100 years of Pharmacy at Nottingham

What was your experience of studying at the School of Pharmacy? Do you have any reflections as the school celebrates its 100th anniversary?

I enjoyed the University of Nottingham experience. I got involved in the rowing club, became an active member of the BPSA, making friends for life through this student organisation and benefited from the support that we had available to us as we navigated our way through a difficult degree course. I remember also particularly enjoying lectures with the medical students and was inspired by the groundbreaking research into transdermal drug delivery that was centred within the department.

Where has your career taken you since graduating and how has this been impacted by your time at Nottingham?

After graduation I joined Cardiff University and completed two years of research during which time I started working as a locum in community pharmacy at the weekends. My love for community pharmacy started there, where I developed my skills and knowledge and enjoyed the reward of supporting communities across south Wales. I moved to Edinburgh in 1993 and worked across the city as a locum and then as a manager of a small pharmacy in Murrayfield.

I completed a MSc in Health Promotion and Health Education at Edinburgh University in 1995 and moved to the Midlands shortly after. My Boots career began in 1996 where I enjoyed many roles in pharmacies across the Midlands area before moving to the Nottingham Support Office in 2010 to join the Professional Standards Team, to a role that included approval of healthcare products and marketing, professional support query management and service development. In 2011 I completed the Independent Prescribing course and began prescribing through the Boots Online Clinics service. My passion for innovation in pharmacy practice led me to lead the development of new clinical services delivered face to face and online. I worked for many Superintendent Pharmacists over the years that followed and eventually took the opportunity to step into the role in 2022. I continue to enjoy my position as the leader of professional standards and pharmacy practice for Boots UK.

What have been the highlights of your career to date?

The first highlight that I can remember was the first time I worked as a locum in South Wales. I was struck by the impact that I could have on so many people in the community pharmacy setting and made a commitment to myself on that first day to continually learn and develop to make a difference to patients throughout my career. Since that first day there have been many highlights including delivering new and innovative clinical services in the late 90s and then being one of the first prescribing pharmacists to provide services to patients through an online platform.

More recent highlights include stepping into the role of Superintendent Pharmacist, the first female to take this position in Boots. The position offers many opportunities for me to advocate for the profession internally and externally including a few TV appearances! The highlights continue as we land prescribing as core to how we practice in Boots, as we develop our Pharmacy Technician population ready for their important role in the future and as we continue to influence the commissioning of new services delivered in the community pharmacy setting.

Beyond academia, the school’s culture of support and encouragement for students to get involved in extra-curricular and leadership activities appealed to me. I wanted a university that not only offered strong scientific teaching but also fostered personal and professional development. Having researched the opportunities available to graduates, I felt confident that Nottingham would equip me with the skills and experience needed to make a meaningful difference in pharmacy. I enjoyed Nottingham as an undergraduate so much that I returned three years after graduating to start a PhD.

What was your experience of studying at the School of Pharmacy? Do you have any reflections as the School celebrates its 100th anniversary?

Studying at Nottingham’s School of Pharmacy was an inspiring and formative experience. I benefited from an exceptional blend of academic challenge and real-world application; the balance between research, clinical exposure, and hands-on projects helped me grow both professionally and personally. The supportive environment allowed me to build lasting relationships through involvement as a postgraduate representative, mentor, and organiser of student groups. The school fostered resilience, innovation, and teamwork - qualities that remain crucial throughout my career.

As Nottingham celebrates its 100th anniversary, I reflect on the school’s enduring legacy and evolution. It has consistently set standards for pharmacy education and adapted to the fast pace of scientific and industry change. The emphasis on equality, diversity, and outreach continues to impact new generations. I am proud to have been part of this community, contributing to its progress and carrying forward the spirit of excellence and service.

Where has your career taken you since graduating and how has this been impacted by your time at Nottingham?

