Academic talks about personal experiences as a pharmacist and a dyslexic

Jyoti Buxani, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice/ Undergraduate placement lead at the University of Wolverhampton, recently took part in the annual Pharmacy Show, where she shared her personal experiences and answered questions about her dyslexia.

Supporting at the show was Catherine Dewsbury, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, and students from our Master's of Pharmacy programme.

I was diagnosed with dyslexia as an adult, at the age of 34.  Working as a pharmacist, there is a stigma attached to the declaration around disabilities due to the fear of it tarnishing your career.  Supporting the Ability Network, part of the Pharmacists' Defence Association, has helped me in finding my voice, to support individuals who struggle with finding a supportive and safe environment to discuss concerns.

Being a member of the Ability Network has enabled me to support the #Standingupforsittingupcampaign.  This has helped and continues to help raise awareness with individuals that identify themselves with physical or hidden disabilities.

More needs to be done in supporting pharmacy students to feel comfortable in stepping forward and asking for help.  Let's continue the good work of the Ability Network and help support our peers and colleagues to building strong pharmacy teams of the future, regardless of disabilities.

Further information about the Ability Network is available from Liz Larkin, Pharmacists' Defence Association Co-ordinator, liz.larkin@pda-union.org