Your Pharmacy Career Podcast

Sit down with Mia Avram - final-year pharmacy student at Monash University and National President of the National Australian Pharmacy Students' Association (NAPSA).

Mia's journey is a powerful reminder that some of the biggest career opportunities begin with simply putting your hand up.

From choosing pharmacy at the last minute to leading an organisation representing more than 5,000 pharmacy students, Mia shares how getting involved early shaped her passion for leadership and advocacy.

She also takes us behind the scenes of the national campaign that secured access to paid placements for pharmacy students from July 2027, all while balancing full-time study, work and leadership responsibilities.

💡 In this episode:

• Why saying yes to opportunities can transform your career
• How student advocacy helped secure paid placements
• Why pharmacists need a voice in national policy discussions
• Balancing study, work and leadership while knowing when to ask for help
• The importance of mentorship and supporting the next generation of pharmacists

"Our voice is so important. We need to be in the room where those discussions are being held."

You can find Mia Avram on LinkedIn.

About Your Pharmacy Career Podcast

Welcome to Your Pharmacy Career Podcast, proudly produced by Raven’s Recruitment - the experts in pharmacy career and locum services for over 30 years!

Hosted by Pharmacist, Krysti-Lee Patterson, every episode is your gateway to new opportunities in the pharmacy profession. From expert advice to inspiring success stories, we’re here to spark ideas, guide your career, and help you achieve your goals. Whether you're a student, an early-career pharmacist, or a seasoned professional, this podcast is designed to keep you informed and inspired.

Proudly brought to you by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. The PSA is committed to empowering pharmacists through advocacy, innovation, and industry-leading professional development. To become a member or learn more about how the PSA can support your career, visit www.psa.org.au.

Pharmacy Daily is a proud supporter of Your Pharmacy Career Podcast. If you're in the pharmacy world, it's a great resource to stay up to date with the latest industry news. To subscribe, just head to pharmacydaily.com.au to get the newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.

Sit down with Krishna Nathwani - the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s first-ever Harm Reduction Champion.

Krishna’s career is a powerful reminder that leadership can start long before you’re given a formal title.

From stepping into a fast-tracked management role early in her career to becoming a national advocate for harm reduction, Krishna shares how following the areas you genuinely care about can shape both your career and the impact you have on others.

💡 In this episode:

• Why you don’t need a title to be a leader
• How passion and attention to detail can create opportunities
• The importance of bringing your team along with you
• Krishna’s journey into harm reduction
• How pharmacists can make a meaningful difference through everyday leadership

 “If you find something you're passionate about, or you care about it, even just giving it that attention to detail or discussing with your team and bringing them along... you can be a leader without having any titles at all.”

You can find Krishna Nathwani on LinkedIn and on Instagram (The Harm Reduction Edit).

About Your Pharmacy Career Podcast

Welcome to Your Pharmacy Career Podcast, proudly produced by Raven’s Recruitment - the experts in pharmacy career and locum services for over 30 years!

Hosted by Pharmacist, Krysti-Lee Patterson, every episode is your gateway to new opportunities in the pharmacy profession. From expert advice to inspiring success stories, we’re here to spark ideas, guide your career, and help you achieve your goals. Whether you're a student, an early-career pharmacist, or a seasoned professional, this podcast is designed to keep you informed and inspired.

Proudly brought to you by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. The PSA is committed to empowering pharmacists through advocacy, innovation, and industry-leading professional development. To become a member or learn more about how the PSA can support your career, visit www.psa.org.au.

Pharmacy Daily is a proud supporter of Your Pharmacy Career Podcast. If you're in the pharmacy world, it's a great resource to stay up to date with the latest industry news. To subscribe, just head to pharmacydaily.com.au to get the newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.

Sit down with Sara Murdock - Lead Pharmacist at Pharmacy 777 Pascoe Vale, founder of The Soul of Healthcare, and co-founder of Women in Pharmacy Australia (FemRx) and the ScriptHER podcast.

