Clinical Associate Professor
Conjoint Associate Professor
Overview
Associate Professor
Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence Email: karen.whitfield@uq.edu.au
Dr Karen Whitfield is an Associate Professor within the School of Pharmacy and is the Program Lead for the Master of Clinical Pharmacy.https://future-students.uq.edu.au/study/programs/master-clinical-pharmacy-5718
Karen was awarded the Research Excellence Award for Research Support - Metro North Health Service in 2020 and the Australian Clinical Pharmacist awarded by the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia in 2017
Karen has worked at a number of different hospital including Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General Infirmary, North Staffordshire Hospital Trust (Surgical and Paediatric Directorate Pharmacist), The Townsville Hospital. Most recently she has worked at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (from 2015-2021) holding several positions including, Team Leader Women's and Newborns and Assistant Director Cancer Care Services. She has also held a number of teaching positions including, Sr Lecturer James Cooke University, Teacher Practitioner with Medicines Services Queensland and lecturer with the University of Queensland.
Her specialist interests include Women's Health and Neonatology
She completed a Diploma in Hospital Pharmacy (1991), Masters in Clinical Pharmacy (1996) and completed her PhD at Aston University in 2002 under the supervision of Dr John Marriott and Dr Keith Wilson at the Birmingham Children’s Hospital UK, investigating sedatives in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.
Karen has presented work Nationally and Internationally at several Seminars and Conferences including, Life Long Learning for Pharmacists Conference (Dublin 2020, Croatia 2016), FIP webinar series ‘Hearing from our Hero’s’ (2020), Monash Pharmacy Education Symposium (2019), MM2018 SHPA Conference Brisbane (2018), Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Conference UK (2015), Society of Obstetric Medicine Australia and New Zealand (Melbourne 2015).
Research Interests
- Medication optimisation in neonates
- Medication use in pregnancy and breast feeding
- Research into the impact of resilience training and development
Research Impacts
Research Interests
- The impact of a specialist pharmacist in Women’s and Newborns Health including the ambulatory care setting.
- Altered pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic handling of medications in premature and term neonates
- Essential micronutrient levels in blood and human milk, including trace elements and vitamins
- Altered pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic handling of medications in pregnancy
- The impact of Resilience training and development in students and health care professionals
Karen invites potential majors and postgraduate students to contact her via email to discuss research opportunities.
Projects currently available for PhD/MPhil research higher degree students include:
Women’s Health and Neonates
- Investigating essential trace elements in neonates including Zinc, Selenium, Chromium, Manganese and Cobalt
- Investigating neonatal medicines information needs for parents and carers post discharge.
- Medication taking behaviour during pregnancy and breast feeding (prescription and non-prescription medications).
- Drugs levels in breast milk - this will involve investigating specific medications and analysis of levels in breast milk and any clinical implications for the infant.
- Medication optimisation in the obese patient.
Workforce and Professional Development
- The development and evaluation of resilience and wellbeing interventions in undergraduate students and postgraduate pharmacists.
Qualifications
- Master of Science, University of Keele
- Bachelor of Science, Council of National Academic Awards
- Graduate Certificate of Education, James Cook University
- Doctor of Philosophy, Aston University
Publications
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Mahmood, Shakil, Tanvir, E M, Komarova, Tatiana, Islam, Md Nazrul, Khatun, Mahbuba, Hossain, Md Fuad, Ng, Jack C., Whitfield, Karen M., Hossain, Md Sabir, Khalil, Md Ibrahim and Shaw, P Nicholas (2023). Relationships between growth indicators, liver and kidney function markers, and blood concentrations of essential and potentially toxic elements in environmentally exposed young children. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 253 114237, 114237. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114237
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Journal Article: How early career pharmacists understand resilience – A qualitative study of experiences, challenges and strategies
Halimi, Syafiqah Nadiah, Rowett, Debra, Whitfield, Karen and Luetsch, Karen (2023). How early career pharmacists understand resilience – A qualitative study of experiences, challenges and strategies. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 19 (3), 486-494. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2022.10.012
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Journal Article: Medication administration evaluation and feedback tool: Longitudinal cohort observational intervention
Davies, Karen M., Coombes, Ian D., Keogh, Samantha, Hay, Karen and Whitfield, Karen M. (2023). Medication administration evaluation and feedback tool: Longitudinal cohort observational intervention. Collegian, 30 (3), 417-423. doi: 10.1016/j.colegn.2022.12.001
Supervision
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Improving oral mucositis management in patients undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation
(2023) Doctor Philosophy
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A Pharmacist Managed Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Program
Doctor Philosophy
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A study to investigate a Preoperative diabetes optimisation clinic and the pharmacists role.
