Deb Hawthorne - My Journey to Rural Health Leader

In this episode, Deb Hawthorne shares her journey through pharmacy, highlighting the diverse roles and opportunities beyond traditional pharmacy practice. She discusses advocacy, rural health, and the importance of upskilling and community engagement in shaping the future of consultant pharmacy.Deb is Consultant Pharmacist of the Year, rural health leader and Chair of PSA’s Consultant Pharmacist Community of Special Interest.This episode explores:How rural practice shaped her leadership.The realities of delivering medication reviews across a 500–600km catchment.Why consultant pharmacists are advocating for reform in the current Federal Budget cycle.The impact of HMR caps and stagnant remuneration since 2019.How Deb built a 4,000+ member national consultant pharmacist community.Why pharmacists must engage directly with policymakers.This is not just a policy conversation. It’s a career conversation.It’s about how clinical experience turns into advocacy. How saying yes creates opportunity. And how pharmacists can step into leadership wherever they practise.You can find Deb Hawthorne on LinkedIn.Do you have questions about your pharmacy career? Then contact us or meet our team.