At twelve, Sara was fleeing war in Iraq. At thirteen, she arrived in Australia unable to speak English. Today, she is one of Australia’s most awarded community pharmacists.

Sara’s career has taken her across regional NSW, including Wagga Wagga, Griffith and Jerilderie, while raising two children and continually finding ways to turn challenges into opportunities to create change.

💡 In this episode:

• Why confidence often comes from saying yes before you feel ready
• Why you don’t need a title to start leading
• How seeing a problem - and acting on it - led to Women in Pharmacy Australia and The Soul of Healthcare
• The realities of building a pharmacy career while raising a family
• How difficult experiences can become catalysts for change
• Why your own story may help someone else navigate theirs

Sara also shares the confronting experience of being told during a job interview that she would have been great for the role, but being a woman with young children counted against her. Rather than letting that moment define her, it became part of the catalyst for creating Women in Pharmacy Australia.

“Your story may be somebody else’s survival guide.”

For pharmacists at any stage of their career, Sara’s story is a powerful reminder that leadership doesn’t always begin with a title - sometimes it begins by deciding to act.

You can find Sara Murdock on LinkedIn.

About Your Pharmacy Career Podcast

Welcome to Your Pharmacy Career Podcast, proudly produced by Raven’s Recruitment - the experts in pharmacy career and locum services for over 30 years!

Hosted by Pharmacist, Krysti-Lee Patterson, every episode is your gateway to new opportunities in the pharmacy profession. From expert advice to inspiring success stories, we’re here to spark ideas, guide your career, and help you achieve your goals. Whether you're a student, an early-career pharmacist, or a seasoned professional, this podcast is designed to keep you informed and inspired.

Proudly brought to you by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. The PSA is committed to empowering pharmacists through advocacy, innovation, and industry-leading professional development. To become a member or learn more about how the PSA can support your career, visit www.psa.org.au.

Pharmacy Daily is a proud supporter of Your Pharmacy Career Podcast. If you're in the pharmacy world, it's a great resource to stay up to date with the latest industry news. To subscribe, just head to pharmacydaily.com.au to get the newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.

Sit down with Iraq Doali - Sydney community and locum pharmacist, and creator of pharmacy education platform Clutchest Pharmacist - to explore the unexpected decisions, opportunities and curiosity that have shaped his pharmacy career.

Iraq’s journey hasn’t followed a carefully mapped-out plan. After missing out on medicine, he discovered pharmacy on the final day of UAC applications. Later, determined to break into hospital pharmacy, he took a COVID screening role just to get his foot in the door. And one spontaneous video about eye drops eventually grew into an education platform reaching thousands.

💡 In this episode:

• Why you don’t need to have your entire career mapped out
• How an “unglamorous” opportunity can open unexpected doors
• What Iraq learned from working across community and hospital pharmacy
• How curiosity led to the creation of Clutchest Pharmacist
• Why he decided to trial locum pharmacy rather than wonder “what if?”
• The value of giving new opportunities a genuine go before deciding they’re not for you

“I hate looking back at something and thinking I didn't actually try it, so I don't know how it actually was.”

For pharmacists weighing up their next move, Iraq’s story is a reminder that sometimes clarity comes from taking action, not waiting until you have everything figured out.

You can find Iraq Doali on LinkedIn.

About Your Pharmacy Career Podcast

Welcome to Your Pharmacy Career Podcast, proudly produced by Raven’s Recruitment - the experts in pharmacy career and locum services for over 30 years!

Hosted by Pharmacist, Krysti-Lee Patterson, every episode is your gateway to new opportunities in the pharmacy profession. From expert advice to inspiring success stories, we’re here to spark ideas, guide your career, and help you achieve your goals. Whether you're a student, an early-career pharmacist, or a seasoned professional, this podcast is designed to keep you informed and inspired.

Proudly brought to you by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. The PSA is committed to empowering pharmacists through advocacy, innovation, and industry-leading professional development. To become a member or learn more about how the PSA can support your career, visit www.psa.org.au.

