Almost five years ago, Beshoy Ezak made the decision to move to rural Victoria. He was seeking an experience that would allow him to expand his skills as a pharmacist, all the while exploring a different kind of lifestyle outside of the city. Before long, Beshoy found himself relocating to the beautiful coastal town of Portland, where he is the Lead Pharmacist at Portland Guardian Pharmacy.
It was important for Beshoy to upskill as a pharmacist, which is why he applied for the Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP) through RWAV to undertake a Graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy. The HWSP is aimed at rural health professionals, and supports them through professional development opportunities that better the health outcomes of their community.
Studying the Graduate Diploma has given Beshoy a new sense of perspective in treating patients as well as improving his clinical knowledge. “It has enabled me to look at the patient holistically,” said Beshoy.
“I usually get referrals for patients with multiple health conditions and a complex medications list. Nevertheless, improving the patient’s health requires more than just medication. Several factors need to be taken into consideration when determining what is best for the patient. This has been made easier by the different subjects in the course.”
The upskilling opportunity has also led to Beshoy’s involvement with the Integrating Pharmacists within Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services to Improve Chronic Disease Management (IPAC) project. The IPAC Project aims to explore how the incorporation of pharmacists to Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services leads to an improvement of quality of care for patients.
The decision for Beshoy to move to Portland all those years ago is one he does not regret. “I love working in Portland. It has given me a satisfying career path and friendly people who treat me like family.”
If you are interested in pursuing further studies to upskill as Beshoy did, consider applying for the Health Workforce Scholarship Program. Find out more details here. If you are interested in working in rural Victoria, see current vacancies on the RWAV website or contact our Recruitment Team to learn more: screening@rwav.com.au.
The Health Workforce Scholarship Program is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health administered by RWAV in Victoria.