Doctor Philosophy
Publications
Book Chapter
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Women’s health from a pharmacy perspective
Whitfield, Karen and Clavarino, Alexandra (2022). Women’s health from a pharmacy perspective. Encyclopedia of evidence in pharmaceutical public health and health services research in pharmacy. (pp. 1-21) edited by Zaheer-Ud-Din Babar . Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-50247-8_19-1
Journal Article
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Mahmood, Shakil, Tanvir, E M, Komarova, Tatiana, Islam, Md Nazrul, Khatun, Mahbuba, Hossain, Md Fuad, Ng, Jack C., Whitfield, Karen M., Hossain, Md Sabir, Khalil, Md Ibrahim and Shaw, P Nicholas (2023). Relationships between growth indicators, liver and kidney function markers, and blood concentrations of essential and potentially toxic elements in environmentally exposed young children. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 253 114237, 114237. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114237
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Halimi, Syafiqah Nadiah, Rowett, Debra, Whitfield, Karen and Luetsch, Karen (2023). How early career pharmacists understand resilience – A qualitative study of experiences, challenges and strategies. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 19 (3), 486-494. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2022.10.012
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Davies, Karen M., Coombes, Ian D., Keogh, Samantha, Hay, Karen and Whitfield, Karen M. (2023). Medication administration evaluation and feedback tool: Longitudinal cohort observational intervention. Collegian, 30 (3), 417-423. doi: 10.1016/j.colegn.2022.12.001
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Firman, Paul, Tan, Ken-Soon, Clavarino, Alexandra, Taing, Meng-Wong, Dixon, Sally, Singh, Helender and Whitfield, Karen (2022). The Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Pharmacist-Managed Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) Service for Vancomycin—A Pilot Study. Pharmacy, 10 (6) 173, 1-12. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy10060173
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Davies, Karen, Hay, Karen, Whitfield, Karen, Chippindall, Karen, Donovan, Peter, Keogh, Samantha and Coombes, Ian (2022). 132. How using the medication administration evaluation feedback tool improves nurses infection prevention strategies: Stepped wedge cluster randomised trial. Infection, Disease & Health, 27, S15. doi: 10.1016/j.idh.2022.09.052
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Noradrenaline use for neonatal circulatory support
Hong, Lisa, Davies, Mark and Whitfield, Karen (2022). Noradrenaline use for neonatal circulatory support. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 58 (11), 2084-2090. doi: 10.1111/jpc.16226
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Firman, Paul, Tan, Ken-Soon, Clavarino, Alexandra, Taing, Meng-Wong and Whitfield, Karen (2022). Pharmacist-managed therapeutic drug monitoring programs within australian hospital and health services—a national survey of current practice. Pharmacy, 10 (5) 135, 1-11. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy10050135
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Nakagaki, Midori, Kennedy, Glen A., Gavin, Nicole C., Clavarino, Alexandra and Whitfield, Karen (2022). The incidence of severe oral mucositis in patients undergoing different conditioning regimens in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Supportive Care in Cancer, 30 (11), 1-9. doi: 10.1007/s00520-022-07328-4
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Davidson, Jared, Simmonds, Claire, Whitfield, Karen and Wilby, Kyle John (2021). Students’ proposed self-management strategies in response to written cases depicting situations of adversity. Pharmacy Education, 21 (1), 810-816. doi: 10.46542/pe.2021.211.810816
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Tanvir, E.M., Komarova, Tatiana, Comino, Eva, Sumner, Ronald, Whitfield, Karen M. and Shaw, P. Nicholas (2021). Effects of storage conditions on the stability and distribution of clinical trace elements in whole blood and plasma: application of ICP-MS. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 68 126804, 126804. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2021.126804
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Nakagaki, Midori, Gavin, Nicole C., Clavarino, Alexandra, Kennedy, Glen A. and Whitfield, Karen (2021). A real-world accuracy of oral mucositis grading in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Supportive Care in Cancer, 30 (3), 2705-2712. doi: 10.1007/s00520-021-06654-3
