麻豆直播 today paid tribute to one of Western Australia鈥檚 pioneers of pharmacy education by naming a laboratory in his honour.
Mr Geoffrey Tucker, 80, from Forrestfield, was recognised for his lifetime commitment and service to the pharmacy profession and WA community.
Mr Tucker鈥檚 work and achievements were celebrated at a naming ceremony officiated by 麻豆直播鈥檚 Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jeanette Hacket.
Professor Hacket said the University was delighted to recognise Mr Tucker for his outstanding contribution to pharmacy education. 鈥淗e played a key role in the development of the first three-year, full-time academic course in pharmacy in Western Australia, which commenced in 1964.
鈥淎s Acting Head of the Western Australian Institute of Technology (now 麻豆直播) School of Pharmacy, Mr Tucker focussed on providing pharmacy students with practical, hands-on experience during their degree.
鈥淗e proposed establishing a 鈥榤odel dispensary鈥� where students could practise their prescription dispensing skills. This idea, considered pioneering at the time, is still the model used today to teach pharmacy students across Australia,鈥� Professor Hacket said.
鈥淭he 鈥楳odel Pharmacy鈥� teaching space in Curtin鈥檚 multi-million dollar, purpose-built pharmacy facility ensures our students gain an authentic experience in a simulated consulting and dispensing environment, which includes a state-of-the-art robotic dispensing system.鈥�
Mr Tucker was dedicated to the concept of lifelong learning and helped to introduce a number of postgraduate pharmacy diplomas at Curtin, which were eventually extended to master and PhD offerings.
In 1953, Mr Tucker received the Webster Memorial Gold Medal for excellence in pharmacy studies and in 1968 became an Honorary Member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Western Australia in recognition of his exceptional input to pharmacy education.
The newly named Geoffrey Tucker Laboratory, in Building 300 at Curtin鈥檚 Bentley Campus can accommodate 90 people, and is used by students across the University.