Pharmacy Daily is a proud supporter of Your Pharmacy Career Podcast. If you're in the pharmacy world, it's a great resource to stay up to date with the latest industry news. To subscribe, just head to pharmacydaily.com.au to get the newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.

Sit down with Emi Gosling - former community pharmacy proprietor, ex-TGA delegate, and founder of e-MAS Medicine Advertising Services - to explore the often misunderstood world of pharmacy advertising compliance. 

Her three rules of thumb for anyone posting about their services on social media:

• Education, advertising or content? Know the difference. Promoting healthcare products and services is regulated, and that includes content someone else created for you.
• Running a full-scope clinic? Promote the service, not the product. Talk about the consultation or the condition you're treating, not the medicine used to treat it.
• Launching something new? Understand what can actually be advertised. The rules for health claims differ across foods, cosmetics and therapeutic goods.

 “Any media is advertising. A poster on your wall, a post on your Facebook page, the same rules apply to both.”

Emi also shares the career story behind the expertise: from community pharmacy ownership, to being made redundant when her TGA delegate role was legislated away, to building an independent consultancy from nothing.

If you post about your pharmacy on social media, even occasionally, this episode is worth your time.

You can find Emi Gosling on LinkedIn.

About Your Pharmacy Career Podcast

Welcome to Your Pharmacy Career Podcast, proudly produced by Raven’s Recruitment - the experts in pharmacy career and locum services for over 30 years!

Hosted by Pharmacist, Krysti-Lee Patterson, every episode is your gateway to new opportunities in the pharmacy profession. From expert advice to inspiring success stories, we’re here to spark ideas, guide your career, and help you achieve your goals. Whether you're a student, an early-career pharmacist, or a seasoned professional, this podcast is designed to keep you informed and inspired.

Proudly brought to you by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. The PSA is committed to empowering pharmacists through advocacy, innovation, and industry-leading professional development. To become a member or learn more about how the PSA can support your career, visit www.psa.org.au.

Pharmacy Daily is a proud supporter of Your Pharmacy Career Podcast. If you're in the pharmacy world, it's a great resource to stay up to date with the latest industry news. To subscribe, just head to pharmacydaily.com.au to get the newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.

CONTENT NOTE 
This episode includes an open discussion of terminal illness, the death of a parent, and end-of-life and palliative care, with a brief reference to pregnancy loss. Support for pharmacists is available through the Pharmacists’ Support Service, 1300 244 910.

In Part 2 of this conversation, we welcome back Nancy El-Miski, registered pharmacist and Credentialled Diabetes Educator at SparrowHub, for a conversation she asked to have: grief, and what it means for how we practise.

This is one of the most personal episodes we've shared.

Nancy reflects on supporting her father through cancer, balancing the roles of daughter and pharmacist, and how grief changed the way she practises pharmacy.

Rather than seeing empathy as simply being kind, Nancy explains why understanding a patient's lived experience is one of the most important clinical skills a pharmacist can develop.

In this episode:

• Holding the roles of daughter and pharmacist during her father's palliative care
• Why she chose to stock and train her team on end-of-life medications
• How understanding grief changed the way she designs patient services
• A simple habit that helps you notice when a patient or colleague is struggling

"Empathy is one of our best tools in pharmacy." - Nancy El-Miski

Whether you're early in your career or have been practising for decades, this conversation is a powerful reminder that the care pharmacists provide extends far beyond dispensing medicines.

You can find Nancy El-Miski on LinkedIn.

About Your Pharmacy Career Podcast

Welcome to Your Pharmacy Career Podcast, proudly produced by Raven’s Recruitment - the experts in pharmacy career and locum services for over 30 years!

Hosted by Pharmacist, Krysti-Lee Patterson, every episode is your gateway to new opportunities in the pharmacy profession. From expert advice to inspiring success stories, we’re here to spark ideas, guide your career, and help you achieve your goals. Whether you're a student, an early-career pharmacist, or a seasoned professional, this podcast is designed to keep you informed and inspired.

Proudly brought to you by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. The PSA is committed to empowering pharmacists through advocacy, innovation, and industry-leading professional development. To become a member or learn more about how the PSA can support your career, visit www.psa.org.au.

