Pharmacy community band together to honour Duncan Cruickshank
The Duncan Cruickshank Shaping Futures Scholarship in Pharmacy is changing lives in honour of well-known and respected local pharmacist.
2018 marks the first awarding of the Duncan Cruickshank Shaping Futures Scholarship in Pharmacy. The scholarship was established in honour of the late Duncan Cruickshank, a local pharmacist who was well known and regarded in the Newcastle community.
After Duncan’s passing in 2015, Chris Piggott, community pharmacist, Conjoint Professor and previous President of the Newcastle and Hunter Valley Pharmacists Association (NHVPA), was approached by many local pharmacists who wished to recognise Duncan and honour his contribution to the community.
Chris said Duncan was highly regarded by his peers. As well as managing Newcastle’s after hours chemist, Duncan also contributed to the pharmacy community by working and teaching at the Mater Hospital in Newcastle.
The new scholarship is aimed at helping those with ability, but who face disadvantage accessing higher education. This may include sole parents, Indigenous Australians, refugees or those facing financial hardship.
Further to this, a PhD scholarship was established in Duncan’s name. The Duncan Cruickshank Memorial PhD Scholarship in Pharmacy, supervised by Associate Professor Therese Kairuz, has two goals which aim to assist the pharmacy industry. Firstly dispensing data will help to analyse the use and potential misuse of medicines and develop pharmaco-economic models for sustainable pharmacist involvement in the primary healthcare team. Secondly, to demonstrate the value of community pharmacists within healthcare by providing supporting evidence to demonstrate pharmacists’ professional decision-making and clinical services.
Chris Piggott says, “The scholarships are a perfect way to honour Duncan’s memory, as he was passionate about the progression of pharmacy, and the field being one of diversity and equity of access.”
“Thank you to all of those who have already generously donated towards these scholarships,” said Brad Holmes, Head of Philanthropic Programs at the University of Newcastle, “It will make a huge difference to the lives of the scholarship recipients, and enable Duncan’s legacy to live on.”
If you would like to donate to the fund click here and select ‘University of Newcastle Pharmacy Fund’ in the drop-down menu.
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The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.