CardiovascularCouncil Recognises Champions Of Pharmacy
Two pharmacists, and one non-pharmacist, have been recognised by the Council of the Royal
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain in its 2009 awards for their outstanding contributions to
the pharmacy profession.
Ann Lewis, a Fellow of the Society and former Secretary and Registrar, was awarded the
Charter Gold Medal by Council at its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 20 May. Fellow
pharmacist Digby Emson, also a Fellow of the Society, was the recipient of the Charter Silver
Medal for his work in various areas of community pharmacy. He is Chairman of the Company
Chemists" Association (CCA). Digby Emson"s daughter, Lorne Emson, accepted the Charter
Silver Medal on his behalf.
Member of Parliament, Dr Howard Stoate was presented with the Synergy Award for his
exceptional achievement in furthering the profession through his representation on
parliamentary pharmacy and health-related committees. He is the Chair of the All-Party
Parliamentary Pharmacy Group. The Synergy Award was instigated by Council in 2000 and its
annual non-pharmacist recipient is chosen by the Society President of the day.
Presenting the awards, Society President Steve Churton acknowledged the sterling work all
three award recipients had accomplished throughout their careers.
"I am delighted to award the Charter Gold Medal to Ann Lewis in recognition of all she has
achieved at a national level in promoting the interests of pharmacy. She was President of the
Society from 1994 to 1996, and Secretary and Registrar from 1998 to 2007. Digby Emson, too,
has made a remarkable contribution through his work at Boots, the Pharmaceutical Services
Negotiating Committee (PSNC), the Company Chemists" Association (CCA) and the Society".
The Charter medals have been a Council institution since 1963.
Ann Lewis held the post of Secretary and Registrar of the Society from 1998 to 2007, during
which time she instigated a raft of positive changes. During her tenure Ms Lewis introduced a
modern governance framework and undertook a major a structural review of the organization
in order to help the Society better meet its regulatory obligations. She also initiated a
programme of cultural change to integrate work across the Society as a whole. Her
involvement with the Society stretches back to 1965, when she became a Member.
Awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1997, Ms Lewis has worked tirelessly with
pharmacy and wider healthcare professions, holding posts on national and international
commissions, councils and advisory groups. She has lectured in a number of countries and is
currently a Council member for the School of Pharmacy, University of London.
After qualifying as a pharmacist in 1974, Digby Emson initially worked as an industrial
pharmacist. His move into community pharmacy culminated in becoming a Director of Boots in
1998, in addition to being appointed as pharmacy superintendent. Ultimately, he became
Boots" Director of Professional Services. Mr Emson had a six-year tenure as an elected
member of the Society"s Council, and was also a member of the PSNC for a decade.
Currently, he is Chairman of both the Company Chemists" Association and Buttercups
Training, an NVQ centre for pharmacy services qualifications.
A GP by profession, Howard Stoate is the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Pharmacy
Group, which champions the cause of the profession in Westminster. Dr Stoate steered the
Group through an inquiry into the future of the profession, with the resulting report, The Future
of Pharmacy, widely accepted as the blue-print for the profession. He is also a member of the
House of Commons Health Select Committee, a role he first held in 1997.
Steve Churton said: "I take great pleasure in presenting the 2009 Synergy Award to Howard
Stoate, who has pushed the pharmacy agenda with vigour, holding the Government,
Department of Health, Strategic Health Authorities and Primacy Care Trusts to account, in his
efforts to help pharmacy achieve its full potential."
Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain