It’s that time of year again when we celebrate the achievements and hard work of our young Maori Bachelor of Pharmacy graduates.
This year from Otago School of Pharmacy we have Laurelle Lock and Rosemary Boulton. And from Auckland School of Pharmacy we have Iraani Hippolite, Brent Brownbridge, Corbin O’Neill, and Robert Haua.
A huge congratulations to all our graduating students who have worked hard over the last 4 years! Exciting times ahead with internships!
Robert Haua in particular has done exceptionally well and been awarded four awards including top overall top final year student for Bachelor of Pharmacy. On top of these he also received the Dean’s medal for outstanding contribution to the academic development of the faculty whilst undertaking undergraduate studies. This award is only given when there is a candidate of sufficient merit and it is the first time a Pharmacy student has received this award from the Dean of the School of Medicine. Congratulations Robert!
Here’s what a couple of them are up to…
Corbin said that the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree at The University of Auckland has been an incredibly satisfying and rewarding achievement. The highlight of 2015 was being involved in the rural health inter-professional immersion programme and undertaking a four-week placement at a community pharmacy in Kawerau. He thoroughly enjoyed being a part of and is thankful for the support offered by the Māori Pharmacists Association, MAPAS and Whakapiki Ake. In 2016 he starts an internship at Waikato Hospital. He is looking forward to the developing role of pharmacy as a career and being able to contribute as a Māori pharmacist.
Iraani is from Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Toa and Ngāti Maniapoto. While she has lived all over New Zealand and bits of Australia she calls Nelson home. She is currently residing in Hamilton and starts her internship shared between two pharmacies in Matamata. . She previously completed a BSc in biology at Waikato University before moving up to Auckland to undertake a pharmacy degree which she found extremely challenging but very rewarding. She is looking forward to the coming intern year to put what she has learned into practice to develop into a confident new pharmacist.