Since graduating as an undergraduate from Nottingham, I have built a varied career spanning clinical research, regulatory and inspection, and locum pharmacy. Following my pre-registration placement in hospital, I started as a Clinical Research Associate (CRA) at IQVIA (previously Quintiles), which gave me an excellent foundation in understanding Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and its application at clinical sites. I then decided to pursue a PhD at Nottingham exploring novel technologies in improving medication adherence, choosing to return due to my invaluable experience at the pharmacy school previously.

After the PhD I became a GCP Inspector for the MHRA, leading high-profile inspections and complex regulatory assessments. Most recently, I now work as an Associate Director in Audit Quality Assurance at AstraZeneca, planning, leading, and conducting audits in the clinical trial space. My educational foundation at Nottingham was instrumental for this journey; the School instilled analytical thinking, a commitment to good clinical practice, and adaptability to changing industry needs. My involvement in case-study research, mentoring, and outreach at Nottingham notably during my postgraduate study provided valuable experience in project management and communication, skills I rely on daily.

The supportive Nottingham alumni network and my exposure to both academic and industry environments empowered me to seek opportunities with confidence and pursue continuous professional development. I have also been involved in two student mentorship programmes with pharmacy students which has allowed me to sustain ties with the university and also share my experiences to further support the current students.

What have been the highlights of your career to date?

Highlights of my career include leading complex GCP inspections with the MHRA, ensuring regulatory compliance in clinical trials, and directly impacting patient safety and data integrity. My doctoral research at Nottingham enabled pioneering work on understanding the barriers in the uptake of novel medical device adoption in assisted-living settings, contributing to the evidence base for innovative pharmacy technologies.

Currently my role at AstraZeneca has been a significant achievement, allowing me to influence strategy and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams. I am also proud of contributing to development and training, and engaging in outreach initiatives at AstraZeneca to inspire and support future scientists. My career has been marked by continuous learning, leadership in challenging contexts, and the opportunity to foster positive change in healthcare.

What was your experience of studying at the School of Pharmacy? Do you have any reflections as the School celebrates its 100th anniversary?

Studying at the School of Pharmacy was a hugely positive and formative experience. With only around 90 students in my year, there was a real sense of community, which enabled strong interactions not only with fellow students but also with lecturers, who were always approachable and supportive. This close-knit environment fostered collaboration, lasting friendships, and a genuine enthusiasm for learning. On a personal note, it was also where I met my wife, which makes my time at Nottingham especially meaningful. As the school celebrates its 100th anniversary, I reflect with gratitude on how those years shaped my career, my personal life, and the enduring sense of connection I feel with the school.

Where has your career taken you since graduating and how has this been impacted by your time at Nottingham?

During the final year of my degree at Nottingham, I chose a project within the LBSA group, which became the foundation for my PhD in the same area. This experience was pivotal, as it not only deepened my expertise but also introduced me to the entrepreneurial side of pharmaceutical science. In 1998, together with my PhD supervisors, I co-founded Molecular Profiles Ltd (later known as Juniper Pharmaceuticals), a highly successful pharmaceutical services company. After two decades of growth and impact in the industry, we sold the business, and I subsequently retired.

What have been the highlights of your career to date?

The highlights of my career have been the opportunity to travel internationally and experience diverse pharmaceutical research environments, while collaborating with exceptionally talented scientists from around the world. These experiences have not only broadened my perspective but also allowed me to contribute to the development of innovative therapies that have improved patient outcomes on a global scale. Knowing that my work has played a role in bringing successful treatments to market and positively impacting lives has been deeply rewarding.

What was your experience of studying at the School of Pharmacy? Do you have any reflections as the School celebrates its 100th anniversary?

I loved my university years: partied hard, spent too many hours with the University Officer Training Corp, but I was determined to come out with a good degree. It was great to be one of the first schools where pharmacists did joint clinical lectures with medics - simulating the rest of my career. For the first five years after university, I often wondered by I had learned so much about pharmaceutics and clinical, but the more my career has progressed I have relied on that solid foundation of learning.

