Dr John Connelly wins FPM’s Academic Achievement Award 2026
Posted on: Tuesday 30 June 2026
Author: FPM
These two awards are given in honour of outstanding academic results in the Certificate in Pharmaceutical Medicine and Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine examinations. This year, Dr John Connelly achieved the highest marks in both examinations, making him the sole recipient of both awards.
Receiving the award, Dr Connelly reflected on his DPM journey:
I signed up for the DPM Training Programme and exams to improve my understanding of drug development. I began studying regularly around February, aiming to allocate approximately 5 to 7 hours per week. I tried to stay slightly ahead of the online training, so that the live sessions felt more like consolidation than new material.
The DPM Training Programme was helpful in providing structure and learning materials, although I also read more widely, including regulatory guidance and other publications. I also found webinars, podcasts and online lectures from various other organisations to be a useful additional source of learning.
Given the online nature of the exam, it is important to pay particular attention to the system requirements and the setup instructions from the exam provider. I would also recommend protecting time for the things you enjoy outside of work. For me, I prioritised cycling and running which helped me maintain perspective during exam preparation.
Applying the learning in my role also helped keep me motivated. I was delighted (and pleasantly surprised) to receive the Academic Achievement Awards from FPM. Overall, I had a positive experience of both FPM’s training course and sitting the DPM exams.
About Dr Connelly
Dr John Connelly graduated from the University of Glasgow. He gained experience in the NHS and in academia before joining the MHRA. He currently works in oncology clinical development at a biotech company. Outside of work, John is a keen cyclist and runner.
