Mrs Harsha ParmarMRPharmS, SFHEA, PGCert

Overview

I am a senior lecturer in pharmacy practice and deputy director of the MPharm programme, underpinned by my experience as a community pharmacist. My teaching portfolio involves extensive experience in the curriculum design and delivery of public health, pharmacy law and ethics, dispensing, minor ailments, pharmaceutical care, disease management and advanced consultation skills. My teaching is informed through both a formal postgraduate qualification in teaching, learning and assessment, and, my own ongoing active practice as a pharmacist. I work regularly in a busy community pharmacy where I am accredited to deliver a number of advanced services and provide a leadership role. My teaching focuses on professional practice where my role is to facilitate the link between theory and practice. I am the strand lead for the teaching of public health on the MPharm degree, and am also the 4th year tutor for the MPharm degree. My involvement in the 4th year extends to support our graduates in pre-registration practice, which has further led to my work with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society as a panel member for the Pre-Registration Panel. 

My role in pharmacy education extends to deputy lead for the pharmacy education group where, in collaboration with the lead, I provide leadership to the Education group to facilitate the research-informed teaching and learning strategy. 

At a postgraduate level, my teaching profile extends to leading the university wide unit of study on assessment and feedback for postgraduate students studying for a PGCert in Higher Education. I am also Deputy Director of the Applied Practice componet of the MSc in Clinical Pharmacy. I am a recognised mentor with both the school and across the faculty for new staff and new academics joining the Univeristy. At faculty level I mentor academics working towards membership as a fellow and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Biography

My vision and strategy for teaching and learning is to provide a supportive learning environment for students to enable them to reach their full potential as graduates who are highly employable, and, are able to apply the skills of crticial-thinking as a healthcare professional and maintain a patient-centred focus. This is informed through my expertise as a practising community pharmacist. 

I am an enthusiastic and engaging teacher which has been evidenced by both staff and student feedback and a sustained student evaluation score well above school and faculty level. This has been formerly recognised through being awarded the 'University of Manchester Distinguished achievement medal - Teacher of the year 2014'. 

I have worked to achieve a post-graduate teaching qualification, and an MPhil, directly relating to professional practice, which has further informed my teaching and design of the curriculum and assessment of pharmacy practice. This has informed the focal area of my research, 'preparing for professional practice'.

I thoroughly value all opportunites to enhance the programme by working with the professional body to maintain its currency and inform curriculum development. 

My experience and contribution to teaching, learning and academic mentorship in higher education, has formerly being recognised through being awarded the status of Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Social responsibility

Role of the pharmacist in public health, Youtube videos

• Since 2013, I have co-ordinated and moderated first year student-produced YouTube videos which promote the role of the pharmacist in public health. This has highlighted the duty of care that students have even before becoming a registered pharmacist, and has provided key information on contemporary pharmacy practice. These videos have received over 500 hits since being published and are an ongoing component of social responsibilty within the curriculum.

Health promotion campaigns

• I have also been involved in the planning and execution of final year MPharm student-led public health campaigns in the areas of smoking cessation, chlamydia screening and heart disease across Greater Manchester. These campaigns have been in partnership with Asthma UK, RUClear and the British Heart Foundation and have been highlighted in the Faculty blog. 

Manchester Access Programme Tutor

• Since 2015 I have been an academic tutor on widening-paricipation programme, supporting students to develop academic writing skills in scientific practice.

Qualifications

• 2016 Masters in Philosophy
• 2014 Senior fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• 2013 PGCert  Teaching, Learning and Assessment in Professional Practice
• 2011 Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• 2004 MRPharmS
• 2003 MPharm University of Nottingham

Memberships of committees and professional bodies

General Pharmaceutical Council

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Royal Pharmaceutical Society