Why the branches are valuable
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Vital statistics: David Carter
Your full name?
David Michael Carter
Your day job?
Community pharmacist
Your branch?
Sunderland and district… (also Border region)
Pharmacist since when?
1983 |
Network News interviews David Carter, vice-chairman
of the Society’s
Sunderland branch and secretary of the Border region, and a newly elected
member of the Society’s Council who has been appointed a Council
sponsor for the work of the branches
Why did you decide to become a pharmacist?
It was an obvious choice
for me: pharmacy runs in my blood. I am a third generation pharmacist
and have worked in the pharmacy since I was knee high to a grasshopper.
What inspires you most about the pharmacy profession?
So much has changed
in pharmacy since I qualified and the profession has always risen to
the challenge for the benefit of patients, which is inspiring.
What are the best things about being involved in your local branch?
The
fellowship of pharmacist colleagues and the educational meetings, which
are always relevant to practice.
And the worst?
The most frustrating thing about being involved with
the branch is the significant majority of members who do not attend meetings
despite a lot of hard work and organisation on their behalf by the committee.
Why did you decide to run for the Council?
To help ensure a positive
future for the profession.
What happened at your first Council meeting?
We discussed many issues
affecting the profession and I took part in elections for the Officers.
Council committees and Society staff presented reports which were considered,
amended and approved. Some items were referred back to committees for
further consideration. I gained a greater understanding of the structure
and functions of the Council and the Society.
Do you think being involved in your branch enables you to bring any
extra dimensions to the Council member role? If so, what?
Yes, being
involved with the branch means liaising with a whole bunch of pharmacists
from all areas of the profession. The branch is therefore a good forum
in which to canvass opinion and get a feel for the issues affecting pharmacists
at the “coal face.”
What would be your vision for the future of pharmacy at branch level?
In
my view the branch network should exist mainly for educational updates
and fellowship. I would like to see better use made of branch members’ experience
with more peer review whereby experienced members of the branch can mentor
colleagues with their individual continuing professional development
records.
Who is your hero, your mentor or the person you most admire, and why?
There
is no one person that I admire the most, but back in my hospital days
Ian Sharkey was the pharmacist I looked up to the most for “going
the extra mile”. He has recently retired as principal pharmacist
paediatrics at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. He always encouraged
me to say “yes” to every opportunity or challenge to broaden
my experience not only of pharmacy but of life in general.
One event or decision in your life you wish you could go back and change?
I
wish I had learnt to ski at a younger age when my legs were fitter — so
that I could keep up with the rest of the group. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal