CTM UHB's Sam Fisher awarded Special Recognition Award
CTM UHB’s Sam Fisher (Deputy Director of Pharmacy) was recently presented with the Welsh Pharmacy Board of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Special Recognition Award at the Welsh Pharmacy Awards.
Sam was recognised for her leadership work in community pharmacy and her ‘unwavering dedication, relentless pursuit of excellence, and the profound impact they have had and continue to have within pharmacy and beyond over the last 25 years.’
Sam graduated from the Welsh School of Pharmacy (as it was) Cardiff university, and registered as a pharmacist in 1997 after completing a pre-registration placement with a large multiple community pharmacy. She went on to achieve an MSc in Clinical Community Pharmacy, before moving into more operational roles within the community pharmacy sector.
Sam has held several pharmacy operational roles including Area Manager and Regional Operations Director, then later working in central roles responsible for leading key business transformation initiatives and for many years working as Head of Pharmacy Affairs on a UK wide basis. During her 25 years’ working in community pharmacy, Sam’s leadership roles have included board director of the Company Chemists Association (CCA), board member of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC), Vice Chair and board member of Community Pharmacy Wales (CPW).
She has helped to shape the vision for pharmacy in Wales, working with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society for a period to help set up strong governance structures for the Delivering A Healthier Wales project. Sam currently hold the position of Vice-chair of the Welsh pharmaceutical committee and works to coordinate all consultation responses for the committee.
On the night, Elen Jones, Director, (Wales) Royal Pharmaceutical Society said: “Sam is well respected by her peers and deeply appreciated by her staff in her current role at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. One of her team members, who is also one of our RPS board members, said ‘ It’s been clear from the outset that she is someone with a brilliant strategic mind, and over the years has driven the pharmacy profession forward, advocating for all sectors, to promote patient care and excellence in pharmacy teams. Having had the privilege of witnessing first-hand her ability to articulate our needs and negotiate to help pharmacy work at the top of its licence, I know we are in safe hands’.
“I’d like to take the opportunity on behalf of the Royal pharmaceutical society and the welsh pharmacy board as well as all your colleagues in the room this evening, to say thank you so much for everything you do for the pharmacy profession, thank you for the support you give all of us as colleagues and friends and we can’t wait to see what’s next for you in your amazing career, we know there’s a lot more to come.”
Hannah Wilton, Chief Pharmacist at CTMUHB said: “Sam is one of the most impressive individuals I have ever met. From our very first meeting I knew she was someone with the drive, ambition, vision and values that I would be extremely lucky to have in my team. Sam is analytical, results focussed, courageous, steadfast, fearless, creative and visionary, whilst at the same time being empathetic, non-judgemental, humble and compassionate: all the qualities I consider essential for good leadership. I am so proud to her have as a colleague and part of our team, and she thoroughly deserves this recognition.”
Sam said “This award was such a surprise, and I am truly thrilled and humbled to have been nominated for this award by our professional leadership body the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.”
05/12/2024