Early Careers Pharmacist Advisory Group

ECPAG Meetings

2022

29 March 2022 - Agenda and outcomes

Video messages from ECPAG

Meet the Advisory Group Members

Atif Saddiq (Chair)

Hello, my name is Atif and I am a portfolio pharmacist in General Practice and Academia, and currently work as a Lecturer in Primary Care Pharmacy Practice at The University of Bradford; an Advanced Clinical Practitioner in General Practice; Training Programme Director for Pre-Registration Pharmacists with Health Education England; and a Pre-Registration Coordinator with Medicare Chemists. 

I am also one of the co-founders of the independent training company Primary Healthcare Development.

I qualified as a pharmacist in 2014 from The University of Bradford. My passion to help pharmacists new to the profession has been the golden thread running through my career thus far. 

By exploring key areas of focus through this Advisory Group, I hope to remove obstacles faced by Early Career Pharmacists and would like to support their development, to allow them to fully utilise the breadth of their core skills and champion the profession locally, nationally and internationally.

Aditya Aggarwal

Hello, I’m Aditya Aggarwal and I am a relationship manager in NHS England, in the Innovation, Research and Life Sciences Group. I completed my Pharmacy degree at the University of East Anglia in 2016, and undertook my Pre-Registration training in community, with placements in hospital and general practice.

I am currently completing my MSc in Health Policy at Imperial College London where my dissertation is focusing on the health policy implications of artificial intelligence on community pharmacy. My aspiration for joining this Advisory Group is to drive changes and advocate for Early Careers Pharmacists, by ensuring they have the best start in their professional journey.

Ismael Ali

Hello! My name is Ismael, I am a rotational pharmacist at the Royal Free Hospital, London.

I graduated from the University of East Anglia and completed my Pre-Registration training in community pharmacy in Northamptonshire. Being part of this Advisory Group makes me feel that my input and opinions about the future of my profession are being actively engaged with and championed.

I have general interests in Renal and Cardiovascular Pharmacy and I’m hoping to specialise in one of these areas as an Independent Pharmacist Prescriber in the future.

Kweku Bimpong

Hi, I’m Kweku and I graduated from Durham University in 2019 and subsequently completed a split Pre-Registration programme at Guys & St Thomas' Hospital and South East London Clinical Commissioning Group. I am currently a Policy Advisory working for the Department of Health Social Care.

I was formerly the Publications Officer of the British Pharmaceutical Students' Association and was awarded the David Kearney award for most outstanding contribution to the pharmacy profession during my tenure. 

I also have a keen interest in research and my recent findings concerning the relationship between satisfaction, retention and wages in the NHS labour force were published in the BMJ Open, my other research interests concern health inequalities.

Emma Boxer

Hello, my name is Emma Boxer, and I am the lead outpatient pharmacist for CHoICE at Sunderland Royal hospital.

I have spent my early career working in community pharmacy, academia, undertaking research and now taking on a hospital-based role. 

My current role sees me as head of department, developing my clinical and leadership skills, whilst also completing my clinical diploma/prescribing course. I am also currently in the process of designing and opening a new outpatient pharmacy at our trust partnered hospital.

I am passionate about pharmacy as a career and think that pharmacists have so much to offer across a range of spaces. For this reason, I am thrilled to be a part of this committee to help young pharmacists beginning their careers, access all the support and opportunities they need to achieve their goals and dreams.

Erin Gilmour

Hello, my name is Erin and I am a rotational clinical pharmacist in NHS Lanarkshire. I graduated from Robert Gordon University and then undertook my pre-registration year in hospital and qualified in 2021.

Whilst at university I had a keen interest in interprofessional education (IPE) and was the president of the Aberdeen IPE society. I am interested in how the profession continues to develop so that pharmacists’ roles within the multidisciplinary team is maximised to provide the best patient care.

I am currently undertaking the new RPS post registration foundation training programme. I am passionate about pharmacy and its progression, and I believe that with current developments in the profession it is important that the views of early career pharmacists are well represented. I am excited to be a member of this Advisory Group as it provides the opportunity for early career pharmacists to influence decisions and make an effective contribution particularly in areas of change including education and training.

Lydia Hodgins

Hello, I am Lydia. Following my graduation in 2017 I completed my Pre-Registration training at Royal Derby Hospital. After qualifying, I accepted my first job there as a shift-working pharmacist. The role was diverse and innovative, whereby I gained the unique experience of providing an out of hours service to an acute trust, ANTT preparation of urgent IV’s and being part of the crash team, in addition to normal ward cover.

The programme prepared me well to take on my next role at University Hospitals Leicester as an Infectious Diseases’ Pharmacist. I have insight into different roles within the hospital sector including both the positives and the challenges this brings. Through this, I am interested in making changes to drive the profession forward both clinically and to help with integration into the wider multi-disciplinary team.

