David Reissner has been awarded an honorary doctorate for services to pharmacy law after four decades of “expert representation to national representative bodies, pharmacy owners and individual pharmacists”.

Pharmacy Law & Ethics Association (PLEA) chair David Reissner received the honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Hertfordshire last week (September 2) and it said he “is one of the country’s most experienced and respected authorities on pharmacy law”.

Read more: Pharmacist wins Prix Galien award 'equivalent to Nobel Prize’

Reissner, a longtime occasional C+D columnist, is already an honorary professor of pharmacy and medicines law at the University of Nottingham, and co-editor of academic textbook, Pharmacy and Medicines Law, which the University of Hertfordshire says: “continues to inform the curriculum of all 30 UK pharmacy schools”.

The solicitor told C+D yesterday (September 9) it “is an honour” to be recognised for his contribution to pharmacy law and he has “been privileged to represent the whole profession in both England and in Northern Ireland”.

“Regulation means work for lawyers”

Reissner shared the acceptance speech he delivered last week at the graduation ceremony and revealed he would not have expected to receive a degree “alongside graduates in pharmacy and pharmaceutical science” after struggling with science in school and not studying it beyond the age of 14.

Read more: Ex-pharmacist wins best pub award after career change

But he was “in the right place at the right time” after his law degree. After qualifying as a solicitor he joined Charles Russell Speechlys, whose clients included the National Pharmcy Association (NPA). Reissner “was often asked to advise and represent pharmacy owners and pharmacists who had got themselves into trouble”.

He also gave “advice on changing with the times, adapting to the use of automation, technology, and the internet, none of which had been dreamt of when the Pharmacy and Poisons Act became law nearly 100 years ago.”

Reissner thanked pharmacy for being “the most highly regulated of all the healthcare professions, because regulation means work for lawyers”.

Read more: Aston uni pharmacy team win HE award

"Any success I have achieved in my career would not have been possible without the support of my family, hard work, and good luck”.

He mentioned the role his mother played, saying she made “many sacrifices to put me through university and law school after the untimely death of my father”.

Both parents “instilled in me a strong work ethic” he said. “I have been lucky to have had work that has been both interesting and enjoyable. I wish you, my fellow graduates, the best of luck in your future careers and I hope you find your careers as enjoyable and fulfilling as I have mine.”