Ade’s journey into the pharmacy began when his art teacher persuaded him to review his motives for wanting to become a watercolour artist and instead seek better use of his empathetic nature and good science grades. He was greatly influenced by observing a pharmacist caring for his community; he was attracted to pharmacy but retained his love for the palette.
He has been inspired by many pharmacists, including his personal tutor at Portsmouth University, Dr Adrian Hunt, who helped facilitate a summer placement in North America to allow participation in the international Pharmacy Student exchange programme. Russell Endres, host pharmacist at CVS Pharmacy in Richmond, Virginia also remains a model of exceptional professional and personal generosity. He was also been inspired by lectures delivered by the legendary Professor Ian Jones, charting the history of the profession. His pre-registration tutor at H A McParlands, Aybee Ooi provided him with great space to learn and develop. She taught him to be receptive to the array of challenges and issues facing patients. Reinforcing to him the intrinsic link between health and social care.
After qualifying in 2003, he continued working in the community pharmacy sector. Christopher Birch, his manager at Tesco in Didcot allowed him the flexibility to travel and to complete in 2005 the Canadian Pharmacy Qualification process. His enduring admiration for the Canadian health pioneer, Thomas Douglas a driving force in doing so. He also completed the RCGP Level 2 Substance Misuse certificate in 2009.
In September 2013, Ade became lead pharmacist at the multi-award winning Bedminster Pharmacy, a small independent Healthy Living pharmacy in South Bristol. The Bedminster team were winners of 18 National Pharmacy Awards with every member of the team recognised in their specific role as innovative pioneers of delivering evidence-led person-centred pharmaceutical and public health interventions. Ade continually finds innovative ways to lead his team to engage and empower patients to make the right choices about their health and promote self-care working with a coalition of partners in the health, social and voluntary sectors.
In 2017, he qualified as an independent prescriber, was presented the UK Community Pharmacist and Pharmacy Manager of the Year Awards and was awarded the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s inaugural Patient Champion Award. As part of the 2018 NHS70 Parliamentary Awards, he was nominated in the Person Centred Care Champion category by Karin Smyth MP for South Bristol.
He writes regularly for the local press and professional publications working across various media channels on topics relevant to the public, fellow health professions and policymakers. He has a syndicated column across local publications; he features as part of the BBC Bristol Radio Morning Show team and works with Public Health England, NHS England and the Bristol CCG to create and support pharmacy centred campaign content.
Ade is pharmacist ambassador for the Pancreatic Cancer Action and the Migraine Trust charities. Working also with Bowel Cancer UK, the British Lung Foundation, Diabetes UK and Meningitis Now charities to promote pharmacy’s role in the work. He is a Director of two local development organisations where he serves as the lead on health and Wellbeing. He was the pharmacist member of the NHS RightCare Headache and Migraines Framework Development Group. He was on the RPS Polypharmacy steering group and is on the Headaches UK Network Paediatric and Young people’s treatment pathway development group.
He has worked with commissioners and private health providers to design evidence-led accessible disease screening and treatment pathways through community pharmacy. He has also served on MHRA, industry and professional expert committees. His advocacy work has also seen him speaking at the House of Commons. He is a regular conference speaker and contributor.
Most of all he is committed to helping influence and support the next generation of pharmacists, while empowering his team to excel in all they do. Finally, he still does get commissioned to paint.
What does being an RPS Fellow mean to me?
Being made an RPS fellow is certainly a very uncomfortable fit for me. Pharmacy has allowed me to try and make a difference by engaging the collective efforts of the inspiring colleagues in our little community pharmacy team.
As an RPS member, I have benefitted enormously from the investment and support of the organisation and many colleagues. Fellowship serves as a continual reminder that they expect me to model the same values.
I will continue to devote my time to my community, my colleagues and the profession. I aim to serve as an example to others as to how to support our patients and adopt ways of working to deliver the best to them. I am most humbled and grateful for the considerable honour of a Fellowship by my peers at this point in my career.