that does. December 2010
Robyn Stone (GradDipClinPharm 1999) spent 10 years in Melbourne before taking up a position with Roche in Sydney in 2005. Robyn is Roche's medical information manager, managing a team of seven medical information associates (she is the only pharmacist!) who handle enquiries regarding all aspects of Roche drugs. Robyn reviews promotional material to ensure that it complies with the Medicines Australia Code of Conduct and provides training to product specialist representatives. October 2008
Before entering the government sector in Victoria, Jason Sun (BPharm 1997) completed his internship at the Mercy Hospital for Women. He subsequently worked in community and hospital pharmacy, as a Medical Information Specialist at Glaxo Smith Kline and as a medication project manager and business analyst for Health SMART, a commonwealth government project enabling the sharing of patient records across a range of health professions. He is currently Manager, Performance Support and Strategy at the Department of Health Victoria providing advice on the reporting requirements for the performance of public hospitals in Victoria and overseeing the gathering of business intelligence on a range of KPIs in the Victorian Health System. Jason completed an MBA in 2008 and became a Fellow, Australasian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM) in 2011. June 2013
With a strong respect for community connection and the trust placed in the pharmacist, Rory Thompson (BPharm 1995) has always been interested in community pharmacy—and running his own. Today, with two quite distinct pharmacies, he plays an active role in patient care and the community. Rory’s role at both pharmacies has always been to work as pharmacist. “I am actively involved in patient care, prescription dispensing and patient counselling,” he says. “I have a strong interest in aged care, Parkinson’s Disease and pharmacotherapy.” Rory is on advisory committees at two aged care facilities, and gives regular lectures on caring for patients with Parkinson’s Disease. One of his pharmacies operates a pharmacotherapy program—an area where Rory says community pharmacists play a vital role. “We treat these patients daily,” he explains. “We’ve designed our treatment area to be discrete and private. It’s rewarding to see patients successfully complete the program.” Having graduated from Monash with the Bachelor of Pharmacy in 1995, Rory worked in community pharmacies for several years before he felt ready to take on his own operation. “I’ve always had a strong sense of the sort of pharmacy I wanted to operate,” he says. “It’s been exciting and challenging. Over time, I’ve found my groove, made strong connections and shaped the pharmacies I envisioned.” While Rory would never admit to being married to his job, he is married to another pharmacist. They have two kids in primary school. He takes time out each Saturday to run a half marathon, squeezing in “smaller runs” during the week. December 2013