Dr Paul McCague is Director of Education (Pharmacy) and Reader (Education) in the School of Pharmacy at Queen's University Belfast (QUB).

Paul graduated from QUB with a Master of Pharmacy degree and completed a PhD in Clinical Pharmacy. Following academic appointments at University College Cork and Liverpool John Moores University, including a joint role as a clinical paediatric pharmacist, he returned to Queen's in 2015 as a Lecturer (Education). He was promoted to Senior Lecturer (Education) in 2019 and Reader (Education) in 2022.

His work focuses on pharmacy education, interprofessional learning, curriculum development and student support. He has contributed to the development of the MPharm programme in response to changing professional and regulatory requirements and leads interprofessional learning within the School.

Paul works with a range of professional and sector partners, including the Irish Pharmacy Union, to develop educational programmes for pharmacists. He serves as an external examiner for Schools of Pharmacy in the UK and Ireland and is a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland's MPharm accreditation panel. His work is disseminated through publications, conference presentations and professional collaborations.

Paul's professional background includes more than 16 years' experience in community and hospital pharmacy. He was awarded an Advance HE National Teaching Fellowship in 2026 in recognition of his contribution to student success, educational practice and leadership in higher education. He is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE and a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland and the Royal College of Pharmacy. 

• 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)
  
• National Teaching Fellowship (2026): Advance HE 

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