Associate Professor Sarah Dineen-Griffin shares her journey from community pharmacy to becoming a nationally and internationally recognised leader in pharmacist prescribing, research, and education.
Sarah is a registered pharmacist and Program Convenor of the Graduate Certificate in Pharmacist Prescribing at the University of Newcastle and has led the prescribing trials across NSW and ACT. Backed by $8 million in NSW Government funding, her research was to evaluate and implement expanding pharmacists’ scope to prescribe for common conditions, including UTIs, skin ailments, and contraception.
Sarah is Vice President of the Community Pharmacy Section Executive Committee of the International Pharmaceutical Federation and Director of the FIP Hub, driving global pharmacy innovation. Sarah was awarded the Beryl Nashar Alumni of the Year in 2024, and a Fellowship to the International Pharmaceutical Federation and Pharmaceutical Society of Australia in 2024.
What shaped her path?
It started early - working in community pharmacy at just 14 years old - and evolved into a career focused on improving access to care and helping pharmacists practise to their full potential.
What drives her work today?
A strong belief that evidence, collaboration, and patient safety must underpin any expansion of scope.
In this episode:
- How early pharmacy experience can shape long-term career direction
- Why research plays a critical role in policy and practice change
- The realities of pharmacist prescribing and expanded scope
- Building trust, collaboration, and safe models of care
- What Australia can learn from international pharmacy practice
- Addressing burnout and supporting the future workforce
From community pharmacy beginnings to influencing national and global practice, this episode highlights the impact pharmacists can have beyond traditional roles.
You can find Sarah Dineen-Griffin on LinkedIn.
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