The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7229 p890
21/28 December 2002

Society summary

First opportunity to nominate members of less than 20 years' standing for fellowship

Following the Privy Council's recent approval of an amendment to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Byelaws (PJ, 7 December, p825), members of less than 20 years' standing can now be nominated for designation as fellows of the Society. The Panel of Fellows is ready to receive nominations for fellowships to be awarded in June 2003.

Fellowship of the Society is awarded to recognise outstanding original contributions to the advancement of pharmaceutical knowledge or the attainment of distinction in the science, practice, profession or history of pharmacy.

Before the Byelaw amendment — and ever since the initial appointment of a Panel of Fellows in 1965 — no pharmacist could be considered for designation as a fellow until he or she had completed 20 years on the Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists. The amendment has now lowered the minimum length of membership to 12 years. The Society's Council sought the change because it considered that a 20-year rule is inhibiting when pharmacists can make outstanding contributions to the profession early in their careers.

Any pharmacist wishing to nominate a colleague for fellowship needs the support of at least two other pharmacists. At least one of those making or supporting the nomination must be a fellow.

The nominator should provide a detailed biographical profile of the nominee, clearly showing the contribution made to pharmacy through his or her career. The biographical details should also include information about any involvement in civic affairs or other voluntary work on behalf of the community, which assists the panel in putting into context the nominee's contribution to the profession.

Nominations and inquiries about the procedure should be addressed to Roger Odd, Secretary of the Panel of Fellows, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 1 Lambeth High Street, London SE1 7JN (tel 020 7572 2203). There are no official nomination forms.

The panel meets twice a year, in May and November. The closing dates for nominations is 1 March for the May meeting and 1 September for the November meeting. The panel's decisions are reported to the Council at its June and December meetings so that authority can be given for affixing the Society's official seal to the fellowship certificates. Although appointed by the Council, the Panel of Fellows does not include any Council member.

An alternative, though infrequently used, means of attaining fellowship of the Society is available under a separate Byelaw which allows fellowship for members of as little as five years' standing. This Byelaw permits the Council itself to designate as fellows such members who, in its opinion, have made outstanding original contributions to the advancement of pharmaceutical knowledge or have attained exceptional proficiency in a subject embraced by or related to the practice of pharmacy.

A member wishing to become a fellow under this Byelaw must apply in writing, enclosing evidence to support the application, which is then considered by assessors specially appointed by the Council. The applicant may be called for interview by the assessors and may be examined on his or her work, either orally or in writing. The assessors report to the Council's Education Committee, which then submits a report on which the Council makes its decision.