Birmingham is laying the foundations for a brand new exciting Pharmacy programme. Headed by Professor John Marriott, the new course will form an integral part of the College of Medical and Dental Sciences teaching and research agenda.
Birmingham is laying the foundations for a brand new exciting Pharmacy programme. Headed by Professor John Marriott, the new course will form an integral part of the College of Medical and Dental Sciences teaching and research agenda.
As of October 2011, students will be able to enrol on the University’s postgraduate DPharm course and there are plans to develop an undergraduate MPharm course starting in 2013.
Professor Marriott said: ‘This is a flagship investment into Pharmacy by the University which will have wide impact in prescribing, medicines optimisation and research being able to augment clinical pharmacology and translational research providing novel drug delivery systems and medicines formulations.
‘Pharmacy will complement existing programmes in the College and across the University. There are already parallels in some of the science teaching on the Medical Science course and Pharmacy can also work with the MBChB and nursing programmes to enable greater experiences of patient care and stimulate inter-professional learning.’
The new programmes are being developed under guidance from the General Pharmaceutical Council and follow the principles of the Department of Health’s Medical Education England’s, Modernising Pharmacy Careers which proposes a new approach to pharmacist undergraduate education and pre-registration training.
As a result the MPharm course in particular will be more clinical and patient focused, while still retaining its scientific integrity. The five -year integrated course will also include the pre-registration year and by working with pharmaceutical partners to deliver the preregistration element, the University plans to maintain a seamless educational experience providing the very best teaching and learning experience possible both within the University and in professional practice. There will also be the added option for students to intercalate and do study exchanges abroad.
In contrast, the DPharm is a mixed taught and research professional doctorate designed for registered pharmacists who are experienced practitioners. The flexible four-year programme will focus on work-based research and is ideal for the next Pharmacist Consultants of the future.
There is already some collaborative Pharmacy research happening within the College and Professor Marriott who has active research groups examining a variety of aspects of clinical pharmacy also plans to develop this further.
John concludes: ‘There is a national need and patient need for more pharmacists. The beauty of Birmingham is that we are centrally placed within a network of large hospital Trusts and dynamic General Practices making it an ideal setting.
‘Ultimately this will have a significant impact on patients and students on a number of programmes and will pave the way for vibrant, well qualified Pharmacists of the future.’
To find out more about the DPharm and MPharm programmes or the collaborative Pharmacy research, please contact
Professor John Marriott
Email: j.f.marriott@bham.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)121 414 4094