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Tanvir, E. M., Mahmood, Shakil, Islam, Md Nazrul, Khatun, Mahbuba, Afroz, Rizwana, Islam, Shaikh Shohidul, Afrin, Sabrina, Khalil, Md Ibrahim, Chowdhury, Muhammed Alamgir Zaman, Ng, Jack C., Whitfield, Karen M. and Shaw, P. Nicholas (2021). Environmental exposure to metals and metalloids in primary school-aged children living in industrialised areas of Eastern South Asian megacity Dhaka, Bangladesh. Exposure and Health, 14 (3), 671-684. doi: 10.1007/s12403-021-00443-3
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Whitfield, Karen, Coombes, Ian, Denaro, Charles and Donovan, Peter (2021). Medication utilisation program, quality improvement and research pharmacist—implementation strategies and preliminary findings. Pharmacy, 9 (4) 182. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy9040182
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Gentamicin dosing in neonates with normal renal function: trough and peak levels
O’Connor, Kristin, Davies, Mark W., Koorts, Pieter, Cartwright, David W. and Whitfield, Karen (2021). Gentamicin dosing in neonates with normal renal function: trough and peak levels. European Journal of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, 46 (5), 677-684. doi: 10.1007/s13318-021-00708-x
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The impact of an electronic hospital system on therapeutic drug monitoring
Firman, Paul, Whitfield, Karen, Tan, Ken‐Soon, Clavarino, Alexandra and Hay, Karen (2021). The impact of an electronic hospital system on therapeutic drug monitoring. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 46 (6) jcpt.13497, 1613-1621. doi: 10.1111/jcpt.13497
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Developing a global community of practice for pharmacy workforce resilience—meet GRiT
Whitfield, Karen, Arya, Vibhuti, Austin, Zubin, Bajis, Dalia, Bradley, Catriona, Clark, Bronwyn, Exintaris, Betty, Galbraith, Kirsten, El Hajj, Maguy Saffouh, Hall, Kat, Hughes, Louise, Kirsa, Sue, Langran, Catherine, Mantzourani, Efi, Wilby, Kyle John and Willis, Sarah (2021). Developing a global community of practice for pharmacy workforce resilience—meet GRiT. Pharmacy, 9 (2) 110. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy9020110
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Developing Grit, Motivation, and Resilience: To Give Up on Giving In
Whitfield, Karen M. and Wilby, Kyle John (2021). Developing Grit, Motivation, and Resilience: To Give Up on Giving In. Pharmacy, 9 (2) 109, 1-8. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy9020109
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Whitfield, Karen M., Dresser, Jacob D., Magoffin, Rowena and Wilby, Kyle J. (2021). Maintaining and maximising motivation to progress scholarly work during challenges times – reflections from the pandemic. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 13 (3), 193-197. doi: 10.1016/j.cptl.2020.10.017
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Dresser, Jacob D., Whitfield, Karen M., Kremer, Lisa J. and Wilby, Kyle J. (2021). Exploring how postmillennial pharmacy students balance life priorities and avoid situations known to deplete resilience. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 85 (4) 8369, 311-316. doi: 10.5688/ajpe8369
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Therapeutic anticoagulation during the postnatal peripartum period: a survey of clinical practice
North, Angela M., Barrett, Helen L., Lust, Karin M. and Whitfield, Karen M. (2020). Therapeutic anticoagulation during the postnatal peripartum period: a survey of clinical practice. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, 50 (3), 213-219. doi: 10.1002/jppr.1617
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Tanvir, E. M., Whitfield, Karen M., Ng, Jack C. and Shaw, P. Nicholas (2020). Development and validation of an ICP-MS method and its application to determine multiple trace elements in small volumes of whole blood and plasma. Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 44 (9), 1036-1046. doi: 10.1093/jat/bkaa033
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Davies, Karen M., Coombes, Ian D., Keogh, Samantha, Hay, Karen and Whitfield, Karen M. (2020). Medication administration evaluation and feedback tool: inter-rater reliability in the clinical setting. Collegian, 28 (4), 369-375. doi: 10.1016/j.colegn.2020.10.001
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Medication administration evaluation and feedback tool: Simulation reliability testing
