Sally is an experienced clinical pharmacist and healthcare researcher focused on improving health systems, patient care, and the use of digital technologies. She leads AutoMedic and CAReMed, two MRFF-funded projects enhancing hospital pharmacy efficiency and implementing collaborative prescribing models.

What is your role and what does your work focus on? 

I work with the Digital Health Research Lab in supporting the development of our researchers and providing leadership for key grant-funded projects within the lab.  These projects focus on identifying, developing and implementing digital solutions to improve healthcare.

Where did you work and / or study before joining CMPH / Flinders? 

I still work within SA Health part time as Research Director for SA Pharmacy.  In this role, I lead research strategy development and implementation statewide, supporting medicines and healthcare systems-based research to improve the delivery of care for South Australians.  I am a pharmacist by background, having completed a BPharm at UniSA and MClinPharm at the University of Queensland.  I have worked as a clinical pharmacist in ICU and general medicine primarily, and in leadership roles including Deputy Director of Pharmacy for The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and John Hunter Hospitals in Newcastle.  My interests are primarily in education, workforce development and practice based research.

What inspired you to pursue a career in your current field, and how has your passion evolved over time?

My research goals of improving the way we deliver care for our patients aligned with a collaboration between DHRL and SA Pharmacy, and a successful MRFF grant for a project co-designing and implementing a digital platform to improve workflows, and automate the medication data gathering process involved in medication history taking, reconciliation and communication of medicines information to patients.  This led me to take up a role with DHRL to drive key aspects of this research.

Can you share a memorable experience or project from your career that had a significant impact on you or the community?

One of my first research projects was a randomised controlled trial of pharmacist prescribing in a perioperative service at the John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle. This was the first RCT of pharmacist prescribing, and it played a pivotal role in establishing evidence for pharmacists’ contribution to prescribing in our hospital settings.  Fifteen years later, we now have a range of collaborative prescribing models in place across Australia, where pharmacists contribute to ensuring that patients receive the right medicines at the right time when they enter the hospital.

How do you like to relax or spend your spare time?

I have three young kids who are all very active, and I love to spend time with them and watch them in their respective sports and recreational activities.  I enjoy cycling and pilates to keep myself fit. I also enjoy reading and gardening, and have a large cottage-style garden frequented by bees and butterflies filled with flowers, veggies, fruit, natives and trees.