Deborah Hawthorne

I graduated from Pharmacy in 2009. Since then, we’ve moved around to multiple sites in Victoria for my husband’s study/work, but have now finally settled in the beautiful North East Victorian town of Wangaratta. Together we have 5-year-old twins, a border collie puppy named Coco and 7 chickens (who still remain nameless). Due to moving so often, I’ve worked in various pharmacies as a Pharmacist, Pharmacist in charge and Pharmacist manager. I contemplated leaving the industry and becoming a librarian, with a library liaison position whilst studying Information Management. We then decided on our move to Wangaratta and I reconnected with local pharmacists who helped me start a medication review business and springboard into the becoming one of the first embedded pharmacists within a GP clinic in North East Victoria.

Due to the pandemic and the nature of being a sole practitioner, especially in a rural location, I felt quite isolated so started a Facebook group for pharmacists working in the same area. It has grown into a popular community of practice with almost 2000 members. The group helps to educate, support and inspire students and pharmacists interested in these areas of medication management. Whilst working as a GP Pharmacist, private consultant pharmacist and studying, I also participate in research in various forms. I work as a research assistant with UWA helping to collate deprescribing guidelines, assist honours and masters pharmacy students with systematic reviews due to my librarian background, and am also an inaugural member of the research team COHERENT which focuses on medication review research.

I like to use every spare second I have wisely, so in my limited spare time I contribute to the Murray PHN HealthPathways as a Subject Matter Expert and mentor new GP Pharmacists (embedded pharmacists) in the Brisbane South PHN. I am also part of the PharmOnline Pharmacist team, the first of its kind in providing medication advice to the Australian public via telehealth. In my quest to remove barriers to health advice and pharmacists, I have contributed to business plans hoping to allow patients with disability to utilise the NDIS to access timely pharmacist services, especially in light of the recent findings from the Royal Commission into Disability Care.

My passion lies in so many areas with the one integral theme of improving health for all, regardless of postcode. Rural health, medication reviews and embedded pharmacists are my most active projects, but I truly hope to be part of the change improving pharmacist’s involvement in the medication safety for patients living with intellectual disability and autism. 

Recognising the need for more diabetes educators is what has driven me to complete this degree. As a GP Pharmacist and consultant pharmacist I deal with chronic disease every day. I see the way diabetes is adversely affecting the community and the very few CDE we have access too. 

I chose to study at UTS as there are no pharmacist CDE in my area, and very few actively practicing anywhere, so I reached out on various forums as to which course to study diabetes education that was also recognised by ADEA. UTS came out as the most recommended by pharmacist colleagues around Australia. The almost 100% (except for placement) online nature has allowed me to study in a time that suits me (when the children are asleep or in lunch breaks at work) while continuing to practice clinically and be a present family member. 

I’m gaining a much deeper understanding of living with Diabetes, especially GDM and type 1 diabetes mellitus. The multi-disciplinary nature of the course is also beneficial as it’s not only medication based (which is normally my forte), but includes informative lectures from nurses, CDE, exercise physiologists, dietitians, and other experts in the diabetes field. 

Gaining new knowledge that I can actively take to my everyday practice is the most rewarding aspect of the course. I am so much better equipped, while only being half-way through the course, to help my patients – I can just imagine the sheer health impact I can have once study has been completed.

I have good days and bad days, which is to be expected with my busy work, research, and study schedule – not to mention being a mum of pre-schooler twins. Most of the course can be done in your own pace, except for the assignments that have certain due dates which help to keep me motivated. I try not to do study on the weekend so that I have quality family time and get more done during the week but realistically it doesn’t always work out. My family is extremely supportive of my desire to further educate myself especially with the aim to help others.  

While it is an online course, the co-ordinators and teachers are all very responsive via email or telephone. The placement organiser, Katie, has been amazing in organising my placement in my hometown of Wangaratta, so as to not burden my family any further. 

I hope to add a CDE qualification to my belt, while still working as a pharmacist, researcher and advocate for all things relating to medication safety and management while reducing the barriers experienced by location, disability and an aging community.  

The course is a wonderful way to add to your diabetes knowledge in a holistic manner. Even if becoming a CDE isn’t your end goal, the information and connections you gain are well worth your precious time.