Kukerin’s Michaela Dowdell wins WA’s pharmacy intern award after rectifying error at Broome Health Campus

A young pharmacist has taken a State award back to the bush after being acknowledged for researching and rectifying a prescription error during her internship in WA’s north. Kukerin’s Michaela Dowdell was named intern of the year at AdPha’s 2025 Branch Awards, held at the University of Western Australia on December 4, for her exceptional work at Broome Health Campus. The 24-year-old Curtin University graduate is only the second WA Country Health Service rural pharmacist to receive the award. Ms Dowdell was nominated for her work identifying an issue with a compound medicine prescription. She worked independently with prescribers and the compounding pharmacy to resolve the issue, with the award recognising her keen eye, communication skills and medical knowledge to ensure safe and timely patient support. Ms Dowdell said she felt “honoured, grateful, and sort of in disbelief” accepting the award and said she owes her skill set to her colleagues and mentors. “It’s more a reflection of the people I work with and the support I’ve received; there is no way I’d be where I am without the senior pharmacist and WACHS team,” she said. “I was awarded for a prescribing issue, but it really boils down to communication, which is the backbone of how to be good at the practice. “Being able to communicate not only with patients, but also with prescribers and nurses to resolve issues, and having a bit of initiative in tackling and solving a problem.” Being the daughter of a Narrogin nurse, Ms Dowdell said she had always wanted to work rurally and hopes her success can encourage a new generation of regional healthcare workers. “Hopefully the recognition of the award encourages other young pharmacists to pursue a career in rural Australia,” she said. “People think we pop a label on the box but we actually get to do so many cool things, and working in a rural setting you get to do even more cool things.” The young pharmacist has set a future goal to continue to advocate for regional patients and bridge the gap between rural and metro health care.