Christine Bond, an emeritus professor (primary care) at the Institute of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Aberdeen, has been awarded an honorary fellowship at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGPs).
As a non-medically trained primary care scientist with a pharmacy background, Bond has supported the development of the academic careers of many individuals within the primary care field.
She has been in her current role since 2001.
A spokesperson for the RCGPs says: “Christine Bond is an asset to academic primary care within the UK and a strong supporter of UK general practice. The research evidence she has generated has helped inform changes in primary care service delivery.”
During her career, which began in 1968, Bond has taken a leading role in the UK Society of Academic Primary Care, having provided practical support to dozens of primary care clinical scientists through her establishment, development and ongoing delivery of the Primary Health Care Scientists (PHoCuS) group.
She has also supervised more than 25 PhD students and numerous Master’s level students.
In addition to receiving many awards, Bond also acts as the editor of the International Journal of Pharmacy Practice and is currently a member of Pharmacy Research UK’s advisory panel and chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s pharmaceutical sciences expert advisory panel.
In an interview with The Pharmaceutical Journal, she said: “I think I was given this award because although I am a pharmacist, I have spent my academic career in a medical school, developing general practice undergraduate teaching, and building a programme of research bringing pharmacy and general practice together.
“Gradually some of my research has contributed to the position we are in now, where the professions are really working more closely together for a common goal of safer medicine,” she adds.
“It is about recognising that primary care is bigger than general practice and must involve many other professionals contributing according to their expertise — including, of course, a key role for pharmacists.”
