150 Khaleel Loonat
In this engaging episode, we explore the diverse and inspiring career of Khaleel Loonat, a clinical pharmacist who has successfully branched out into football scouting and pharmaceutical consultancy. Khaleel shares his journey from initially considering quitting pharmacy school to becoming a valued member of the Leeds United Academy scouting team and an Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) student.
Khaleel's story begins with his pre-registration year in community pharmacy, where he felt unfulfilled and sought to broaden his horizons through backpacking in South America. This experience opened his eyes to different cultures and pushed him out of his comfort zone. Upon returning, he transitioned to hospital pharmacy, completing a residency program that exposed him to various specialties.
A turning point in Khaleel's career came when he discovered his talent for medical coding in GP practices. This unique skill set led to consultancy opportunities and significantly impacted his professional trajectory. Khaleel explains the intricacies of coding, its importance in primary care, and how it can increase practice revenue and improve patient outcomes.
The conversation then shifts to Khaleel's journey into football scouting. As a lifelong football enthusiast, he seized an opportunity to become a scout for Leeds United Academy. Khaleel passionately discusses his mission to increase South Asian representation in football academies and shares his proud moments of helping young players secure opportunities with top clubs.
Khaleel also delves into his work with pharmaceutical companies, explaining how his clinical experience and communication skills have made him a valuable consultant and speaker. He emphasizes the importance of building relationships and providing value, which has led to numerous opportunities in the industry.
Throughout the episode, Khaleel reflects on the challenges of balancing multiple career paths, including his current pursuit of an Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) qualification. He discusses the course structure, its impact on his clinical skills, and how it complements his pharmacy background.
The conversation concludes with Khaleel's aspirations for the future, including potential work in Gulf countries and his continued commitment to diversifying football academies. His story serves as an inspiring example of how pharmacists can leverage their skills and pursue their passions to create a unique and fulfilling career path.
Key Takeaways:
Pursuing passions alongside a pharmacy career can lead to unexpected opportunities.
Coding skills can be a valuable asset in primary care pharmacy.
The ACP course offers pharmacists a pathway to expand their clinical skills.
Networking and building relationships are crucial for career growth.
Pharmacy skills like communication and problem-solving are transferable to other fields.
BEHIND THE MIC!
Have you been thinking about starting your own podcast?
We know that starting a podcast can feel daunting and overwhelming. But guess what? You’re not alone. We are on a mission to create a fantastic community of individuals just like you! Together, we'll break down the entire podcasting process—from ideation to recording, editing, technology, publishing, social media, marketing, branding, sponsorship and more.
Sign up to our FREE community called Behind The Mic! We are excited to engage with you and provide you with the support & guidance you need to get started.
Register here: https://behindthemic.circle.so/
SIGN UP to my NEWSLETTER below so you’ll be the first to know when new episodes are being released. You’ll also receive regular inspiration, tips, tools, and free content.
https://pharmacistdiaries.ck.page/newsletter
PARTNERSHIPS:
The Naked Pharmacy is offering my podcast listeners a 20% discount on all their products. Use discount code PD20 at checkout to receive the offer.
https://www.thenakedpharmacy.com/
CONNECT WITH KHALEEL:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khaleel-loonat-a6528714b/
Follow me on My Website, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and/or Twitter. Feel free to subscribe to the podcast on your favourite podcast platform so you can be notified when a new episode is released or leave a review on apple podcasts. If you have any suggestions for guests you want me to talk to or if you’d like to come on yourself, please feel free to contact me via social media, or email at info@pharmacistdiaries.com.
