Rural pharmacist Josh Cooper MPS found his calling by chance. Now he’s helping other early career pharmacists fall back in love with the profession.
Tell us about your journey into rural pharmacy.
I always knew pharmacy was the profession I wanted to be in. During my fourth year at Curtin University, a few mates said they were going to PSA22 and asked if I wanted to come along.
I talked to so many amazing pharmacists at the conference, everyone was so welcoming to me as a student. At the Welcome Reception I had the opportunity to speak with Taren Gill FPS, who suggested the idea of going interstate for my internship.
At the time I didn’t think much about it, given I’d have to move away from all my family and friends in Perth. But on the flight home, I considered giving it a try. A week, two interviews and a lot of thinking later, I told my parents I would be moving across the country to Maryborough, Victoria.
What do you enjoy most about working as a rural pharmacist?
The feeling of community. The patients you help in the pharmacy are the same people you talk to at the supermarket or at the football on the weekend. You really get to be an integral part of your patients’ lives.
What are some of the challenges and rewards of rural pharmacy?
Access to other healthcare professionals is a double-edged sword – both the biggest challenge and the biggest opportunity. Patients will often drive up to 70 km to see you for a primary care issue, simply because you’re the closest healthcare professional around. That’s a lot of responsibility – but it’s rewarding too, since it pushes you to draw on your best problem-solving skills to get the right outcome for your patients.
Why are you passionate about engaging ECPs?
There are so many early career pharmacists that do not know how to seek support from the profession. They feel disillusioned, burnt out and are considering their futures. Beyond support from professional organisations, having other pharmacists at a similar career stage to talk to makes a real difference to career satisfaction. I’m in such a privileged position to help ECPs meet, connect and form the kinds of friendships that help them fall back
in love with being a pharmacist.
How do you see community pharmacy evolving in the future?
The sky is the limit. It’s hard to believe that we only started vaccinating in pharmacy just over 10 years ago. And there are so many growth opportunities in rural pharmacy. At the moment, our scope of practice is really focused on primary care, diagnosis and treatment, but one area that needs growth is disease state management and follow-up. I would also love to see further training and programs focused on how to change and adjust treatments in chronic care scenarios, particularly in areas where there is less access to GPs and specialists.
How could rural pharmacists be better supported?
It’s difficult for rural pharmacists to get to events. Webinars are very useful for keeping up with new treatments, guidelines and the latest in pharmacy practice – but I would love to see more chances for rural pharmacists to network within our region and within a larger sphere. We can often feel left out, and building a social network of pharmacists – through regular online meetups and events – can help turn that around.
This would allow rural pharmacists to reach their peers who are isolated and burnt out, and remind them why they got into the profession in the first place.
What’s your advice for those keen on rural pharmacy?
Try it – the feeling you get from being part of a larger community is so incredibly special. All it took was one chance, and I have found my passion.
