Nicola Ward

Nicola Ward is a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice at De Montfort University, affiliated with the Leicester School of Pharmacy within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. She transitioned to academia in 2013 after 18 years as a hospital pharmacist in the East Midlands, maintaining limited clinical practice. She holds a DPharm, MSc, and BPharm (Hons) and is actively engaged in research, teaching, and professional leadership.

Education:

• BPharm (Hons), Cardiff
• MSc in Clinical Pharmacy (1998)
• DPharm, University of Derby (2008)
• PGCertHE (pending 2015)

Nicola's research focuses on medication absorption in patients after gastrointestinal surgery, especially those with stomas or post-bariatric surgery, emphasizing patient experience and pharmacist-led improvements. She also investigates emotional resilience in pharmacy students and patient involvement in the MPharm programme. Her teaching spans psychosocial sciences, nutrition support, interprofessional education, and medication adherence across undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Her recent publications reflect a consistent focus on surgical pharmacy, nutrition support, and patient-centered care, with key contributions in journals like British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, and Hospital Pharmacy Europe. Themes include drug bioavailability post-surgery, stoma management, and perioperative medication challenges.

Scientific Awards:

• Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists/ Antigen Intravenous therapy award (1999)

Nicola advises on curriculum development and student wellbeing, serves on the UKCPA Surgery and Theatres’ Pharmacists Group committee, and contributes to peer review for journals and research funding bodies. She has no recorded grants mentioned, but her leadership in patient involvement and emotional resilience programmes indicates active project development. She is also involved in organizing national conferences and masterclasses.

Labs and Research Groups:

• Pharmacy Practice Research Group, Leicester School of Pharmacy