Dr Rachael Rodger, Antimicrobial Pharmacist, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde

Rachael has over 15 years experience as a hospital based antimicrobial pharmacist. She completed her undergraduate pharmacy degree at the School of Pharmacy, Strathclyde University, Glasgow.  After completing her pre-registration training year she returned to Strathclyde University to undertake a PhD in cardiovascular pharmacology, investigating the cardioprotective mechanisms of myocardial ischaemic preconditioning.  Following completion of her PhD, Rachael accepted a postdoctoral research post at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada where she continued to investigate novel cardioprotective agents/mechanisms.  In 1999, she returned to Scotland to work in hospital pharmacy and completed her clinical pharmacy diploma in 2001. During her early years as a hospital pharmacist Rachael worked within NHS Argyll and Clyde as a cardiac rehab/ stroke pharmacist, aseptic oncology and medicine information pharmacist.  In 2008, she accepted one of the new antimicrobial pharmacist roles within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde covering the Royal Alexandra and Vale of Leven Hospitals.  Rachael has a keen interest in using quality improvement methodology to improve antimicrobial stewardship and patient safety. In 2019 she was successful in gaining a place on the Scottish Quality and Safety Fellowship (cohort 12). Rachael’s fellowship project focused on using quality improvement methodology to develop the role of the antimicrobial pharmacy technician within the multidisciplinary team.  Last year she was delighted to accept the voluntary role of quality improvement lead for the Association of Scottish Antimicrobial Pharmacists (ASAP). Rachael’s current interests include improving patient-centred care and the multidisciplinary approach to antimicrobial stewardship in the acute setting, improving safety of high risk antimicrobials and incorporating environmental sustainability into antimicrobial stewardship quality improvement.