For more information about the Pharmacy Global Health fellowships, contact Dr Diane Ashiru-Oredope, CPA Global AMR Lead via fellowship@
In July 2019 Sixteen Pharmacists embarked on the yearlong global health fellowship year.
Click on the link below to find out more about their projects through the recording of the end of fellowship year event.
Amritpal Atwal
Haemtaology/Oncology Pharmacist, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
University of Salford – Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda partnership
“The current pharmacy profession is interesting and continuously changing. Undertaking this fellowship will help me develop new skills to keep up with the changing landscape and provide me with the tools to ensure I can be the best role model possible.”
Esmita Charani
Adviser, CwPAMS, Commonwealth Pharmacists Association
“As part of the inception visits for the CwPAMS I was able to develop new contacts with pharmacists in the Infectious Diseases Institute at Makerere University and at the Pharmaceutical Council of Ghana. I plan to use this fellowship and my role as expert advisor to the Commonwealth Pharmacy Association to build strong research and clinical mentorship collaborations with pharmacist colleagues in Uganda, Ghana and other participating countries. This fellowship will also contribute to my personal development as a mentor and consolidate my training in antimicrobial stewardship across different healthcare economies.”
Kate Russell-Hobbs
Senior Clinical Pharmacist HIV/GUM/ID, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHSTrust (BHT)
Partnership: Nottingham Trent University – Makerere University School of Public Health partnership
“The Global Health Fellowship will not only cultivate the leadership skills I strive to obtain but it will also enable me to become part of a network of individuals proudly working to improve global health. I hope that this community will provide many more opportunities for collaboration in the years to come.”
Scott Barrett
Lead Clinical Pharmacist – Medicine & Emergency Care, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Partnership: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC)
“The CwPAMS funding has given me the possibility to consider the wider application of antimicrobial stewardship. Leading on a global project provides the greatest opportunity to make a difference, strengthening links between AMR teams in UK and overseas with the hope they will flourish further into the future.”
Claire Brandish
Lead Anti-Infectives Pharmacist, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT).
Partnership: Nottingham Trent University –Makerere University School of Public Heath
“Having undertaken some initial scoping work as part of the THET/ CwPAMs Health Partnership between Nottingham Trent University and the University of Makerere, Uganda, I have already learnt so much and am excited to see what I can achieve and implement back in the UK. I have been amazed by the collaborative approach, positivity and enthusiasm of the Health Partnership who are not afraid to push the boundaries and reach out to include everyone from a “One Health” approach. Effective antimicrobial stewardship (AS) needs to be addressed as a whole health economy. It also requires a greater understanding of the behavioural and cultural challenges and how these can be tackled. This project has opened my mind to the possibilities and potential for developing and strengthening AS within an Integrated Care System. This incredible opportunity of the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s global health fellowship would enable me to develop myself as a leader to positively influence and support the formation of a one-health system, drawing in the wider community.”
Joseph Brayson
Specialist Clinical Pharmacist, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Partnership: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC)
“Antimicrobial resistance is a worldwide issue and by participating in the commonwealth partnership project in Tanzania together with the the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Global Health fellowship I will be able to pave the way for speaking up about these issues affecting us all. I hope to be a voice not just for our colleagues in Tanzania but for everyone affected by antimicrobial resistance.”
Frances Garraghan
Lead antimicrobial pharmacist, Manchester Foundation Trust
The University of Manchester – Gulu Regional Referral Hospital
“I have just returned from our first CwPAMS visit to Gulu (Northern Uganda). We have already been able to share our knowledge and experience and it is so rewarding to know that the team in Gulu are as passionate about improving the use of antimicrobials as we are. I believe the fellowship will provide me with an opportunity to step out of my comfort zone, to push my boundaries, strengthening my resilience and my ability to undertake new challenges.”
Fiona Rees
Specialist Pharmacist – Gastroenterology BSUH
University of Sussex; Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) – University Teaching Hospital (UTH), Lusaka
“The CPhO Global Health Fellowship will be an excellent opportunity to put my knowledge from my Global Health Policy MSc into practice, draw on my skills of policy development, education and process monitoring and evaluation plus gain experience in high-level leadership (particularly strategic context) and in management (especially implementation of national priorities, risk management and working across boundaries). The skills learnt will aid antimicrobial initiatives at my Trust base plus help with a service I am trying to develop; hepatitis C testing and treatment in the community in Sussex and Surrey, which will contribute in WHO target of hepatitis C elimination by 2030.”
Bee Yean Ng
Specialist Antimicrobial Pharmacist, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
Nottingham Trent University – Makerere University School of Public Health
“As a clinical pharmacist in my early to mid career the opportunity to be assigned a mentor who will provide bespoke guidance to aid my development and the chance to be involved in the CwPAMs programme are invaluable. Even though I have never enrolled to any leadership course, I have personally experienced the impact of good leadership and I was amazed by how much an individual can achieve by empowerment and motivation even with limited resources throughout the 5 days scoping exercise in Uganda.
