(RCPharm)

Celebrating East and South East Asian Heritage Month 2025

Published: 30 September 2025

This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

Throughout September, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society celebrated East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) Heritage Month by recognising the resilience, heritage and contributions of ESEA communities in pharmacy.

We worked in collaboration with Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK, British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association (BPSA), Female Pharmacy Leaders Network, Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists Pharmacy Technicians of Colour, UK Black Pharmacist Association and Pharmacy Business Magazine to mark the month.

‘Reframing Resilience’ event

Our online event, ‘Reframing Resilience’, brought together pharmacy professionals to celebrate ESEA culture and history, and to reflect on how identity shapes careers in healthcare. Catch up on the webinar.

Resilience rooted in identity

Yuen smiles with a striped top and yellow earrings

Senior pharmacist and leader in primary care Yuen Toh shared her personal story in a blog, highlighting how her Malaysian Chinese heritage shaped her journey in healthcare. She spoke about the importance of cultural celebration, inclusive leadership and mentoring the next generation — reminding us that resilience is built through connection and community.

We want to thank everyone who engaged and participated throughout the month. We’d love to hear your ideas on how we can better support and celebrate this in the future. If you would like to share your ideas, please get in touch at [email protected].

This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Did you catch our celebrations for South Asian Heritage Month, which explores the history and identity of British South Asians? We collaborated with Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK, British Pharmaceutical Students' Association (BPSA), Female Pharmacy Leaders Network, Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists Pharmacy Technicians of Colour, UK Black Pharmacist Association and Pharmacy Business Magazine to create some fabulous pharmacy highlights for you to enjoy. ‘Roots to Routes’ event We hosted our 'Roots to Routes' event at De-Montfort University in Leicester, where we came together to celebrate the contributions of South Asian communities in pharmacy and explore the identity, heritage and journeys that shape us. Find out more here. (Roots to Routes, RCPharm) Ayurvedic medicines in the RPS Museum (RPS Museum) The RPS Museum showcased two examples of Ayurvedic medicine from its collection: Jakhme Ruz, a healing ointment from Gujarat, and Maha Sudarshan Churna, a powdered remedy from early 20th-century India. These items reflect the enduring legacy of Ayurveda and its influence on global health practices. Read the blog. Fun facts with the BPSA The BPSA shared a collection of fun facts celebrating the diversity of South Asia, highlighting the rich history, culture and contributions of each country in the region. Explore them here. (British pharmaceutical students association) Find out more about our inclusion and diversity work. Read more RCPharm news stories.

Celebrating East and Southeast Asian Heritage Month 2024

1 October 2024

This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. For the first time, we celebrated East and Southeast Asian Heritage Month, embracing this year’s theme “Changing Seasons” to acknowledge the evolving experiences, cultures and identities of individuals within the pharmacy profession. Throughout the month, we showcased inspiring stories on our social media platforms, highlighting how East and Southeast Asian heritage has shaped the careers of pharmacy professionals. Using the #ESEAHM and #RPSIandD, we encouraged you to share your diverse perspectives. Read all the stories here. (RCPharm) We also hosted our first ABCD meeting after the summer break. The meeting aimed to honour the invaluable contributions of the ESEA communities in the field of pharmacy. A panel of pharmacy professionals, including Brendon Jiang, RPS England Pharmacy Board Vice Chair and Helen Kilminster, Primary Care Pharmacy Association National Vice President, shared their personal experiences, shedding light on how their heritage and culture have influenced their careers. Plus, Brendon shared his reflections on East and Southeast Asian Heritage Month in his latest blog, delving into the profound impact of cultural heritage, identity, and representation within the pharmacy profession. We want to thank everyone who engaged and participated throughout the month. This is our first time celebrating ESEA Heritage Month, and we'd love to hear your ideas on how we can better support and celebrate this in the future. If you would like to share your ideas, please get in touch at [email protected]. See more of our Inclusion and Diversity work. Read more RCPharmacy news stories.