Anshu Rayan, Deputy Chief Pharmacist at Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) recently delivered a presentation on her work to improve pharmacy students’ workforce readiness at the 12th Biennial Monash Pharmacy Education Symposium 2026, “Future-Ready Graduates: Transforming Education for Emerging Practice,” in Prato, Italy

The initiative, co-created with Professor Louise Brown, Head of Teaching for the UCL Department of Practice and Policy was designed to better prepare pharmacy students for the workforce by providing immersive and interprofessional placements.

More than 600 third-year pharmacy students have gained hands-on experience across diverse settings in CNWL since the initiative’s introduction. The programme provides students with the opportunity to participate in structured inductions, clinical activities, multidisciplinary team meetings, medication reviews, prescribing and interprofessional shadowing. These experiences are supported by workbooks and digital learning resources.

Students had the opportunity to see firsthand the role pharmacists have in making a difference in reducing health inequalities. Working in a diverse range of settings, like prison services gave students increased confidence, a better understanding of specialist pharmacy careers, and greater appreciation of collaborative practice.

The initiative has been recognised as a scalable, high-impact educational approach that strengthens the future pharmacy workforce. It has even received the UCL School of Pharmacy’s MPharm Placement Provider Award!

Reflecting on the opportunity to present the initiative internationally, Anshu said:

“I feel so proud to represent CNWL at this prestigious university. It has been very much a collaborative effort and many pharmacy colleagues across the trust have hosted these students and worked really hard over the past three years to ensure the placements provided a real insight into the care we provide to the people we serve and what value pharmacy brings. There have been many multidisciplinary colleagues who have also supported students during the placements. The outcomes have been so positive for CNWL Pharmacy and Pharmacy Undergraduates”.

Anshu thanked Tf Chan, CNWL Chief Pharmacist and the wider pharmacy team for their support in developing and delivering the placements. She also acknowledged Lorraine Holl, Pharmacy Business Support Officer for her contribution to the programme and of course, Professor Louise Brown, Professor of Pharmacy Education, Head of Teaching for the Research department of Practice and Policy, UCL School of Pharmacy whose partnership has been instrumental in the success of the programme.