Two familiar faces are returning to Mackay to kick-start their careers through the Mackay Base Hospital Pharmacy Internship Program.
Bryden Seymour is a former local returning to her roots while Chris Simpson is following on at Mackay Base Hospital from his University placement last year.
Mackay Hospital and Health Service Director of Pharmacy Ron Nightingale said it was exciting the duo were choosing to further their careers in Mackay.
“The variety of work, one-on-one patient interaction and further opportunities for hands on experience is what attracted the two intern pharmacists to Mackay Base Hospital,” he said.
“They will spend this year rotating around different areas to grow their skills, while being supervised by senior colleagues who they can learn from. At the end of it they will undergo final exams to be signed off as registered pharmacists.
“We hope by providing a good variety of placements they will choose to work in the Mackay Hospital and Health Service in the future.”
Chris Simpson was in his first year of Marina Biology at James Cook University when he saw his interest grow in an area he didn’t expect.
“I was in my first year of studying marine biology when I came to enjoy chemistry and pharmaceutical science,” he said.
“From there I decided to transfer to a Bachelor of Pharmacy and my interest grew further. I really came to enjoy the patient interaction while doing my placements.”
Chris is undergoing his first placement in the emergency department and enjoying the experience of a fast-paced, varied environment.
“In the emergency department you provide care for a lot of people that you don’t necessarily see on the wards,” he said.
“You also get a lot of situations that might otherwise go unnoticed, such as medication mismanagement.
“I am interested in getting a broad experience where I can gain a lot of skills so I can come out a fully registered pharmacist next year.”
Bryden Seymour is returning to Mackay to undergo her pharmacy internship at Mackay Base Hospital after six years of living away. She always knew she wanted to work in health, but it wasn’t until a high school
excursion that she knew the exact path she would follow.
“In grade 12 my school went on an excursion to the Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence (PACE). We got to do compounding and go into mock
pharmacy and I thought it was cool,” she said.
“Between this excursion and my interest in helping people I knew I wanted to study Pharmacy, so I signed on to study at the University of Queensland.”
Bryden is using her intern year and rotations to help decide what area she would like to focus on.
“I am currently working in cardiac care but about to start in the dispensary, which I am excited about because it is I where I can grow my skills in the basics of Pharmacy,” she said.
“I am using this year to experience different areas and find out where I want to progress my career.”
