Nick Barber receives a prestigious lifetime achievement award for his contribution to pharmacy

Professor Nick Barber, Director of Research at the Health Foundation has received a prestigious lifetime achievement award from The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) for his contribution to the pharmaceutical profession.

Nick was presented the lifetime achievement award at The Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s annual awards ceremony on Sunday 8 September at the ICC in Birmingham.

This award is given to pharmacists for their achievements in promoting and developing pharmacy, innovation, research and development, publication and dissemination of good practice over a period of time. It rewards excellence and innovation to those setting the highest benchmark standards.

Helen Gordon, Chief Executive of The Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said, 'Throughout his career, Nick Barber has made an outstanding contribution to pharmaceutical knowledge and has shown real dedication to his profession. The RPS is very pleased to present Nick with the lifetime achievement award in recognition of his crucial, pioneering research and his admirable commitment to the pharmacy profession.'

Nick was selected as the outstanding recipient of this award by a selection panel made up of the Chairmen of the English, Scottish and Welsh Pharmacy Boards.

Nick said of his award, 'I am pleased and humbled to receive this honour. It just shows what can happen if you follow your enthusiasm.'

As well as leading the research department at the Health Foundation, Nick Barber is also the Professor of Pharmacy Practice, in the Department of Practice and Policy (which he founded) at UCL School of Pharmacy.

He began his career in academia, as a lecturer in pharmacology at Chelsea College, after which he moved into an education and training role within hospital pharmacy then into hospital pharmacy leadership.

Since then, Nick has published over 160 research papers and undertaken a wide range of academic and professional roles around the world, during his successful pharmaceutical career. He is a former Vice-President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, the former regulator for pharmacy.

Nick continues to have a huge influence within pharmacy and in the wider academic and health research sphere, and is also particularly well known for having presented BBC 2’s series 'The Victorian Pharmacy'.

The ceremony was attended by 320 guests where 11 awards were presented to all sectors within the pharmacy profession, ranging from senior pharmacists to those who are still studying the profession.