Atif Saddiq to lead RPS's advisory group for younger pharmacists

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)'s has appointed Atif Saddiq to chair its Early Careers Pharmacist Advisory Group on a three-year term.

Saddiq, a portfolio pharmacist in General Practice, is currently working as a lecturer at the University of Bradford.

Commenting on his appointment as the first chair of the group, he said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Chair. We will work to help provide direction for our peers to allow them to achieve their ambitions.

“We often hear that pharmacists feel frustrated not always being able to use the breadth of their core skills and knowledge. This group will create new opportunities for younger pharmacists and provide guidance to inspire, inform and involve them in creating a professionally rewarding future."

The advisory group will provide external representation for early career pharmacists to ensure that they are recognised as crucial stakeholders in the pharmacy sector across England, Scotland and Wales.

Gail Fleming, Director of Education at RPS, said: “The group is going to play an important role in helping to shape the future of our profession and I am confident that Atif’s tenure will meet the core values of the RPS and represent our early career pharmacists to the best of his ability.”

RPS is also creating a wider reference group of early careers pharmacists which will work alongside the advisory group.

It will help identify needs around professional development, practice support and advocacy, as well as acting as a source of expertise, advice and opinion to inform RPS policy decisions and operational delivery plans, the RPS has said.