Ora Ibanibo

Hello, my name is Ora. I studied Pharmacy at the University of Portsmouth and graduated in 2017, before qualifying as a pharmacist in 2018. I then worked for the NHS as a Clinical Pharmacist for two years, before moving to the pharmaceutical industry.

Currently, I am employed in Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) and Market Access, where I use my knowledge and skills as a pharmacist to ensure that innovative medicines are reimbursed and made available to patients who need them. 

I am also completing my Masters degree in Health Economics part-time.

Olufemi Omotade

My name is Femi. I graduated from Cardiff University in 2017 and became a pharmacist in 2018.

I have always had a strong interest in Industrial Pharmacy, specifically Regulatory Pharmacy. Thus, after spending two years in community, I made the decision to pursue a career in Regulatory Affairs.

I currently work as a Regulatory Affairs Executive within consumer healthcare (OTC medicines). I work very closely with the MHRA and various pharmaceutical companies to ensure that the rules and guidelines that are in place for OTC medicines are safe for patients and the public.

I am very passionate about diversity, inclusion and representation in Pharmacy, which mirrors RPS’ Inclusion and Diversity Strategy to 2025. I am excited to be part of this group and connect with fellow professionals.

Roshan Rahim

Hello, I’m Roshan and I am proud to be a member of this Advisory Group.

I completed my Pharmacy degree at Cardiff University, and went onto qualify as a pharmacist in 2016, having done my Pre-Registration at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital. I then moved from Wales to England and worked as a newly qualified pharmacist at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, which progressed to a clinical and oncology role. 

I stayed there for 3 years, during which I completed the Cardiff Postgraduate Clinical Pharmacy Clinical Diploma. I then embarked onto the next step of my career, which is my current role as the Senior Clinical Governance Pharmacist at University Hospital Coventry.

I am constantly learning and developing my practice and relishing the challenges! Being a member of this Advisory Group is exciting, and I am confident that I will continue to provide strong representation for Early Careers Pharmacists.

Anna Robinson

Hello, my name is Anna Robinson, and I am a Specialist Clinical Pharmacist and Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacy, based at Newcastle University School of Pharmacy.

Since qualifying, I have held a variety of roles spanning Hospital, General Practice and Community Pharmacy. I am currently completing my PhD, researching Digital Healthcare and Surgical Innovation.

I am passionate about the pharmacy profession and I am dedicated to advocating on behalf of others to shape and influence practice. The future of our profession lies with Early Career Pharmacists – I want to make sure we, as an Advisory Group, advocate and represent this cohort in the best possible way.

My personal ambition would be to pave the way for future pharmacists and highlight that no matter your career stage, you can make a difference.

Fiona Smith

Hi, I’m Fiona and I graduated from my MPharm at Cardiff University in 2017 and then went on to complete my pre-registration year in Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley. After qualifying, I spent a year at The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals as a rotational pharmacist.

I have always been interested in the research side of pharmacy and so in 2019 I took the opportunity to start studying a full-time PhD at The University of Nottingham, within the CDT for Transformative Pharmaceutical Technologies. Since then, I have completed two training projects and started my PhD project, which is titled ‘transdermal insulin on demand’ and focusses on the formulation and delivery of insulin.

Outside of work, I enjoy travelling to new places, eating good food, reading and going to the theatre.

Joseph Thomson

Hello. My name is Joseph Thomson, and I am currently a trainee pharmacist in Nevill Hall Hospital, in Abergavenny, in Wales (part of the Aneurin Bevan Health board). I studied pharmacy at Cardiff University and graduated in 2021.

I have been working in hospital pharmacy on and off for a few years now, as I had a job as a pharmacy assistant in my local hospital at home. I am currently part of the IPSFEuro team, focusing on how to provide appropriate public health training to pharmacy students and early career pharmacists, as well as ensure that the public is aware of what pharmacy can do for them across Europe.

I am so excited to be joining this group, and to help guide it towards discussions that would help young, early career pharmacists like me understand what options they have available to them, and how to make the most of their foundation year, whether they spend it in Wales or anywhere across the UK.

A message from Atif Saddiq, ECPAG Chair

Atif Saddiq is a portfolio pharmacist in General Practice and Academia currently working as a lecturer at the University of Bradford.

Atif said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Chair. We will work to help provide direction for our peers to allow them to achieve their ambitions. We often hear that pharmacists feel frustrated, not always being able to use the breadth of their core skills and knowledge. This group will create new opportunities for younger pharmacists and provide guidance to inspire, inform and involve them in creating a professionally rewarding future."