“The CwPAMs programme requires project management skills, networking skills and leadership skills, which can be enhanced by the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s global health (CPhO) fellowship.
“After these I hope that I will be able to share my learning with my department and apply it in my daily practice. In the future I hope that I will be able to motivate and enable junior pharmacists to achieve their full potential.”
Joyce Mahungu
Lead Pharmacist Infectious Diseases, North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust
North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, London (NMUH) – Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH)
“The global health fellowship will be an excellent opportunity for me to build on my current skills, knowledge and experiences as well as to acquire new skills, network with a diverse group of individuals and to improve on my leadership and project management skills. I hope that this experience will be a springboard to getting involved in global health and in particular AMR on a more regular basis.
“I am extremely passionate about the NHS and want the NHS to benefit in the application of skills and knowledge learnt as well as from the network of people I will meet through the scheme. This fellowship will encourage cross-pollination of ideas and building links that will support capacity building within the NHS and our KBTH partner. It will also be a great opportunity to keep updated on global AMR issues.”
Preet Panesar
Lead Pharmacist – Microbiology, UCLH NHS Foundation Trust
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) – Makerere University College of Health Sciences and Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration (IDRC)
“The experience would be invaluable in gaining insights on the issues facing LMICs, assessing and understanding existing practice and evaluating change. Professionally the fellowship will help to further develop my leadership, project management and interpersonal skills, however the personal growth and fulfilment from being part of a cohesive team is invaluable.”
Misha Ladva
Sponsor Regulatory Advisor Clinical Trials, University College London Hospitals
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ho
“The fellowship provides and exciting opportunity to network with inspiring and motivating people. I will be able to develop my interpersonal and communication skills. Together with this, the fellowship will provide the opportunity to develop personally and professionally and gain better understanding of public health, public health is an area I have always had a great interest in, and with this fellowship I will be able to put this interest into practice, which would be a great personal accomplishment for me.”
Edwin Panford-Quainoo
Professional Support Manager
UK Faculty of Public Health (FPH) – Ghana Public Health Association (GPHA)
“This fellowship will present a timely opportunity for me to fulfill my ambition to continue my interest in research and global health competencies and develop further skills related to the emerging culture of pharmacy and public health especially within the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) concerns.
“I believe this fellowship will enhance my critical thinking due to the exposure to other pharmacists/professionals and organisations that I would not otherwise have come into contact with. I expect this role to put me in contact with some of the senior leadership within the NHS and consequently the ability to learn from them. I want to be better at navigating complex decision-making where there are varying interests from various stakeholders and I believe this award will give me such an opportunity. Ultimately, I want this role to help me continue to champion pharmacists in the field of global health.”
Reem Santos
Lead Pharmacist – Antimicrobials Speciality Area – Microbiology/Infectious Diseases, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – Makerere University and Mulago National Referral and Teaching Hospital
“The CPhO GH Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to understand the key challenges faced by LMIC when trying to address antimicrobial resistance. Our AMS team hope to offer cost-effective and practical solutions to tackle AMR that can be implemented with the limited resources available in Kampala, yet provide maximum benefits to patients.
“The networking opportunities and learning gained from the Fellowship will enrich our lives not only on a professional level but also on a personal one.”
Frances Kerr
Antimicrobial Pharmacist, Hairmyres/Monklands Hospitals, Scotland
Healthcare Improvement Scotland – Ghana Police Hospital and Keta Municipal Hospital
“I am very excited to be part of the Health Improvement Scotland Fleming Fund project in Ghana. I see this as the opportunity of a lifetime allowing me to have an impact that will hopefully provide lasting improvements in antimicrobial prescribing in the hospitals in Ghana we visit. It will give me an opportunity to understand infection management challenges in a completely different context to the UK and in an environment where resources are very limited.
“The Global Health Fellowship will ensure that we have the greatest impact possible by allowing me to develop leadership skills, project management skills and to network and learn from individuals and their teams also working on similar projects.”
Alison Cockburn
Lead Antimicrobial Pharmacist and Lead Pharmacist Diabetes Cardiovascular Risk, NHS
Healthcare Improvement Scotland – Ghana Police Hospital and Keta Municipal Hospital
Since qualifying Alison has gained a variety of experience as a hospital pharmacist working in clinical, managerial and academic roles based in Leicester and Lothian. Most recently she established a Diabetes Cardiovascular Risk Service in Lothian which she runs in conjunction with the Lead Antimicrobial Pharmacist post. Specialising in antimicrobial management since 1999 she has also been involved in provision of education for under and post-graduates in her role as an Honorary Lecturer at Strathclyde University which has also enabled her to pursue her research interests to further develop the provision of diabetes and antimicrobial pharmaceutical care in Lothian. Currently chair of the Scottish Antimicrobial Pharmacists Group (ASAP) and part of the first cohort of the Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS) Global Health.
Global Health role in conserving antibiotics for NHS Pharmacists
Sixteen pharmacists volunteering as part of the Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS) programme have been appointed as the first Chief Pharmaceutical Officer (CPhO) for England Global Health Fellows.
