Please provide a brief overview of your background and career to date.
I have been lucky enough to have quite a diverse portfolio career. After completing my foundation year with Boots, I accepted a pharmacist role and soon advanced to store management. Whilst working full time, I pursued a postgraduate qualification in Marketing to enhance my commercial expertise.
This catapulted me to launch and spearhead the inaugural Boots Wellbeing clinic in London—a holistic wellness centre providing over 25 health, beauty and lifestyle services, including Physiotherapy, Osteopathy, Chiropody, Travel clinics, Reflexology, Homeopathy, as well as a nail bar and aesthetic treatments such as Botox. As an innovation ahead of its time, this concept brought niche and integrated services to a broader market and helped me to develop leadership skills as I had to direct such a diverse team of multidisciplinary professionals.
Following a career break to welcome my daughter, I transitioned to the hospital sector, focusing on enhanced recovery in Orthopaedics and leading interprofessional education initiatives.
Since joining King’s in 2013, I have led teaching, progressed to lecturing, and serve as clinical lead for minor ailments. My responsibilities have included expanding placement capacity, developing simulation-based experiential learning, course development, and broader curriculum innovation.
What is a typical day like for you?
My role is highly varied, which I greatly appreciate and find fulfilling. A day may include leading on clinical practice workshops, followed by lecturing on law and ethics or perhaps training external examiners ahead of the OSCEs. I might then review or develop course material or be interviewing UCAS candidates or catching up with personal tutees. The next day could be clinical work and seeing patients or collaborating on projects with colleagues and participating in leadership or supporting social media events. I genuinely value the flexibility as well as the opportunity to troubleshoot challenges as they arise. Being adaptable helps me to pivot across academia, clinical and commercial roles and hopefully inspires that careers paths are not always linear!
What do you think people would find most surprising about you?
A few years ago, I modelled and did some socials for a major skincare brand —that was fun and totally different!
What advice would you give to your 18-year-old self?
Believe in yourself and know that you will always find a way forward, even when life throws in the occasional curve ball.
Are you currently working on any projects you'd like to share?
I am passionate about ensuring that education remains inclusive and adapts to changes in our profession by launching innovative initiatives that help King’s MPharm students excel in a highly competitive marketplace.
Recently, I led a pilot programme where third-year MPharm students were provided with advance training to administer flu vaccinations as part of the seasonal public health campaign. This opportunity enabled students to apply practical skills in real-world settings, accelerating their development two years earlier than usual.
Additionally, I've created AI simulation to help students practice and strengthen their patient consultation and clinical decision-making skills. As this has recently been integrated into the MPharm curriculum, I am keen to assess its effectiveness through student feedback.
I am always exploring ways to challenge students through collaborative projects, which have received enthusiastic responses from those who appreciate these added opportunities at King’s. Looking ahead, I aim to advance projects in dermatology and women’s health to address health inequalities while helping students cultivate essential ‘soft skills,’ which are increasingly vital as AI becomes more integrated into our field.
What do you do with your time outside academia/work?
I love playing padel and play weekly (even in the cold); enjoy traveling, experimenting cooking with new cuisines, reformer Pilates, running, yoga and prioritise wellbeing. Spending time with friends and family helps me maintain a work-life balance.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
I am blessed and excited to be attending a few destination weddings which will be incredible. Oh, and watching Arsenal win the Premier League would be a bonus too.
Who inspires you most and why?
On a personal level, my late father, who came to the UK from Kenya as a newly qualified Doctor in the early 70’s and established himself as a single-handed GP serving his community and the NHS for over 40 years. Other notable people include Michelle Obama and Rosalind Franklin.
What is your favourite part of your role?
Leading, mentoring and developing the next generation of Pharmacists and watching them change and grow across the 4 years and beyond. I especially love bumping into them once qualified and hearing about their career and life since graduating from Kings.’ It is truly heartening and a privilege to be a part of their journey.
QUICK-FIRE:
Favourite season: Summer – we could all do with a top up of vitamin D (safely, of course). I find the longer days and sunshine energising.
Favourite London restaurant: I am a real foodie…difficult to pin down but I do love La mia Mamma in Notting Hill. It is run by Italian nonnas making fresh regional food and personally serving to every guest….sheer bliss.
Netflix (or TV) recommendation: Oh, so many…Peaky Blinders, Succession (not for the faint hearted), The Night Manager, The Wire, The Godfather (for a classic movie) and Seinfeld for comedy (old but gold)….I could go on…
Coffee order: Oat milk latte with one squirt of vanilla and not too hot!
Most-used emoji: 😂 laughing emoji…
The quality you value most in others: Trust
The last photo on your phone: Supporting a charity event for International Women’s Day