In this issue:
- Exploring targeted cancer therapies through nanotechnology in breast cancer treatment
- Finding my Path: from FOMO to empowering women’s health
- Championing women’s health: a pharmacist’s role in transforming menopause care
- Tribute to Karin Wahl
- East Cheshire NHS Trust wins the 2024 HPMA award
- The PDA NAWP Network invites you to celebrate International Women’s Day
- In case you missed it
- Get involved
Exploring targeted cancer therapies through nanotechnology in breast cancer treatment
My name is Shima Khezri Azizi Far, and I hold an MPharm degree, which laid the foundation for my passion for personalised medicine and innovative treatment strategies. I recently completed my PhD studies at the University of Brighton and await my Viva. I developed a strong interest in oncology, particularly in exploring novel therapeutic approaches. This academic and professional background provided me with valuable insights into the limitations and potential of current treatment options, inspiring me to pursue further research in the field.
The aim of my research
The primary aim of my research is to design a more effective, controlled drug delivery system for breast cancer treatment. Breast cancer is a complex disease affecting approximately 55,900 individuals. Each year in the UK, around 55,000 cases in women are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. By integrating nanotechnology and pharmaceutical sciences, I aim to create a drug delivery system that targets cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue, potentially reducing side effects and improving treatment outcomes. Specifically, my work involved using thermos-sensitive liposomes combined with gold and silver nanoparticles to trigger the release of the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin under controlled conditions, thereby improving its efficacy and reducing off-target effects.
My interest in breast cancer research
My interest in the field of breast cancer stemmed from the substantial unmet medical need, together with my interest in improving people’s lives and improving the quality of treatments. Breast cancer remains one of the most frequently observed and diagnosed cancers and is particularly complex because it encompasses several subtypes that respond differently to treatment. Witnessing patients’ challenges, I am firmly committed to exploring alternative therapeutic avenues that might offer better efficacy with fewer side effects. The possibility of leveraging nanotechnology to address these challenges intrigued me, as it represents an emerging frontier in targeted therapy, a better strategy with promising implications for cancer treatment.
Finding my Path: from FOMO to empowering women’s health
By Bushra Effendi, advanced pharmacist with specialist interest in women’s health
Ten years after qualifying as a pharmacist, I found myself grappling with FOMO (fear of missing out). I watched colleagues who had qualified after me reach significant milestones, such as becoming independent prescribers or rising through the Agenda for Change ranks, and this left me questioning my own journey. I had taken time out to build a home and family, and while I wouldn’t trade that for the world, it often felt like I had stagnated, and I questioned what positive impact I was making for patients.
I then spent years trying to find my place in pharmacy, working in community settings, primary care, and even governance within the Local Pharmaceutical Committee (LPC). Yet, I still felt unfulfilled. Then the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and everything changed. Reflecting on my own experiences and my passion for women’s health, I found my calling in empowering women through better health education and care. My journey as a mother has given me insights and empathy that helped me connect with patients in a meaningful way.
Driven to grow and evolve, I took on further qualifications and carved out a portfolio career that spans both the NHS and the private sector. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of working with amazing organisations like The Menopause Charity and The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), and I’ve grown my own business alongside.
Looking back, I realise my unique path has shaped who I am today. I wouldn’t change a thing. My story has fuelled my commitment to expanding my expertise in women’s health and to helping others make a lasting impact in this important field.
Life isn’t a race and we’re all on our own paths, particularly as women who frequently juggle various responsibilities. What may seem like ‘missing out’ could actually be creating room for what genuinely matters to you.
Celebrate every accomplishment, no matter how minor, and have faith that your individual journey is shaping your pharmacy career.
Championing women’s health: a pharmacist’s role in transforming menopause care
My name is Anthony Singh, and I am the lead pharmacist and women’s health lead for the North West Leicestershire GP Federation. Our Primary Care Network (PCN) comprises 12 GP practices, serving a population of approximately 114,000 patients. Over the past two years, I have been privileged to lead a transformative journey in menopause care, creating a model that is both scalable and impactful.
The journey to setting up a menopause clinic
Our menopause clinic officially launched in July 2023, building on a pilot clinic I initially ran at one GP surgery. Recognising the immense demand and inequality in accessing menopause care, we expanded the service to cover all 12 practices within our federation.
In the early days, I carried out around 40 appointments per month, focusing on diagnosing, initiating treatment, and managing complex cases of perimenopause and menopause. Fast forward to 2024, and we now conduct approximately 130 appointments each month, streamlined across the federation and supported by the government’s women’s health strategy.
Tribute to Karin Wahl
Karin Wahl, a dedicated pharmacist and founder of the German Pharmacists’ Association (DPV), passed away on 5 December 2024 in her hometown of Stuttgart.
She was a member of the Federal Chamber of Pharmacists from 2000 to 2004 and was Germany’s first female chamber president from 1998 to 2002. Her realisation that women were underrepresented in professional political bodies motivated her to found the DPV.
As its chairperson, she particularly promoted the European Women’s Pharmacists Meeting (EWPM) project, playing a key role in establishing contacts with female colleagues in European countries. In this way, she achieved a lasting friendly exchange with colleagues from the UK and the Netherlands.
