21 May 2007
Dr Jennifer Marriott, a senior lecturer in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, Victorian College of Pharmacy, has been awarded a prestigious travel and study scholarship.
Endowed in 1976, the Cyril Tonkin Fellowship of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (Victorian Branch) promotes innovation and leadership in the profession of pharmacy through visits to international pharmacy institutions.
With the Fellowship, Dr Marriott plans to explore three areas of interest -- curriculum design and content, teaching methods and assessment. The Fellowship will enable Jennifer to undertake a study tour of a number of schools of pharmacy in North America and the UK to explore curricula and investigate aspects around modes of delivery and assessment of educational material delivered in those pharmacy programs.
It is proposed that for the study tour would be undertaken in two parts; one month in North America in October-November 2007, and a second month in the UK in January-February 2008.
"The Cyril Tonkin Fellowship is a fantastic opportunity to immerse myself in teaching issues and to explore the best ways of delivering a modern pharmacy curriculum. It is particularly relevant now as the Bachelor of Pharmacy course at VCP is undergoing review," Dr Marriott said.
Dr Tonkin, a Geelong pharmacist and doctor, was a strong supporter of scholarship and research. Named in his honour, the scholarship was first established with an initial bequest of over $250,000 by Ms Sarah Amy Lloyd, whose father conducted a pharmacy business in Geelong. It was the largest scholarship fund of its type established in Australia for the pursuit of academic and professional excellence.
Each year the Cyril Tonkin Trust awards one or more Visiting Fellowships, allowing recipients the opportunity to develop their personal professional interests, while simultaneously assisting the College and the profession.
Each recipient is provided sufficient funds to visit international pharmacy schools and centres for a two to three month period. In this instance, the sites in North America and the UK have reputed excellence in pharmacy practice development.
The recipient's professional development benefits from the visiting opportunity, and in return they are expected to establish a network of pharmacy acquaintances from academia and practice, and to thoroughly assess the institutions they visit.
For further information, contact Steve Pogonowski, Media Communications, on 9905 1253.
| 
