Darnell
Pharmacy MPharm (Hons)
Darnell grew up in London, always knowing he wanted to make his grandma proud. Inspired by science TV shows and a passion for helping people, he set his sights on studying Pharmacy MPharm (Hons) which brought him to Bradford. He hasn't looked back since.
This is his story.
I always knew I wanted to go to university.
Moving on up
“I grew up in London, and by the time sixth form came around I was ready for a change of scene.”
"When looking for a university, West Yorkshire attracted me and Bradford kept coming up. Once I visited, I could see why.
"The diversity of the city felt familiar, but the pace was completely different, and the cost of living was much more manageable than other cities I’d considered."
A future in pharmacy
"Pharmacy was the career I kept coming back to."
"As a kid, I wanted to be a vet. But something shifted. I started watching science shows like Breaking Bad and Narcos, and I found myself becoming fascinated by pharmacology and how drugs work.
"I wanted a career I was passionate about but that also had real job security and good prospects. Pharmacy ticked every box. It's also a profession where you get to help people every day, and that matters to me."
Getting the right support
"Three particular lecturers made a real difference when I first arrived."
"Moving away from London for the first time wasn't easy and having lecturers who gave me support early on meant a lot. The help from Siama Kausar, Mohamed Lambat, and Shahbab Hussain has been particularly crucial in my journey. They bring practical, real-world experience into their teaching, including running pharmacy businesses, which inspires me. We also share an interest in endocrinology - the study of hormones - so hearing their perspective on that has motivated me even more.
"I’ve really enjoyed developing my interests through the course.
"The second-year module on integrated pharmacy, science, and practice, along with learning about immunity, infection and the respiratory system have been real highlights."
Getting stuck into labs
"The labs are unlike anything I expected."
"We have two dedicated rooms that simulate a real pharmacy environment, stocked with boxes to replicate medication and a special controlled drugs cabinet. It really puts you in the mindset of what the job looks like from day to day.
"One of the rooms focuses on medication-prescribing and checking over drug charts and patient cases, while the other is built around patient consultation and diagnosis, reflecting how pharmacists are now independent prescribers."
Placements have shown me what I'm actually capable of.
Gaining real experience on placement
"I've worked at Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Hull Teaching Trust, as well as community placements."
"One moment that really stuck with me was being shown around by a respiratory nurse on placement. I hadn't given that area much thought before, but watching how she worked was a genuine eye-opener.
"There's also a real difference between practising in a lab simulator and working with actual patients. You build the theory at university and then you apply it in the real world, and that's where everything clicks."
Building my self-belief
"My confidence has grown enormously since I started."
"I speak up a lot more in lectures now. Team-based learning has also helped me to become more confident. Part of the course involves working through problems with course mates who bring completely different perspectives. This keeps things lively and pushes you to think harder and be more open minded.
"Outside of studying, I'm president of the fencing society, I've been doing blood donations, and I volunteered with Marie Curie last year after my grandma was diagnosed with cancer."
Planning for the future
“I've got big plans, but I'm taking them one step at a time.”
"When I graduate, I want to build a strong clinical foundation working in the NHS, particularly in hospitals.
"Endocrinology is where I want to specialise and my dissertation is already heading in that direction, looking at a product for hair health and the role of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) blockers in the endocrine system. Eventually I'd love to start my own business, but I want to earn the experience first."
My advice to anyone thinking about coming to Bradford? Balance is everything.
Making your way in the world
"We're all on our own paths and we'll all get there at our own pace."
"Don't make it all about studying, but don't let everything else crowd it out either. Create time for the things and people you love.
"And if you're thinking about making the move, Bradford is a friendlier place than you might expect. A postman stopped to help me and my dad find our way on my very first day. That doesn't happen in London."