Three pharmacists have been named among 54 individuals being celebrated for their contributions to pharmacy, public health and their communities in Black History Month.

Professor Diane Ashiru-Oredope, Ade Williams MBE and Tase Oputu have been featured in the national Honouring Black Britain 2026 campaign.

Ashiru-Oredope has been recognised for her “pioneering work” in public health and tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the public health, pharmacy and science category.

She felt “humbled” by the honour and said it was a “privilege to work alongside others who share a commitment to improving health and supporting others to thrive”.

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“I remain committed to improving public and population health, addressing health inequalities and widening opportunities for others,” she added.

Williams’ recognition in the community pharmacy and public health category is for making the sector a “trusted and accessible place for healthcare”.

Williams said he was “honoured” to be recognised, and community pharmacy is “about putting people first”.

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He added he was “proud of the difference pharmacy teams make in communities every day”.

Royal College of Pharmacy president Oputu has been recognised for her “leadership within the pharmacy profession” and her commitment to “advancing equity, inclusion and professional excellence”.

She was “honoured” to be recognised with her two pharmacy peers and praised "so many Black pharmacy professionals” who make “an extraordinary contribution to patient care, public health, research and their communities”.

“I hope this recognition will inspire future generations and highlight the positive impact pharmacy teams have across the country,” she added.

“Pharmacy’s impact”

Ashiru-Oredope is the UK Health Security Agency’s lead pharmacist for healthcare-associated infections and AMR and also the University of Nottingham’s honorary chair and professor of pharmaceutical public health.

She created the global Antibiotic Guardian campaign in 2014, was the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association global AMR lead between 2016 to 2022, and previously served as the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s deputy chief scientist.

Williams is Bedminster Pharmacy’s lead pharmacist in Bristol and received his MBE in 2022 for services to the NHS and the community in south Bristol.

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He is a council member of the General Pharmaceutical Council and a trustee of local charities the Self Care Forum and the Factory Foundation alongside chairing the Bedminster Winter Lantern Parade committee.

He has earned the nicknames “the People’s Pharmacist” and “the Bemmy Pharmacist” from his work. Black History Month said Williams combined his “professional expertise with a deep commitment to service” and brought healthcare “closer to people” in his career.

Williams said his recognition “also belongs to the patients, colleagues, volunteers and community partners across South Bristol who have shaped my work”.

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“It reflects the contributions made every day by community pharmacy teams, often quietly and without fanfare, in neighbourhoods across the country,” he said.

“I hope these 54 stories will help the next generation see that leadership can begin wherever they are, and that service rooted in compassion, courage and community can help create a kinder, more generous and inclusive society.”

Royal College of Pharmacy president Tase Oputu said the college is “proud” to see both Ashiru-Oredope and Williams recognised and their work shows the “breadth of pharmacy’s impact, from tackling antimicrobial resistance and shaping public health to delivering trusted care in local communities”.

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“Their leadership, expertise and commitment to improving people’s lives reflect the contribution Black pharmacy professionals make every day, both within healthcare and beyond it,” she added.

The pair’s stories will be presented in Black History Month UK’s 2026 theme of “honouring our communities”.

Collage photo credits for Ade Williams is Ade Williams, for Tase Oputu is Paul Stuart and for Diane Ashiru-Oredope is Archyra Photography