Duncan Hill from our pharmacy team has been given a special honour from the University of Strathclyde.
Duncan, the Specialist Pharmacist in Substance Use Management, has recently been reappointed by the university, and “promoted” to become a Senior Honorary Lecturer.
He joined NHS Lanarkshire in 2009 and is based in Hamilton.
Duncan said: “Day-to-day I’m here to support and help the addiction teams from the pharmacy side of things. I manage a team of prescribers that has clinics and caseloads.”
Duncan’s honorary lecturing at the University of Strathclyde began 16 years ago.
He explained: “I had previously done some lecturing when I wasn’t working full time with addictions, but that lapsed. I was invited to go back and deliver lectures on the undergraduate course in 2010. That was when I was first given the honorary lecturer status and it’s remained since then.
“Three years ago, I went through the formal process again because the honorary lecturer status had just been left to carry on. I had been able to keep using the title. They changed how it works slightly and there was a reapplication process. So, I applied and was lecturing and supporting the undergraduates and MSc students at that point.
“Then this year, they said. ‘You’ve been here long enough, you do a lot. We’ll put you down as senior, and see what comes back, and see if that is a possibility.’ It wasn’t age related, I will say that!”
Duncan explained what his work with the university entails. “I deliver lectures at undergraduate level, and design and deliver workshops for them as well. I do the same with an MSc class, which is the next level up.
“We’ve done different workshops recently, some with lived and living experience from the recovery communities. We’re getting patients or ex-patients, people in recovery, to come in and give their experience of the services that pharmacy delivered. Some of it’s good, some of it’s bad, and some of it’s where you could improve. It gives the students an idea of what is actually there and what can be done and how patients feel.
“I think that’s really important as it helps address some of the stigma and prejudices working with that population group, which I think is key, as everybody’s different and has their own story of how it all works.”
Duncan says it’s a rewarding experience, as he helps the next generation of pharmacists.
He added: “It’s lovely because you don’t think about it as you’re doing it. Your head’s down and you’re working away.
“To get the acknowledgement that this adds to the evidence base, this is showing what can or can’t be done and what the outcomes are from it, that’s great. It gives the students and staff a boost, especially supporting one of the established lecturers.”