Where has your career taken you since graduating and how has this been impacted by your time at Nottingham?

Due to a slight lack of commitment in year one, I think I was the only person to fail their practical dispensing / formulation exam - that fact has been a fundamental step in career - even after 35 years I am still lecturing on the fact that dispersible tablets do not give accurate doses when mixed in water and drawing up a aliquot - dispersible doesn't mean dissolvable! Understanding pharmacokinetics, pharmaceutics, ethics and law has been the bedrock of my career as a paediatric pharmacist. I have never liked black and white, and paediatrics with its lack of appropriate formulation, unlicensed medicines, poor evidence base has seen me utilise all the basic skills I learned all those years ago.

What have been the highlights of your career to date?

I have loved my career and had so many highlights. Becoming the first Consultant Paediatric Pharmacist was obviously an honour. I have been fortunate enough to represent paediatric pharmacy at so many levels as the Professional Lead of the Neonatal & Paediatric Pharmacist Group: appearing on TV and in the media; meeting Princess Anne for the launch of the BNF for Children; attending many events in Parliament and working with the Department of Health on various projects involving children. Setting up the pharmacy at the Evelina London Children's Hospital will always be special and over a 30 year period mentoring, lecturing and inspiring my staff. I was then honoured to become the Chief Pharmacist at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

What was your experience of studying at the School of Pharmacy? Do you have any reflections as the School celebrates its 100th anniversary?

My experience at the School of Pharmacy was transformative. The academic environment fostered critical thinking, rigorous research skills, and a global perspective. I valued the balance between supportive supervision and the independence encouraged in doctoral research, which helped me grow as a researcher and leader. I also benefited from the School’s vibrant international network, engaging with colleagues from diverse countries and professional backgrounds. This broadened my understanding of pharmacy education and practice across contexts, and it continues to inform my collaborative research today.

As the school celebrates its centenary, I reflect with gratitude on its role in shaping my career and many others around the world. The school’s legacy is not only in the knowledge it generates but also in the generations of pharmacists and scholars it has empowered to improve patient care globally. I am proud to be part of this history and to contribute to its impact through my work in Thailand.

Where has your career taken you since graduating and how has this been impacted by your time at Nottingham?

Since completing my PhD, I have served as an Associate Professor and Head of the Drug and Health Information Center at Ubon Ratchathani University, Thailand. My Nottingham training in pharmacy education, health policy, and research methods has had a direct impact on my work. It enabled me to lead initiatives in patient safety and rational drug use, including the development of Thailand’s most comprehensive Drug Identification Database, which has become a vital resource in reducing medication errors.

Nottingham also shaped my academic trajectory, providing the foundation for over 35 international and 40 national publications in Q1–Q2 journals, and fostering international collaborations that remain active today. I have been able to mentor graduate students, many of whom are now conducting impactful research on medication safety, telepharmacy, and public health. The confidence, skills, and networks gained at Nottingham empowered me to make meaningful contributions at both national and regional levels, bridging academia, healthcare, and policy.

What have been the highlights of your career to date?

The highlights of my career include leading the development of the Drug Identification Database in Thailand, which has had a tangible impact on patient safety by reducing errors linked to look-alike/sound-alike medications. Another highlight has been the opportunity to publish widely in international journals, advancing research in medication safety, rational drug use, and pharmacy education. I have also been fortunate to receive national and international recognition for my work. Notably, I was awarded the Highly Commended Award of the Anglo-Thai Society Education Awards (2016) for my PhD thesis, and later, the university and faculty Awards for Outstanding Government Services (2020).

In 2021, I was further honoured with the Distinguished Northeastern Pharmacist Award for contributions to pharmacy practice and society. Equally rewarding has been mentoring the next generation of pharmacists and researchers, helping them achieve success in areas such as telepharmacy, medication safety, and rational drug use. These milestones collectively reflect the impact of combining academic research with real-world healthcare improvements.