Davies, Karen M., Coombes, Ian D., Keogh, Samantha, Hay, Karen, Hurst, Cameron and Whitfield, Karen M. (2019). Medication administration evaluation and feedback tool: Simulation reliability testing. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 32, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ecns.2019.03.010
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Medication administration evaluation tool design: an expert panel review
Davies, Karen M., Coombes, Ian D., Keogh, Samantha and Whitfield, Karen M. (2019). Medication administration evaluation tool design: an expert panel review. Collegian, 26 (1), 118-124. doi: 10.1016/j.colegn.2018.05.001
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Psychotropic medication use during pregnancy
Niethe, Miranda and Whitfield, Karen (2018). Psychotropic medication use during pregnancy. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, 48 (4), 384-391. doi: 10.1002/jppr.1483
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Therapeutic heparin during the peripartum period – challenges associated with safe use
North, Angela M., Barrett, Helen L., Lust, Karin M. and Whitfield, Karen M. (2018). Therapeutic heparin during the peripartum period – challenges associated with safe use. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, 48 (4), 314-319. doi: 10.1002/jppr.1399
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The SHPA Australian Clinical Pharmacy Award 2017 Oration
Whitfield, Karen (2018). The SHPA Australian Clinical Pharmacy Award 2017 Oration. Pharmacy Growth, Research, Innovation and Training, 2 (1). doi: 10.24080/grit.1084
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The emerging role of the women's and newborns' pharmacist
Whitfield, Karen (2017). The emerging role of the women's and newborns' pharmacist. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, 47 (4), 254-255. doi: 10.1002/jppr.1372
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To investigate the effect of the pasteurisation process on trace elements in donor breast milk
Taufek, Nor Mohd, Cartwright, David, Hewavitharana, Amitha, Koorts, Pieter, McConachy, Helen, Shaw, Nick, Whitfield, Karen and Davies, Mark (2016). To investigate the effect of the pasteurisation process on trace elements in donor breast milk. e ADC, 101 (9), A13-A14. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2016-311535.27
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Changing prescribing culture - a focus on codeine postpartum
Al-Adhami, Noor, Whitfield, Karen and North, Angela (2016). Changing prescribing culture - a focus on codeine postpartum. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 101 (9), e2.12-e2. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2016-311535.2
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The effect of pasteurization on trace elements in donor breast milk
Mohd-Taufek, N., Cartwright, D., Davies, M., Hewavitharana, A. K., Koorts, P., McConachy, H., Shaw, P. N., Sumner, R. and Whitfield, K. (2016). The effect of pasteurization on trace elements in donor breast milk. Journal of Perinatology, 36 (10), 897-900. doi: 10.1038/jp.2016.88
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Effect of pasteurisation on the concentrations of vitamin D compounds in donor breastmilk
Gomes, Fabio P., Shaw, P. Nicholas, Whitfield, Karen, Koorts, Pieter, McConachy, Helen and Hewavitharana, Amitha K. (2016). Effect of pasteurisation on the concentrations of vitamin D compounds in donor breastmilk. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 67 (1), 16-19. doi: 10.3109/09637486.2015.1126566
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The simultaneous analysis of eight essential trace elements in human milk by ICP-MS
Mohd-Taufek, Nor, Cartwright, David, Davies, Mark, Hewavitharana, Amitha K., Koorts, Pieter, Shaw, Paul N., Sumner, Ronald, Lee, Eugene and Whitfield, Karen (2016). The simultaneous analysis of eight essential trace elements in human milk by ICP-MS. Food Analytical Methods, 9 (7), 1-8. doi: 10.1007/s12161-015-0396-z
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Stacey, Sonya R., Coombes, Ian, Cardiff, Lynda, Wainwright, Claire and Whitfield, Karen M. (2015). Using the general levelframework to guide training and development needs of pharmacists working in paediatrics. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, 45 (3), 322-330. doi: 10.1002/jppr.1140
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Gomes, Fabio P., Shaw, P. Nicholas, Whitfield, Karen and Hewavitharana, Amitha K. (2015). Simultaneous quantitative analysis of eight vitamin D analogues in milk using liquid chromatographyetandem mass spectrometry. Analytica Chimica Acta, 891 234099, 211-220. doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2015.08.017
