25th September 2024
My Journey to a Becoming National Healthcare Leader
Ravijyot Saggu | Medicines Optimisation lead pharmacist, Central London Community Healthcare Trust
As a teenager I wanted to become a doctor because I wanted to help people. However, personal health challenges during my A-levels led to missed school time, forcing me to reconsider that path. Despite this setback, my passion for improving people’s lives never wavered, which led me to pursue a career in pharmacy.
I always knew I wanted to work in a clinical setting within a hospital, believing it to be the environment where patients were usually the sickest and wanting to make a difference in patient care. After earning my degree and completing my pre-registration year, I followed the traditional hospital career route. I spent most of my hospital career at University College London Hospital, in secondary and tertiary care, with a specialism in respiratory. As I gained more experience, I found myself wanting to do more and broaden my impact. This curiosity pushed me to take on “sideways” roles in addition to my local sector work where I got involved other things like quality improvement projects and collaborated with organizations like the British Thoracic Society (BTS) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to help shape national healthcare guidelines and a greater role with the United Kingdom Clinical Pharmacy Association (with whom I am chair of the Respiratory Committee).
A health setback, and the COVID-19 pandemic made me reflect on my career and the next steps I wanted to take. While I still loved my hospital role, I felt it important to challenge myself in new ways. That is when I decided to apply for the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer (CPHO) fellowship. In hindsight I don’t think I fully understood what I had applied for but my curiosity and the wealth of experiences I’d accumulated over the years pushed me to try and I was pleasantly surprised to be accepted!
Transitioning from a hospital environment to an initial office-based role was a culture shock. I found it lonely at first, especially after being part of a multidisciplinary team for so long. However, the fellowship opened my eyes to the breadth of pharmacy and NHS landscape, igniting a new passion within me. I went on to work in primary and community services and take on further national roles, which allowed me to have a wider impact on patient care, both directly and indirectly.
Throughout all of this, I’ve continued to teach, coach and mentor – something I’m deeply passionate about. Innately I want to help and enable people, whether they are patients or colleagues through various means, and I’m excited to see where this path continues to lead.
What I’d Tell My Younger Self About Career Growth and Building Relationships
Looking back on my career journey, I wouldn’t change a thing, but if I could give advice to my younger self, it would be this: don’t be afraid to change roles sooner. Switching roles and gaining new experiences earlier could have helped me grow faster, regardless I believe I’m where I am meant to be in life, always developing and have gained from all my professional endeavours. Stepping out of your comfort zone is where the real growth happens!
One of the key foundations of my career has been the various relationships built with colleagues across different professions and geographical areas. These connections not only expanded my professional network but also shaped the way I approached my work. I’d encourage my younger self to continue investing in those experiences and relationships, as they’ve been invaluable in my journey.
And finally, I’d remind myself to pay attention to the small, everyday moments—the “water cooler” conversations both in and outside of pharmacy, that foster connection and trust. These informal chats have taught me so much, from practical advice to different perspectives that I wouldn’t have gained elsewhere as well as getting to really ‘know’ people I work with and challenge assumptions. It’s often those interactions that are meaningful and lead to long lasting friendships.
My Leadership Style: Compassionate, Authentic, and Always Evolving
When asked about my leadership style, I would describe it as compassionate and adaptive. My approach is rooted in curiosity, self-awareness, and the diverse experiences I’ve had throughout my career. Authenticity and emotional intelligence are key for me—I believe that to be an effective leader, it’s crucial to stay true to your values and lead with integrity. Being kind costs nothing and it isn’t a sign of weakness. We learn from others around us, I’ve seen examples of really poor leadership and professionalism, and I actively choose to be better than that.
Leadership, to me, is a continuous journey of growth and learning. I’ve completed several leadership courses, each offering valuable time for reflection and personal development. Working with national bodies has further sharpened my leadership skills, allowing me to cultivate a broader perspective and expand my capabilities. I strongly believe that leadership is not a destination, but a journey of self, requiring constant introspection and ongoing exposures to broaden horizons. .
At its heart, leadership is about bringing people together, fostering diversity, inclusion and equality, and building trust through kindness. It’s about creating an environment where every voice is valued, and people feel empowered to contribute.
Advice on World Pharmacist Day
As we celebrate World Pharmacist Day, my advice is simple: embrace opportunities that comes your way, create those conditions for yourself and others and make sure you learn from each experience. The world of healthcare is constantly evolving, and it’s essential to stay ahead by innovating and adapting.
Technology offers incredible opportunities to improve the quality of care, but it’s important to remember that it can never replace the human touch of a pharmacist. Use it as a tool, but always maintain that personal connection with your patients – it’s at the heart of what we do.