Ms Thuy Mason
Faculties, deparments and locations
- Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education
- Department of Pharmacy
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry
- Penrhyn Road
MPharm Course Director, Senior lecturer
- Email:
- t.mason@kingston.ac.uk
About
I am a UK qualified pharmacist with experience in four main areas of pharmacy: hospital, community, academia and industry
I started my pharmacy career as a basic grade pharmacist at a general hospital. After one year, I progressed to a Senior Pharmacist role at a London hospital, specialising in mental health. My career subsequently changed path and I became a community pharmacist, working for Moss pharmacy, Alliance pharmacy and Boots, in various roles including as a pharmacy manager, store manager and pre-registration training tutor. During this time, I was commercially astute and the store I managed became the best performing branch in the southern region. I formed a close working relationship with the local doctor's surgery where I was asked by a group of doctors to deliver sessional teaching to the first wave of extended and supplementary nurses. It was here that I discovered my love for sharing knowledge, so when a part-time position came up as a teacher practitioner at Kingston University in 2006, I applied and was appointed as a teaching fellow in pharmacy practice. At this time, an opportunity arose and I joined a pharmaceutical company to work part time in Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacovigilance and Medical Information. I combined both roles and also practised pharmacy as a locum during weekends. Today, I am still at Kingston University, assuming a more fulfilling role as a course director for OSPAP (Overseas Pharmacist Assessment Programme) until 2021 and now as the MPham Course Director, whilst still maintaining close links with industry in my capacity as a pharmaceutical consultant, deputy Qualified Person in Pharmacovigilance. On an ad hoc basis, I compile clinical dossiers for pharmaceutical companies in Europe for submission to various European Regulatory Authorities
Domains
I am committed to delivering excellent and inclusive teaching as demonstrated by gaining my Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) status. All my teaching materials have been uniquely developed and tailor-made to student characteristics. My teaching has a strong focus to help my students to master the 5 Cs Communication, Calculation, Consulting, Clinical, Critical thinking, which have been advocated in recent months as part of the future skills for graduates.
I make sure my teaching encapsulates spiralling, both horizontally and vertically, linking science to practice and promotes application of knowledge. I have been a module leader for several modules, both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. I contribute to both teaching and assessments, designing learning and teaching material for several modules in the School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, many since their conceptions, including PY4020 (Role of the pharmacist), PY4120 (Introduction to pharmacy practice), PY5110 (Medicines, health and wellbeing), PY5040 (Cardiorespiratory I), PY6150 (Gut, Liver, Skin and Central Nervous System), PY6020 (Endocrine, reproduction, inflammatory) PY6030 (Cardiorespiratory II), PY7020 (Effective decision making for pharmacy practice) , PY7030 (Research Methods and Project), CH7060 (Manufacture and clinical trials), CH6400 (Regulatory Affairs).
Apart from teaching, I am also the assessment lead for level 7. I make it my mission that this high-stake assessment is robust and fair for students.
Between 2018 and 2021, I was the Overseas Pharmacist Assessment Programme course director where I provided academic support to a team of teaching staff and students. During my leadership, the course scored highest in the faculty in terms of student satisfaction. Between 2018 and 2021, I was also in a supporting role to the MPharm course, and I am currently the MPharm Course Director (since Sep 2022). I care passionately about student experience and since my appointment, I have instigated a monthly student clinic to catch up with students, as well as a personal committment to respond to students quickly to resolve any issues they might have.
I am a reflective and agile practitioner. During the pandemic, I was very quick in converting my teaching materials to an engaging format so students' learning was not compromised. For instance, I produced a number of mock-up packaging of medicines to teach product selection online. This replicated being in a pharmacy environment during placements and served to supplement their learning during lockdown.
Beyond the realm of academia, I am recognised as a pharmacovigilance expert. I work with pharmaceutical industries and health regulators globally, where I assist preparing dossiers to maintain and secure licences, with a strong focus on drug safety. I use this current knowledge to teach on CH7060 and CH6400. I also share my experience with students and help them with mock interviews towards their first step securing a place in the industry.