The highlight of her time as Chair was the Gender Medicine Congress in Heidelberg in June 2008 together with the Baden-Württemberg Medical Women’s Association.
In 2015, the DPV was integrated into the German Association of Women Academics as a separate working group. The European Women Pharmacists’ Meetings have taken place and continue to take place, even online during the Covid-19pandemic. They are now being continued by young female colleagues from various European countries and are hosted by pharmaceutical organisations from different European countries.
Even though Karin Wahl was no longer active in the new organisational form, she always followed the latest developments with great interest.
It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Karin Wahl who brought so much love, joy, and kindness into our lives. They will forever be missed but never forgotten.
Anita White, PDA NAWP Past President said, “Karin was the driving force behind the setting up of EWPM and was very much involved.”
The PDA NAWP Network has a presence at the EWPM every year. If you’d like to find out more about this or represent NAWP at EWPM in future, please email [email protected].
East Cheshire NHS Trust wins the 2024 HPMA award
East Cheshire NHS Trust (ECT) was the 2024 Healthcare People Management Association (HPMA) Excellence in People Awards winner for partnership working, recognising its collaboration with trade unions to support staff affected by menopause. In early 2022, ECT’s healthy workplace coach and staff-side chair noted that 83% of their workforce were women, with 33% aged 45 to 55, the typical age range for menopause symptoms. They secured executive board backing to prioritise menopause support, appointing a male executive champion to normalise discussions across genders.
The initiative involved comprehensive data collection through staff surveys and outreach, including a winter staff advice service and weekly wellbeing walkabouts. A menopause working group was established, incorporating internal stakeholders and external partners from councils and charities. Key actions included developing a menopause policy, creating an intranet resource page, training over 60 menopause champions, distributing weekly communications, hosting online menopause cafes with a neighbouring trust, providing menopause boxes with essential items, enhancing occupational health support, adding menopause as an absence category in the rostering system, and organising annual events like Menopause Day.
Trade unions were engaged from the start, with the staff-side chair utilising dedicated facility time to collaborate with unions and colleagues across the trust. This ensured resources and support were customised to meet staff needs while maintaining close coordination with the board, executives, communications team, and employees.
These efforts led to a 2.08% reduction in unplanned absences between March 2022 and March 2024, and a 1.62% improvement in staff perceptions of the organisation’s commitment to health and wellbeing. The success prompted NHSE’s menopause network to invite ECT to share their approach with other trusts. Building on this achievement, ECT plans to expand the working group into a women’s working group to address broader staff support topics.
Liz Larkin, PDA Lead Organiser for NHS members said, “The PDA welcomes initiatives that improve the lives of PDA members and other staff in the NHS. By recognising that menopause affected at least a third of their workforce and putting measures in place to support this group of staff, they have taken innovative steps which the PDA encourages all NHS employers to adopt.”
The PDA supports over 7,000 members working in the NHS. Any members who are interested in our work can email [email protected].
The PDA NAWP Network invites you to celebrate International Women’s Day
Registration is now open for the PDA NAWP Network’s FREE face-to-face member-exclusive International Women’s Day (IWD) Event. This is your chance to be part of the discussion and take part in this year’s theme #AccelerateAction for women’s equality.
Attendees will have the opportunity to network with other women pharmacists and take part in a variety of sessions which include:
- Celebrating 120 years of NAWP
- Making your voice heard in pharmacy
- Leading change for women in your workplace.
A free lunch and refreshments will be provided throughout the day, along with provision for those observing Ramadan.
Date: Saturday 8 March
Time: 10 am to 3.30 pm
Location: Macdonald Burlington Hotel in Birmingham, B2 4JQ (a short walk from Birmingham New Street train station)
Price: FREE
Those in attendance will also hear from some keynote speakers which will be confirmed closer to the time. Places for this event are limited and so will be allocated on a first come first served basis so be sure to register now.
Those wishing to learn more about IWD and this year’s theme can do so by clicking here.
In case you missed it
- NAWP attends the 18th European Women Pharmacists Meeting
- Advice for women on making the most of their money
- NAWP encourages pharmacist employers to adopt the Safe Spaces scheme
- NAWP encourages pharmacists to take part in Wear it Pink
- Lourette Latif Philips elected as the 50th President of NAWP
- PDA NAWP Network launches Spotlight on Periods
- PDA NAWP Network invites nominations for upcoming elections
- NAWP attends the Women’s Health Professional Care and Best Practice London conference
- The journey to parenthood: how may I assist?
- PDA NAWP Network’s International Women’s Day event: Women and Inclusion in Pharmacy
- New policy supports NHS employees who have experienced pregnancy or baby loss
Get involved
- Join NAWP’s Facebook group here.
- Follow NAWP on Instagram here.
- Use #PDAnawp on all social media platforms to post on issues relevant to women pharmacists and to suggest recommended reading for allies of the network.
- Join the WhatsApp group here.
- Contact the committee by emailing [email protected]
- About NAWP
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