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I joined the neuroscience committee of the UK Clinical Pharmacy Association (UKCPA) in June 2024 after applying with little expectation of getting in. Before I knew it, a very important chapter of my life had begun — full of hard work, but also excitement, new connections and meaning.
Determined to be part of the ‘gang’, I had applied for all the positions available at the time: standards and consultations lead, education lead and membership lead. When I was offered a position, I was asked to choose my preferred role and opted to become the standards and consultations lead.
Part of that decision was driven by a willingness to step outside my comfort zone — something I do not do often but very much recommend. The job was so worthwhile that I volunteered to do it for another two years, eager to keep working on the many projects I had started.
Much of my work has involved shaping the committee’s response to recommendations made by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). There is a lot of reading involved — I learnt that very quickly — especially in a fast-paced and constantly evolving field like neurology. And reading is only one part of the job.
You also need to critically appraise it and formulate meaningful comments to share with the committee before drafting the final response to NICE. There is no time to get bored. I vividly remember one busy weekend, sitting on a sofa in a temporary apartment, trying to get to grips with the NICE technology appraisal for lecanemab, all amid the chaos of buying a house and moving with my family.
Your opinion always matters, but it feels as though it matters a little bit more when you are part of a UKCPA committee. There is also a significant advantage that comes with all the reading and horizon scanning. You begin to sense what is coming, what is likely to be approved and what probably will not be. That helps you to plan your service in advance and prepare for future developments.
NICE has also formed one of the most exciting parts of my work with the UKCPA, when I was nominated as a clinical expert for a NICE technology appraisal related to migraine. As usual, my impostor syndrome was whispering: “It’s not going to happen.” Except, it did.
It is difficult to describe the excitement I felt when I received the email from NICE confirming that my nomination had been accepted. That opportunity to work with NICE was initially intimidating but, ultimately, incredibly rewarding. There were small moments that made it special, such as knowing the outcome before publication but having to keep it confidential, or seeing my name in black and white, repeatedly described as a clinical expert. More importantly, it was an opportunity to make a difference for patients on a national level.
Impostor syndrome is common in the high-stakes world of pharmacy — but reflecting on your achievements is key to overcoming it
Another encouragement from my time on the UKCPA committee has been collaborating with others from different backgrounds. I am the only member of the neuroscience committee who works in a district general hospital rather than a tertiary centre. At the beginning, I felt quite small. However, the committee never made me feel that way. It is a very collaborative group, where no opinion is dismissed and everyone is there to support one another, despite our already demanding workloads.
Being a neuro pharmacist can be quite a solitary journey, especially when you are working in a district general hospital. There isn’t another neuro pharmacist sitting next door. Somehow, you are expected to know the answer to every question that comes up, every subspeciality and every unexpected situation connected to neurology. It can be both exciting and daunting.
As part of this role, I had the opportunity to deliver a teaching session with another member of the committee on the pharmacological management of status epilepticus, which is one of the areas of neurology I enjoy most. It was exciting to see so many colleagues attend and to hear the interesting questions they asked.
It was also a wonderful experience to share teaching with an excellent colleague from a tertiary centre. This time, however, I truly appreciated the value of bringing my own district general hospital perspective to the discussion. I realised that many of the challenges we face when managing neurological emergencies are not actually that different from those experienced in tertiary hospitals.
Impostor syndrome is common in the high-stakes world of pharmacy — but reflecting on your achievements is key to overcoming it.
If you are considering an adventure like this, do not let your impostor syndrome hold you back, you may be much closer to your goals than you think
As professionals, we spend a lot of time thinking about what could have gone better, the problems we need to solve and the systems that have not worked. We spend much less time celebrating what we have achieved and reminding ourselves of the difference we have made.
Writing my Royal College of Pharmacy consultant portfolio has given me an opportunity to pause and recognise those achievements. I have also found it helpful to keep a diary of achievements that I can read when I am having a difficult day. Teaching medics and actively asking for feedback has been another strategy that has worked for me. It was another experience that felt scary at first, but with practice, has become something I genuinely enjoy.
My final tip is not to give too much weight to that little voice of self-doubt. Instead, focus on the actions. Focus on doing. If you have been selected for an opportunity, it is because someone has already seen that you have what is needed to succeed. Sometimes you have to trust that, embrace the opportunity and learn along the way.
If you are considering an adventure like this, do not let your impostor syndrome hold you back, you may be much closer to your goals than you think. The opportunity is there. You are just one application away.
This article is brought to you as part of a collaboration with the UK Clinical Pharmacy Association (UKCPA).
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and are not attributed to any organisation.
The UKCPA is a member association for clinical pharmacy practitioners that encourages, supports and promotes advanced practice in pharmacy.
To discover expert-led training, resources for clinical pharmacy practice and access ongoing support from our community of practicing clinical experts visit the UKCPA website or contact via email.
