Gail Fleming appointed new RPS director of education

Gail Fleming has been appointed as the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s (RPS) director of education.

In her new role, Fleming, who is currently Health Education England’s (HEE) pharmacy dean for London and the South East, will lead the design and delivery of the Society’s educational programmes and strategy, including further development of the pre-foundation, foundation level and advanced level frameworks.

In a statement, Fleming said she was delighted to have been offered the role. “This is an incredibly important time for the pharmacy profession and to be able to play a part in helping to shape the future of its workforce through our professional leadership body is a real honour,” she said. “I look forward to working with a great team in the RPS, as well as a broad range of partner bodies to help us realise our shared ambitions for pharmacy.”

The role of director of education is a new one within the Society. Peter Kopelman, chair of the RPS Faculty and Education Board, said the role was “an important new position within the RPS that signifies the importance the Society places on supporting the career ambitions of pharmacists, and the pathways to achieve these.”

Alongside her HEE role, Fleming also leads the national preregistration pharmacist recruitment programme, and is clinical lead for independent prescribing as part of the NHS Pharmacy Integration Fund.

Paul Bennett, chief executive of the RPS, said: “Gail brings vast experience of workforce development and transformation with her which will ensure we are in a strong position to meet the needs of our members and prospective members now and in the future, while working in partnership with our key stakeholders, including NHS education organisations, academic institutions, employers and professional bodies both nationally and internationally.’’

Fleming will take up her new role with the RPS in September 2018.