Pharmacy Daily is a proud supporter of Your Pharmacy Career Podcast. If you're in the pharmacy world, it's a great resource to stay up to date with the latest industry news. To subscribe, just head to pharmacydaily.com.au to get the newsletter delivered straight to your inbox

We sit down with Curtis Ruhnau, an award-winning community pharmacist with more than 40 years of experience, current President of the Pharmacists' Support Service, and a passionate advocate for community-centred pharmacy.

Curtis became the youngest licensed pharmacist in NSW at just 21. Together with his wife, he has built a nationally recognised pharmacy founded on trust, compassion and genuine patient care. From harm minimisation initiatives to supporting vulnerable members of the community, Curtis shares why the most rewarding pharmacy careers are built by putting people first.

In this episode:

• How becoming the youngest licensed pharmacist in NSW shaped his career
• Why community outreach and harm minimisation improve patient outcomes
• Leadership lessons from guiding a pharmacy through the COVID-19 pandemic
• Why mental health and domestic violence training matter for every pharmacist
• The importance of asking for help and supporting the wellbeing of the profession
• Why the greatest legacy in pharmacy is the impact you have on your community

"It's not just about the business, it's about the people you serve, and the legacy you leave."

Great pharmacy careers aren't built on dispensing medicines alone - they're built on trust, leadership and service. Listen now.

You can find Curtis Ruhnau on LinkedIn.

Resources

• Pharmacist Support Service - https://supportforpharmacists.org.au
• DV Alert - Domestic Violence Training - https://www.dvalert.org.au/
• Small Business Big Impact Podcast - https://smallbusinessbigimpact.com/

About Your Pharmacy Career Podcast

Welcome to Your Pharmacy Career Podcast, proudly produced by Raven’s Recruitment - the experts in pharmacy career and locum services for over 30 years!

Hosted by Pharmacist, Krysti-Lee Patterson, every episode is your gateway to new opportunities in the pharmacy profession. From expert advice to inspiring success stories, we’re here to spark ideas, guide your career, and help you achieve your goals. Whether you're a student, an early-career pharmacist, or a seasoned professional, this podcast is designed to keep you informed and inspired.

Proudly brought to you by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. The PSA is committed to empowering pharmacists through advocacy, innovation, and industry-leading professional development. To become a member or learn more about how the PSA can support your career, visit www.psa.org.au.

Pharmacy Daily is a proud supporter of Your Pharmacy Career Podcast. If you're in the pharmacy world, it's a great resource to stay up to date with the latest industry news. To subscribe, just head to pharmacydaily.com.au to get the newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.

We sit down with A/Prof Fei Sim, whose inspiring career journey proves that success isn't always about following the path you first imagined.

As a child, Fei dreamed of becoming an artist. While life took her in a different direction, she discovered that pharmacy offered something just as fulfilling - the opportunity to make a genuine difference in people's lives through service, care, and leadership.

What began in community pharmacy evolved into a career spanning leadership, advocacy, and influential national and international roles. Along the way, Fei embraced every opportunity to learn, grow, and lead with purpose.

In this episode:

• How a childhood dream of art led to an unexpected career in pharmacy
• Why purpose became the driving force behind every career decision
• The leadership lessons gained through community pharmacy and advocacy
• How saying yes to new opportunities opened doors to national and international impact
• Why meaningful careers are built through continuous learning and service
• Advice for pharmacists looking to grow beyond traditional career pathways

"Lead with purpose, not titles."

Fei's story is a powerful reminder that your career doesn't have to follow the plan you started with. By remaining open to opportunity, staying curious, and focusing on making a difference, you may find a path that's even more rewarding than the one you first imagined.

You can find A/Prof Fei Sim on LinkedIn.

About Your Pharmacy Career Podcast

Welcome to Your Pharmacy Career Podcast, proudly produced by Raven’s Recruitment - the experts in pharmacy career and locum services for over 30 years!

