Abstract

This integrative doctoral report describes how I have used my underpinning experience as a practising pharmacist to make a substantial contribution to pharmacy education. Using separate models for undergraduate and postgraduate students I have planned and delivered high quality innovative programmes which prepare undergraduate pharmacy students for practice and postgraduate professional students for advanced practice.

Using an action research methodology I have planned and led a team in the development of a suite of M.Sc. programmes (modular master’s degrees) which matches stakeholder requirements (i.e. students and employers). These programmes offer flexible learning opportunities requiring limited contact. With support systems in place, this model allows the busy healthcare professional to work in a full time capacity whilst studying for a postgraduate qualification. Using this model I have developed short courses and led a team to successfully operate them both in the UK and in Hong Kong. Taking an early lead in the development of supplementary and then independent prescribing courses, has allowed our graduates to develop to meet their potential and allow these practitioners to specialise in their chosen clinical fields.

My work with the Centre for Excellence in Healthcare Professional Education (CETL4HealthNE) is perhaps one of the most important and major suggested changes to pharmacy undergraduate education for many years. This is the introduction of Inter-Professional Education (IPE) and practice-based learning. I am a firm advocate for IPE and practice-placements being at the heart of, and becoming a substantial component of, undergraduate pharmacy education. This allows clinical patient-focused teaching to be maximised. I believe that this is of critical importance to ensure that new graduates have both underpinning theoretical knowledge and practical application ability. This is all with the same goal: for the safe and effective care of patients. From my own experiences gained from my collaborative research work and CETL4HealthNE, I propose a model where pharmacists work together with other healthcare professionals, both in practice and in IPE, for the benefit of patient care.