CwPAMS is a programme funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care’s Fleming Fund which takes a novel approach to enhancing antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) through establishing partnerships between multidisciplinary teams including NHS pharmacists in the UK and four African countries. Following the announcement of the partnerships in early February 2019, pharmacists have received technical training including education in global AMS and behaviour change. They are now commencing project work to further develop skills in antimicrobial stewardship procedures, including surveillance, and prudent prescribing.
The fellowship is an exciting new opportunity for pharmacists to build upon the opportunities for personal and professional development through CwPAMS. It has been developed and sponsored by Health Education England (HEE) with technical support provided by Commonwealth Pharmacists’ Association. The development of the fellowship follows a request from Dr Keith Ridge, England’s Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, recognising the positive impact the scheme will have for NHS staff.
This fellowship role aims to support the pharmacists by broadening the learning of the CwPAMS programme to further their leadership and project management skills.
The opportunity will offer fellows a personal and leadership development experience using the NHS Healthcare Leadership model. Fellows will be assigned a mentor who will provide guidance to aid growth and development through general support and access to a subject matter expert who has experience in leadership and working within healthcare overseas.
Additionally, the fellowship will offer networking opportunities aimed at sparking new and innovative ideas and collaborations, including with the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s Clinical Fellows and the Future Leaders Fellows.
Pharmacists who have been appointed are:
- Early to mid-career pharmacists who have not previously participated in other fellowships.
- Members of the teams who will be travelling to one of the partner countries (Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania or Zambia) on one or more occasion as part of the CwPAMS programme to lead or contribute to the delivery of interventions/project work in country.
Dr Keith Ridge, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for England said:
"Tackling the growing risk of antimicrobial resistance is a challenge for global society and this initiative offers specialist pharmacists in the UK an excellent professional opportunity, while also sharing their expertise in challenging environments as part of what needs to be a concerted campaign to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing."
Professor Chris Cutts, Pharmacy Dean, Health Education England said:
“It is difficult to overstate how important the CwPAMS programme is to Health Education England’s global health engagement. It is a prime example of collaboration across the NHS and Higher Education Institutions in the pursuit of global capacity building to promote antimicrobial stewardship."
Victoria Rutter, Executive Director, Commonwealth Pharmacists Association said:
“We are delighted that the CwPAMS programme has been a catalyst for developing the new CPhO Global Health Fellowships for pharmacists, providing additional leadership training and networking opportunities for pharmacists to further develop their skills."
- Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS) is a new scheme, funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care’s Fleming Fund (part of UK aid), in which 12 multidisciplinary teams of volunteers including NHS pharmacists, specialist nurses, and clinicians as well as colleagues from HEIs will partner with counterpart healthcare workers in Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia to work together, sharing skills and knowledge to co-develop interventions to enhance antimicrobial stewardship (prudent use of antimicrobials) to prevent antimicrobial resistance
- The Fleming Fund is funded by UK aid which is Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding; government money which is spent for the benefit of those in low and middle income countries. ODA funding is separated from DHSC’s core budget and that of the NHS and is allocated to the Department separately by HM Treasury. www.flemingfund.org
- CwPAMS programme is jointly being delivered by Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET) Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA)
- The CwPAMS scheme will provide benefits to the pharmacist and the NHS organisations that hold/are contributing to the partnership. The pharmacist will develop through several ways:
- Opportunities to learn innovative solutions to overcome barriers to antimicrobial stewardship in Low and Middle Income Countries that can be shared within the UK.
- Increased engagement with antimicrobial stewardship and prescribing practice domestically.
- Improved leadership capacity and competency.
- Improved understanding of the benefits of using digital technology in health, digital communication and remote working.
- Greater understanding and experience of working within limited budgets, of frugal innovation and greater awareness and appreciation of the cost of resources within the NHS.
- Opportunities for professional development including through participation in wider multi-disciplinary teams, contribution to peer-reviewed publications and experience of the working with other non-NHS arms-length-bodies.
- CPA: The CPA is a UK-based charity that advances health, promotes wellbeing and improves medicines-related education and use for the benefit of the people of the Commonwealth. By supporting the development of safe and effective systems of medicines management, maximising the skill level and encouraging the better utilization of the pharmacy workforce, the CPA seeks to encourage the optimisation of medicines and health-related advice given to the public, with the aim of improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities throughout the Commonwealth. www.commonwealthpharmacy.org
- THET: Today, one billion people will never see a qualified health worker in their lives.
For over twenty-five years, THET has been working to change this, training health workers to build a world where everyone has access to affordable and quality healthcare. We do this by leveraging the expertise and energy of the UK health community, supporting health partnerships between hospitals, colleges and clinics in the UK and those overseas. From reducing maternal deaths in Uganda to improving the quality of hospital care for injured children in Myanmar, we work to strengthen local health systems and build a healthier future for all. In the past seven years alone, THET has reached over 84,000 health workers across 31 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia in partnership with over 130 UK institutions. www.thet.org
- DFID has funded THET to deliver the existing Health Partnership Scheme for seven years.