Sarah Wild, a pharmacy graduate from the University of Bath, changed career path after a positive experience on a fellow scheme which inspired her to pursue her true passion for education and workforce development. In 2024, she returned to the University as the Director of Practice Based Learning for the degree, supporting the next generation of pharmacists.

From studying in Bath to a leading Pharmacist in the South West

I graduated from the University of Bath MPharm degree in 2014 and went straight into my pre-registration training year. Following registration, I began my career in community pharmacy in the Bath area. I progressed from a relief pharmacist role to store pharmacist, and later to store manager, gaining extensive experience in leadership, patient care and pharmacy operations.

Alongside my clinical career, I developed a growing interest in education. This led me to take on a Teacher Practitioner role with Day Lewis Pharmacy and the University of Bath. In this position, I contributed to the MPharm programme and led the development of an innovative unit where students worked in small groups to run their own pharmacy. This experience played a key role in shaping my passion for education and workforce development.

A fellowship for the future leaders in healthcare

In 2021/22, I was awarded a place on the prestigious Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s Clinical Fellow Scheme. During this 12-month placement at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, I worked alongside senior leaders in pharmacy and gained exposure to national-level leadership, policy, and professional development.

This was a pivotal year in my career. While it broadened my understanding of the profession, it also confirmed that my primary interest lay in education and workforce development. Being selected for this competitive scheme is something I am particularly proud of, and it gave me the confidence to pursue leadership roles in this field.

Working for the future of Pharmacy

Towards the end of my fellowship, I moved into a senior leadership role with NHS England’s Workforce, Education and Training Directorate as Pharmacy Foundation Training Lead for the South West. In this role, I was responsible for the commissioning of training places, the quality management of foundation training sites, and the delivery of a regional training programme for trainee pharmacists.

I led a team of facilitators and worked with a wide range of stakeholders across the region to ensure high-quality training experiences. My role also involved strategic thinking about the future of foundation training and how best to develop the pharmacy workforce.

My days were varied, ranging from chairing meetings and writing reports to delivering presentations and supporting trainees. Although I no longer undertook clinical practice, I maintained my professional registration.

Find your passion and apply your skills

It was the teacher practitioners at Bath who supported and encouraged my development who first inspired me to consider education as a career option. Working in practice I realised that as much as I loved helping my patients with their medicines and health, it was working with the team around me and developing them which I enjoyed more.

However, what I love about pharmacy is the variety that the role can bring. Whether it is solving a clinical query for a patient, working out the best way to teach a topic, or looking at a new way to manage quality reporting there is never a dull moment!

My experiences throughout my career have reinforced just how transferable the skills gained from a pharmacy degree are. The skills of communication, leadership, teamwork and problem-solving which the degree gave me have been central to every role I have undertaken. My fellowship and subsequent roles have further demonstrated that pharmacists can pursue a wide variety of career paths and make a meaningful impact in many different areas. I truly believe there is a bit of pharmacy out there for everyone!

A full circle moment - returning to Bath

My current role is Director of Practice Based Learning for the MPharm programme at the University of Bath. In this position, I provide strategic leadership for practice-based and inter-professional learning across our Bath and Plymouth campuses.

I work closely with Heads of Pharmacy and placement providers to ensure students have access to high-quality, meaningful placement experiences. My role also focuses on innovation within the curriculum, ensuring that future pharmacists are well prepared for evolving professional demands.

Returning to Bath in this capacity feels like a full-circle moment. This role brings together my experience in clinical practice, education, and workforce development, and allows me to support the next generation of pharmacists as they begin their careers.