Zahra Shamshudin
Leeds,United Kingdom
Summary
I am a Principal Pharmacist with over 12 years’ experience spanning secondary care surgery, peri-operative medicine, and system-level leadership. My career highlights include embedding independent prescribing in surgical teams, developing nationally aligned stoma guidelines, and securing the business case for a pre-operative pharmacist role. More recently, I have transitioned into primary care medicines optimisation, leading on partner engagement, workforce development, and system-wide service change. I bring a mix of clinical expertise, strategic insight, and inclusive leadership, recognised for being approachable, organised, and proactive.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
8
8
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Principal Pharmacist – Medicines Optimisation (Partner Relations)
NHS West Yorkshire ICB
Leeds Place
09.2024 - 09.2025
- Lead medicines optimisation across Leeds Place, ensuring safe, effective, and sustainable prescribing.
- Translate national initiatives (Pharmacy First, contraception, antimicrobial stewardship) into local delivery.
- Build strong partnerships with GP practices, PCNs, secondary care, and community pharmacy.
- Workforce development: recruitment, mentoring, ENIGMA scheme, and educational supervision.
- Analyse prescribing/outcomes data, identifying inequalities and driving improvement.
- Lead EIAs and support service change around self-care, deprescribing, and digital access.
- Represent pharmacy at system-level leadership meetings and ensure alignment with Leeds Place strategy.
Advanced Clinical Pharmacist – Pre-Assessment & Acute Surgery
Mid Yorkshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
03.2024 - 09.2024
- Developed and delivered a business case for a dedicated pre-op pharmacist.
- Provided advanced prescribing support in POA, managing complex surgical caseloads.
- Supported guideline development and clinical governance.
- Supervised and trained pharmacists, technicians, and multi-professional learners.
- Presented audit findings and led service evaluations to optimise patient flow and safety.
Superintendent Pharmacist
Online Express Medicines Ltd: Simply Meds Online
10.2023 - 05.2024
- Provided clinical and professional leadership to pharmacy staff.
- Ensured compliance with GPhC standards, SOPs, and statutory requirements.
- Oversaw medicines storage, disposal, and prescription record management.
Advanced Clinical Pharmacist – General Surgery, Plastics & Burns
Mid Yorkshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
01.2018 - 03.2024
- Embedded independent prescribing within surgical ward rounds, including ICU and plastics/burns.
- Developed and implemented stoma guidelines, linking to national best practice.
- Member of surgical governance forums, contributing to policy and SOP development.
- Supported service redesign and horizon scanning to inform budget forecasting.
- Mentored and supervised staff, including through the ENIGMA scheme.
- Presented research, audits, and service evaluations nationally (UKCPA, poster presentations).
Specialist Clinical Pharmacist – Surgery
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
08.2014 - 01.2018
- Rotated across hepatobiliary, colorectal, and critical care surgical specialties.
- Prescribed within surgical wards and contributed to MDT care.
- Developed patient information resources and service improvements.
- Presented audits at UKCPA and supported publication of findings.
Resident Pharmacist
Royal Derby Hospital
08.2012 - 08.2014
- Worked across acute specialties, including ICU, paediatrics, cardiology, and A&E.
- Provided out-of-hours crash-call pharmacy cover, preparing urgent IV medicines.
- Completed PGDip in Clinical Pharmacy.
Pre-Registration Pharmacist
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
08.2011 - 08.2012
- Completed audit on GTN use in chest pain (nationally recognised, 2nd prize).
- Rotated through medical and surgical specialties, gaining broad clinical exposure.
Education
Non-Medical Prescribing (IP) - Pharmacy
University of Leeds
Leeds 08.2014 - 08.2015
PGDip Clinical Pharmacy - Hospital
De Montfort University
01.2012 - 01.2014
Pre-Reg Training - undefined
Leeds Teaching Hospitals
01.2011 - 01.2012
MPharm - Pharmacy
University of Brighton
Brighton, Brighton and Hove 09.2007 - 06.2011
Skills
- Advanced clinical expertise in surgery, plastics, burns, ICU, and peri-operative care
- Independent prescriber, embedding prescribing across surgical teams
- Service development: pre-op business case, stoma guidelines, national alignment
- Education & training: ENIGMA mentoring, teaching, supervising and workforce development
- Medicines optimisation and cost-effective prescribing strategies
- Stakeholder engagement across PCNs, GP practices, secondary care, community pharmacy
- Policy translation, governance, and Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs)
- Fellowship-trained leadership, inclusion, and health equity
- Data analysis and insight generation to inform commissioning and service redesign
- Presentation of work at UKCPA, national conferences, and through CPC poster presentations
Certification
- Diversity in Leadership Fellowship, WYICB 2025
- Associate PI Scheme, NIHR 2024
- Reciprocal Mentoring, MYTT 2023
- Mental Health First Aid, MYTT 2023
- Embedding Values & Behaviours, MYTT 2022
- Leadership & Development (Leading for Change), CPPE 2022
- Pharmacy Educational Supervisor, HEE 2020
- Train the Trainer, University of Leeds 2019
- Antibiotic Guardian, UKHSA 2021
References
Available on request.
Accomplishments
- Business case for pre-op pharmacist role leading to service enhancement.
- Nationally aligned stoma guidelines and embedding pharmacy into surgical pathways.
- CPG poster presentations, published audits, and national conference contributions.
- Developed patient resources for colorectal surgery.
- Fellowship-trained leadership with focus on equity, inclusion, and digital access.
Languages
Gujarati
Intermediate
Timeline
Principal Pharmacist – Medicines Optimisation (Partner Relations)
NHS West Yorkshire ICB
09.2024 - 09.2025
Advanced Clinical Pharmacist – Pre-Assessment & Acute Surgery
Mid Yorkshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
03.2024 - 09.2024
Superintendent Pharmacist
Online Express Medicines Ltd: Simply Meds Online
10.2023 - 05.2024
Advanced Clinical Pharmacist – General Surgery, Plastics & Burns
Mid Yorkshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
01.2018 - 03.2024
Non-Medical Prescribing (IP) - Pharmacy
University of Leeds
08.2014 - 08.2015
Specialist Clinical Pharmacist – Surgery
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
08.2014 - 01.2018
Resident Pharmacist
Royal Derby Hospital
08.2012 - 08.2014
PGDip Clinical Pharmacy - Hospital
De Montfort University
01.2012 - 01.2014
Pre-Registration Pharmacist
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
08.2011 - 08.2012
Pre-Reg Training - undefined
Leeds Teaching Hospitals
01.2011 - 01.2012
MPharm - Pharmacy
University of Brighton
09.2007 - 06.2011
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