Rate My Professor Ruth Edwards

Professor Ruth Edwards serves as Professor of Pharmacy Education and Head of the School of Pharmacy & Life Sciences within the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Wolverhampton. She earned her BSc (Hons) in Pharmacy from the Robert Gordon Institute of Technology in 1986, registered as a pharmacist with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in 1987, and pursued further qualifications including an MSc in Clinical Pharmacy, a Postgraduate Certificate in Tertiary Level Teaching, and a Doctor of Education (EdD) from the University of Stirling. Her EdD thesis, titled ‘Opening the door on student learning: using artefacts to explore pharmacy students’ learning practices’, reflects her early focus on educational research. Edwards began her professional career in community pharmacy management before joining Robert Gordon University (RGU) as a teacher practitioner in collaboration with Lloydspharmacy. She progressed to Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, serving as MPharm Course Leader during her 22 years at RGU. In 2018, she moved to Aston University as Head of Pharmacy Practice, and in February 2022, she assumed her current leadership roles at the University of Wolverhampton. Throughout her career, she has also acted as a Local Pharmacy Postgraduate Tutor for NHS Education for Scotland and maintained regular locum positions in community pharmacy.

Professor Edwards' academic interests center on pharmacy education, encompassing teaching and learning strategies, innovative assessment methods, creative pedagogical approaches, integration of mental health education within pharmacy curricula, person-centred care, consultation skills training, reflective practice, and qualitative research methodologies in pharmacy practice. Her influential publications include co-authorship of the textbook ‘Minor Illness or Major Disease?’ (Pharmaceutical Press, 1995 and 2016 editions), and peer-reviewed articles such as ‘Using artifacts and qualitative methodology to explore pharmacy students’ learning practices’ (American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 2020; 60 citations), ‘UK and Ireland survey of MPharm student and staff experiences of mental health curricula, with a focus on Mental Health First Aid’ (Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, 2021; 15 citations), and contributions to reflective practice among pharmacist prescribers (International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 2009). She holds prestigious fellowships as a Faculty Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Edwards is also the Global Leader for the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Hub, academic representative on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Assembly since 2022, and team leader on the General Pharmaceutical Council’s Accreditation and Recognition panel. Her leadership extends to national and international pharmacy organizations, enhancing standards in pharmacy education and practice.