On the Frontline

Auckland-raised pharmacist Charlotte Schimanski moved to Rotorua for a six-month job in 2006, and fell in love with the town perched on the edge of its beautiful namesake lake.

After a brief stint in Australia and then the Bay of Plenty, Ms Schimanski managed an urgent care pharmacy for eight years before buying her own business, Ranolf Pharmacy in Rotorua. Now, between running the business and raising two young children, Ms Schimanski is studying towards a postgraduate diploma in public health, learning te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language, while holding local, regional and national governance roles, one of them being a member of the Pharmacy Council.

“I’m passionate about pharmacists utilising their specialist skills to work towards equitable access to medication and improving health outcomes, particularly in our vulnerable populations,” she says.

Usually, the alarm goes off about 5am and I either head out for a run with my dog (my husband and I ­alternate days) or hit the snooze button until one of the kids wakes up. Sleep is still precious when they’re three and five.

My pharmacists (not a product). We have such a specialised skill set and knowledge base, and we aren’t utilised or valued as much as we could be.

I’m proud of being a pharmacist – I think the way we all smashed working through lockdown is admirable. This year, I’m proud that my little pharmacy is a finalist in two categories of the Rotorua Business Awards. It’s great to be recognised as an essential business and a good employer. I also managed to get a submission I wrote in front of our DHB board on how Rotorua’s vulnerable population really needs targeted copayment removal, ­especially with the implications of COVID-19. Unfortunately, it wasn’t successful.

We need to embrace that we’re a predominantly female profession and ensure that we have more women in governance and leadership positions. We also need to understand the implications of being a female-dominated profession and what effect that has on various problems in our profession.

There’s a big conversation that needs to continue about what pharmacists get paid (in any variation of the role, not just community pharmacy) and how we can be on a par with other professions with similar training, qualifications and responsibility.

I would like to see more effective ­integration with GPs, nurse practitioners and all medical centre staff – we can complement the excellent work they do.

1. My family and my dog
2. My work colleagues
3. Running or riding in the forest.

So many. I managed the urgent pharmacy in Rotorua for eight years, I couldn't write them all down. The switch to a more traditional community pharmacy changed that. Now I get asked if ­my staff saved me a piece of brownie or just asked for a hug (in a totally non-creepy, pre-COVID way).

Trail running. Rotorua is home to the awesome Whakarewarewa Forest, and I try and get out there as often as possible. Greatest achievement this year – completing the Tarawera Ultra 50km in a not-completely-embarrassing time! I’m also pretty keen on mountain biking.

I nearly did a law degree a couple of years after registering as a pharmacist. Now, I’m pretty passionate about policy and figuring out how we can use policy to achieve equitable access to medicines and ­improve health outcomes for our most vulnerable.

I’m really good at worrying. As a business owner there are obvious stressors, as well as juggling young kids (mum guilt) etc.