Antonio Ochoa-Ferraro  

I was born in Seville, Spain, and moved to the UK in 2002 after completing my pharmacy degree, for a summer job at Halton General Hospital Pharmacy that unexpectedly evolved into a rewarding career in hospital pharmacy. Hospital pharmacy in the UK inspired me to return to the UK to train as a hospital pharmacist after completing a biochemistry degree in Spain.

I trained at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, rotating through different specialties before specialising in aseptic pharmacy, working with chemotherapy, parenteral nutrition and clinical trials for almost ten years and managing two units. When a position specialising in inherited metabolic disorders (IMD) at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) arose, I embraced the opportunity, driven by my interest in rare diseases, patient contact and new challenges.

My position involves direct patient care across the UK, with UHB being the national centre for some rare conditions such as Alström Syndrome. While fulfilling, the work is challenging, especially when treatment options are unavailable. Educating healthcare professionals and the public about IMD is a key part of my role, taking every opportunity to raise awareness about IMD and rare disorders, contributing to national guidelines and research.

With support from Professor Hiwot, Dr Dawson, and my mentor, Dr Jeff Aston, I became the UK's first consultant pharmacist for IMD in February 2025. Despite the challenges of balancing work and portfolio development, their encouragement kept me going.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue learning (currently studying a Genomic Medicine postgraduate), and contributing to patient’s care. It’s an honour to work in IMD and I try every day to positively impact patients’ lives.