Dr Paul McCague is a Reader (Education) at the School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast (QUB).

Paul graduated with a Master of Pharmacy from QUB before completing a PhD in clinical pharmacy. He has held academic roles at University College Cork (2012–14) and Liverpool John Moores University (2014–15), including a joint appointment as a clinical paediatric hospital pharmacist. He returned to QUB in 2015 as a Lecturer (Education), was promoted to Senior Lecturer (Education) in 2019, and to Reader (Education) in 2022.

As a MPharm Programme Director, Dr McCague has played a key role in transforming the pharmacy curriculum in line with latest GPhC standards, enabling pharmacists to qualify as prescribers upon registration. As School Lead for Interprofessional Learning, he fosters collaboration between pharmacy and other healthcare disciplines, driving innovative teaching approaches that enhance teamwork, communication and clinical decision-making. He also leads MPharm Student Support, ensuring students receive timely and compassionate academic and wellbeing support.

Paul’s scholarship focuses on interprofessional learning and novel teaching approaches in pharmacy education. He collaborates with the Irish Pharmacy Union to develop and deliver peer-reviewed training for pharmacists, translating clinical research into practical guidance to enhance patient care through evidence-based practice changes. He is an external examiner for three Schools of Pharmacy and a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland’s MPharm accreditation panel. His work is widely disseminated through publications, conferences, and professional networks.

With over sixteen years of experience in community and hospital pharmacy, Paul continues to work as a locum pharmacist. He is a Member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. In recognition of his contributions to education, he was awarded Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy in 2019.

• Master of Pharmacy: 1st Class Honours (2008), Queen's University Belfast
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Clinical Pharmacy (2012), Queen's University Belfast
• Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2013), University College Cork
• Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2014), University College Cork
• University Rising Star Teaching Award (2016): Clinical Pharmacokinetics
• University Team Teaching Award (2017): Extemporaneous Formulation & Dispensing
• Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (2019)
• Connected Leaders Development Programme 1 (William J. Clinton Leadership Institute) (2020)
• ILM Level 3 Award in Leadership and Management (2020)
• Connected Leaders Development Programme 3 (William J. Clinton Leadership Institute) (2025)
• Irish Education Awards (2025): Best Collaboration Project (winner)
• Irish Education Awards (2025): Overall Excellence (winner)
  

Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) programme:
PMY4404: Advanced Practice and Therapeutics
PMY4405: Observed Structured Clinical Examinations for Year 4
PMY3302: Genomics, Personalised and Future Medicines
PMY3305: Observed Structured Clinical Examinations for Year 3
PMY2204: Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 
PMY2202: Pharmaceutical Technology 
PMY1101: Introduction to the Profession and Practice of Pharmacy 
PMY1100: Skills for Pharmacy

Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology programmes:
PMY2303: Foundational Pharmacology 
PMY1052: Basic Skills for the Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Sciences

BSc Medical Science (Intercalated) programme:
BMS3106: Principles of Pharmacology and Therapeutics

BSc Professional Nursing programme:
NFY3134: Interprofessional Working

MSc/Diploma/Certificate in Advanced Clinical Pharmacy Practice postgraduate programmes:
PMY7101: Managing Drug Treatment
PMY7043: Practice Research Project
PMY7026: Critical Literature Review