Jo Freeman: Pharmacy, Purpose and Choosing to Stay

In this episode, we meet Jo Freeman, Assistant Chief Pharmacist at Sherwood Forest Hospitals for the past 12 years.

When the chief pharmacist post came up, people kept asking why she wasn’t applying. But a colleague warned her about the flattery trap - and Jo chose to stay where she adds the most value.

We explore the misunderstood world of hospital pharmacy, the weight of becoming a prescriber, and why being really good in your job is a complete answer. Jo shares how you can walk into pharmacy with no qualifications and build a career to master’s level, why her teenage dream of being a solicitor lives on in her governance investigations, and the freedom that comes from choosing purpose over promotion.

For anyone who’s ever felt the pressure to climb a ladder they’re not sure they want to be on.