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Ravi Sharma, Director for England, departs in an exciting career move

After nearly four years as Director for England, Ravi Sharma will be leaving RPS in October to pursue a career change. He has been appointed Head of Pharmacy for Luton and Dunstable University Hospital, part of the Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust group.

While colleagues at RPS will be extremely sad to see Ravi leave after what has been a professionally challenging but also professionally rewarding period, particularly in helping lead the organisations response to the pandemic, we all wish him the very best in his new role.

Paul Bennett, RPS CEO commented:

“Ravi has made a significant contribution to the organisation during his time with us. His drive and enthusiasm for advancing the recognition of the role of the Society itself and of pharmacists and professional practice is probably best reflected by his desire to ensure a real focus on personalised medicines and his work on equality and diversity, workforce wellbeing, and most recently the development of a new vision for pharmacy in England. He has developed stronger relationships and collaborative working with Government, Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, professional leadership bodies, organisations and patient groups over the years to support implementation of our policies and advocacy work.

“Ravi became a Fellow of the Society in 2022, in well-deserved recognition of his contribution to the profession and I know we can expect to see him remain close to the work of the RPS and a real advocate for the Society’s professional leadership role.

“We will be commencing the recruitment of a new Director for England shortly and in the interim Ravi will be working with me to help in delivery of key objectives and in the appointment of his successor”.

Dr Pritesh Bodalia, Chief Pharmacist & Clinical Director for Medicines Optimisation at BHFT commented:

“After an extensive period of interviews and stakeholder events, we are delighted to welcome Ravi to the BHFT family as our new Head of Pharmacy at the Luton & Dunstable University Hospital site.

“As a Pharmacy community we have been impressed with the work that Ravi has spearheaded for the profession during his time with the RPS. Ravi joins us at a pivotal time as we progress to phase two of our cross-site Pharmacy Integration Strategy following merger of LDH and Bedford Hospital during the initial COVID pandemic of 2019. This strategy incorporates new ways of working, both within the hospital and with the new BLMK Health and Care Partnership.

“Ravi brings a wealth of experience with him to complement our Pharmacy Senior Leadership Team and our ambition to deliver this Strategy as well as the wider Integrating Pharmacy & Medicines Optimisation programme across our local places, the Bedfordshire Care Alliance and the BLMK system. On behalf of the PSLT we look forward to working together and what we will achieve over the next few years.”

Ravi Sharma commented:

‘’It’s been an honour and a privilege to lead the team in England at RPS on behalf of our members, and the wider profession. 

“I want to pay tribute to the dedication of my colleagues who have been instrumental in supporting the profession through Covid-19, raising the profile of pharmacy with NHS leaders and politicians and bringing our strategy on inclusion and diversity to life.

“Our recent collaborative work on co-creating a vision for pharmacy in England will provide the profession with a blueprint for the future. This work will continue, I look forward to seeing it develop from my new vantage point within the NHS.

“Improving care for patients and the public through pharmacy remains my personal mission. I am hugely excited about the opportunity to work with the senior leadership team at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. I am looking forward to putting theory into practice, working with the fantastic team who are delivering critical NHS hospital services.

“I’m very appreciative of the fantastic opportunities I’ve had at RPS and I am confident the organisation will continue to represent the best of pharmacy and professional leadership in the future.”

Ravi will take up his new role in October.

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