‘A trailblazer of the profession’: Russell Levy wins 2023 Medal of Merit Award
Russell Levy FSHP – a clinical authority on infectious diseases, with significant expertise in oncology and haematology, and pioneer of SHPA’s annual Pharmacy Forecast Australia – has won the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA)’s Medal of Merit presented on Friday evening at Medicines Management 2023 (MM2023), the 47th SHPA National Conference in Cairns.
Chair of the SHPA NSW Branch Chair from 2014 to 2019 and a former SHPA mentor, Mr Levy has held prominent leadership positions on numerous state and national bodies, including as Convenor and Chair of the NSW HIV Pharmacy Special Interest Group and Treasurer of the NSWTAG Editorial Committee.
SHPA President Tom Simpson says in recent years Mr Levy’s dedication and leadership have shone.
‘Russell was a guiding light during the worst years of the COVID-19 pandemic, developing logistics and operating procedures for the provision of care to patients in hotel quarantine during 2020 and 2021.
‘He was part of the Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) Directors of Pharmacy collaboration that developed and deployed the large scale COVID-19 vaccination program in the Sydney region, which saw some of the fastest uptake rates in the country.
‘Russell has also been at the centre of SHPA’s Pharmacy Forecast Australia success story, fostering relationships with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) that led to a formal partnership with SHPA and the launch of the first edition in 2021.
‘Russell was selected as the inaugural Chair of the Pharmacy Forecast Advisory Committee, a position he holds to this day, and under his leadership this important annual report has gone from strength to strength.’
In bestowing the award, SHPA President Tom Simpson noted the Forecast’s growth as an annual thought leadership piece on emerging trends and phenomena that will impact pharmacy and the health of Australians.
‘Thanks to Russell’s foresight and determination, coupled with his strategic planning acumen, we now have an insight into the future of pharmacy that can help drive important conversations with key decision makers.
‘Russell has also contributed meaningfully and consistently to hospital pharmacy at a local level in Sydney for many years. He is often praised for his collegiate manner and general willingness to contribute to the greater good.
‘Russell is a trailblazer of the profession and a most deserving recipient of the Medal of Merit honour’.