Pioneering Pilot Scheme Takes Off
Dr Patel leads a training event for Student Champions
Thu, 27 Feb 2014 12:26:00 GMT
Huddersfield Pharmacist Dr Mahendra Patel is leading a pioneering scheme with the Royal Pharmaceutial Society (RPS) and British Pharmaceutical Students Association (BPSA) to encourage students to take advantage of the Society’s support and resources from an early stage in their journey to become highly qualfied pharmacists.
The RPS Student Champions Programme is based on a similar groundbreaking scheme which Dr Patel launched with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in his role as one of the first Fellows of NICE (and to date the only pharmacist) , which has now been rolled out to over thirty medical, nursing and pharmacy schools across the UK.
Dr Patel has recruited two Pharmacy students each from the Universities of Huddersfield, Aston, Bradford, Nottingham, and University College London to act as Champions who will promote the role of the RPS and highlight the support it can provide to their fellow students.
This means that students will understand how to take advantage of the resources which are available and how the RPS can support them, both at this early stage of their journey to become pharmacists - such as access to information and materials to support project work, preparation for interviews and obtaining pre-registration placements in within the different pharmacy sectors - and during their whole career as a practising pharmacist, through leadership of the profession, continuing professional development, becoming members of the Faculty as part of recognition of career development, and promoting professional values.
The Student Champions from all five universities who are taking part in the pilot, including Rachel Bailey and Samuel Hampshaw who are the University of Huddersfield’s Champions, attended a training day led by Dr Patel at the RPS headquarters in London. The Champions will be delivering peer-to-peer teaching sessions within their own institutions to show their fellow students what is on offer from the RPS and how they can access it.
Dr Patel explained that the idea behind the scheme is to get students into the habit of seeking advice and resources from the RPS during their studies. “The RPS is the backbone of any pharmacist’s professional development. The RPS supports people’s progression through their career by supporting their continuous professional development, liaising with other organisations to develop good practice and working with the government on shaping policy.” He hopes that engaging with the RPS will become a culture for students, adding “once they become qualified it’s something that they will seek as a first point of call on any matters relating professional issues .”
Becoming an RPS Student Champion has significant benefits for the students. Dr Patel explained that he had no difficulty in finding volunteers for the role. “It gives them closer engagement with the RPS and enhances their own personal and professional development. It also provides a unique opportunity to gain experience and confidence of standing in front of an audience and develop presentation skills, as well as appreciating the responsibilties bestowed upon them in being ambassadors for their profession as well as their university. This of course helps improves their CV phenomenally and that’s important for pre-registration placements.”
If this pilot is successful, Dr Patel hopes to launch the RPS Student Champions Programme at the British Pharmaceutical Conference in September.
