Co-Chair
Kiran Channa
Operational Head of Pharmacy
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
UK
Clinical Pharmacy
Association
UK
Clinical Pharmacy
Association
Our committee is passionate about fostering pharmaceutical education and mentoring skills across all sectors and levels of practice. Our members deliver learning events on a variety of continuing pharmacist education and training topics, such as career development, designing learning activities, as well as leadership and coaching.
The UKCPA Education & Development committee are experts in the foundational requirements and experiences of undergraduate and trainee pharmacists, and in best practice educational methods for clinical practitioners.
Our pharmacy development community is also at the forefront of using technology to facilitate learning, delivering a much-needed session on how to effectively teach online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Members have also hosted multiple social media discussions on topics related to pharmaceutical education training.
Our community contributes regular articles on a wide variety of pharmacy education and training topics.
In 2021, the committee researched the impact of pre-registration exam delays amid the COVID-19 pandemic on provisionally registered pharmacists.
Continuing pharmacy education, or CPE, is a career-long commitment to training, ongoing learning, and professional development. Pharmacy practitioners are required to stay on top of evolving best practice guidance, changes in technology, and medicines guidance. Pharmacy continuing education programmes are designed to help pharmacists keep their knowledge and skills up to date in an ever-changing landscape.
By joining UKCPA, you’ll have access to our Pharmacy Education & Development Community to support you to continue your learning at every stage of your career.
Continuing pharmacy education is important for pharmacy practitioners as guidance changes regularly; new research is carried out, knowledge evolves, and regulations change. Pharmacists’ skills therefore need to be kept up to date in order to deliver the best standard of care and advice to patients.
For anyone working in pharmacy, continuing education is simply part of the job. By taking part in pharmacist training and education online or in-person, practitioners can ensure they are staying at the forefront of new developments, innovations, and the industry as a whole. All of this is vital to ensure patients are receiving the highest quality care.
Pharmacy teams often have an education and training pharmacy lead who is responsible for the development and delivery of a range of pharmacy education and development programmes for their team.
Many pharmacy professionals are involved in education within their usual role, either by being a foundation trainee tutor, teaching other medical professionals, or teaching undergraduate or postgraduate pharmacy students.
Many pharmacy professionals find this aspect of their job very rewarding and enjoy helping their students grow in knowledge and skills, or can see the benefit of updating their multidisciplinary teams on various aspects of medicines use.
Some pharmacy professionals specialise in education and training, taking on academic roles within universities. As a teacher practitioner, they are able to use their practice experience and expertise to design and deliver teaching programmes, and will support students through their studies. They may also be involved in research studies, supervising student projects, and organising work placements.
Join UKCPA today to get involved with our pharmacy professional development community, whether you’re interested in leading pharmacy training or continuing your own education.
Anna Bischler - Associate director, medicines use and safety
Join UKCPA for less than £3 a week and access all our communities, education and resources.