Hosted by Pharmacist, Krysti-Lee Patterson, every episode is your gateway to new opportunities in the pharmacy profession. From expert advice to inspiring success stories, we’re here to spark ideas, guide your career, and help you achieve your goals. Whether you're a student, an early-career pharmacist, or a seasoned professional, this podcast is designed to keep you informed and inspired.

Proudly brought to you by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. The PSA is committed to empowering pharmacists through advocacy, innovation, and industry-leading professional development. To become a member or learn more about how the PSA can support your career, visit www.psa.org.au.

Pharmacy Daily is a proud supporter of Your Pharmacy Career Podcast. If you're in the pharmacy world, it's a great resource to stay up to date with the latest industry news. To subscribe, just head to pharmacydaily.com.au to get the newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.

We sit down with Nancy El-Miski, whose pharmacy journey spans more than two decades across community pharmacy, leadership, clinical services, and now digital health innovation.

Arriving in Australia as a baby with her family, Nancy grew up watching her mother build relationships and community through their family business. Those early lessons in connection, resilience, and service would go on to shape a remarkable pharmacy career.

From becoming a pharmacy manager at just 22 years of age, to leading Sydney's first 24-hour pharmacy, and more recently transitioning into her role as in-house pharmacist at SparrowHub, Nancy shares the experiences that have defined her professional journey.

In this episode:

• Why she chose community pharmacy over a PhD pathway
• The realities of managing a pharmacy that never closes
• Lessons learned through leadership and clinical service delivery
• How motherhood inspired a new chapter in her career
• The growing role of technology in supporting independent pharmacies
• Why continuous reinvention is essential for long-term career success

"The only failure is if you say no" - this is the advice that changed everything for Nancy El-Miski.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that career growth doesn't always follow a straight line - and that some of the most exciting opportunities emerge when you're willing to say yes before you feel completely ready.

You can find Nancy El-Miski on LinkedIn.

About Your Pharmacy Career Podcast

Welcome to Your Pharmacy Career Podcast, proudly produced by Raven’s Recruitment - the experts in pharmacy career and locum services for over 30 years!

Hosted by Pharmacist, Krysti-Lee Patterson, every episode is your gateway to new opportunities in the pharmacy profession. From expert advice to inspiring success stories, we’re here to spark ideas, guide your career, and help you achieve your goals. Whether you're a student, an early-career pharmacist, or a seasoned professional, this podcast is designed to keep you informed and inspired.

Proudly brought to you by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. The PSA is committed to empowering pharmacists through advocacy, innovation, and industry-leading professional development. To become a member or learn more about how the PSA can support your career, visit www.psa.org.au.

Pharmacy Daily is a proud supporter of Your Pharmacy Career Podcast. If you're in the pharmacy world, it's a great resource to stay up to date with the latest industry news. To subscribe, just head to pharmacydaily.com.au to get the newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.

We’re turning the microphone around as guest host Jenny Kirschner interviews our usual host, Krysti-Lee Patterson, about her own pharmacy career journey - from accidentally discovering pharmacy while studying biomedical science, to leadership, advocacy, entrepreneurship, and building innovative education platforms like lrnrx.

What shaped her path?
Mentorship, resilience, curiosity, and a willingness to pursue opportunities outside traditional pharmacy career pathways.

What drives her work today?
A passion for innovation in pharmacy, empowering pharmacists to recognise their value, and creating new opportunities for education and professional growth. 

In this episode:

• The mentors and experiences that shaped Krysti-Lee’s career
• Lessons learned through leadership and advocacy
• Navigating ADHD and entrepreneurship
• Starting and building a business without a financial safety net
• Innovation, disruption, and the future of pharmacy
• Why pharmacists need to better understand their professional value

This conversation is an honest reflection on the realities of leadership, entrepreneurship, and building a meaningful career that doesn’t follow a traditional or linear path.

A huge thank you to Jenny Kirschner for leading such a thoughtful and insightful discussion.

You can find Krysti-Lee Patterson on LinkedIn.

Do you have questions about your pharmacy career? Then contact us or meet our team.