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Innovation - an essential leadership skill, limited only by one’s own imagination
Whitfield, Karen (2014). Innovation - an essential leadership skill, limited only by one’s own imagination. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, 44 (3), 167-169. doi: 10.1002/jppr.1014
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Characteristics of adverse medication events in a children's hospital
Stacey, Sonya, Coombes, Ian, Wainwright, Claire, Klee, Brittany, Miller, Hugh and Whitfield, Karen (2014). Characteristics of adverse medication events in a children's hospital. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 50 (12), 966-971. doi: 10.1111/jpc.12684
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What does advanced practice mean to Australian paediatric pharmacists? A focus group study
Stacey, Sonya R., Coombes, Ian, Wainwright, Claire, Cardiff, Lynda and Whitfield, Karen (2014). What does advanced practice mean to Australian paediatric pharmacists? A focus group study. International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 23 (2), 141-149. doi: 10.1111/ijpp.12113
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Utilisation trends of rosiglitazone and pioglitazone in Australia before and after safety warnings
Niyomnaitham, Suvimol, Page, Andrew, La Caze, Adam, Whitfield, Karen and Smith, Alesha J. (2014). Utilisation trends of rosiglitazone and pioglitazone in Australia before and after safety warnings. BMC Health Services Research, 14 (1) 151, 151. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-14-151
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Hale, A. R., Coombes, I. D., Stokes, J., McDougall, D., Whitfield, K., Maycock, E. and Nissen, L. (2013). Perioperative medication management: Expanding the role of the preadmission clinic pharmacist in a single centre, randomised controlled trial of collaborative prescribing. BMJ Open, 3 (7) e003027, e003027. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-003027
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Recent trends in the determination of vitamin D
Gomes, Fabio P., Shaw, P. Nicholas, Whitfield, Karen, Koorts, Pieter and Hewavitharana, Amitha K. (2013). Recent trends in the determination of vitamin D. Bioanalysis, 5 (24), 3063-3078. doi: 10.4155/bio.13.283
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Coombes, Ian, Avent, Minyon, Cardiff, Lynda, Bettenay, Karen, Coombes, Judith, Whitfield, Karen, Stokes, Julie, Davies, Graham and Bates, Ian (2010). Improvement in pharmacist's performance facilitated by an adapted competency-based general level framework. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, 40 (2), 111-118. doi: 10.1002/j.2055-2335.2010.tb00517.x
Conference Publication
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Effect of pasteurisation on the concentrations of vitamin D compounds in donor breast milk
Gomes, Fabio, Shaw, Nick, Whitfield, Karen, Koorts, Pieter, McConachy, Helen and Hewavitharana, Amitha (2016). Effect of pasteurisation on the concentrations of vitamin D compounds in donor breast milk. Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group (NPPG) 21st Annual Conference, London, United Kingdom, 6–8 November 2015. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2016-311535.26
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Medication management of the extremely premature neonate - The impact of a specialist pharmacist
Whitfield, Karen, Barkeij, Claudia and North, Angela (2016). Medication management of the extremely premature neonate - The impact of a specialist pharmacist. Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group (NPPG), 21st Annual Conference, United Kingdom, 6–8 November 2015. London, United Kingdom: BMJ. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2016-311535.55
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Advanced practice in pediatric pharmacy: the Australian experience
Stacey, Sonya and Whitfield, Karen (2012). Advanced practice in pediatric pharmacy: the Australian experience. 21st Annual Meeting Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group, Houston, TX, United States, April 2012. Memphis, TN, United States: Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group. doi: 10.5863/1551-6776-17.1.104
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Burrows, J., Winckel, K. and Whitfield, K. (2011). Outcomes of a structured clinical placement as part of the curriculum for international students in a postgraduate clinical pharmacy program. Monash Pharmacy Education Symposium 2011, Prato, Italy, 11 - 13 July 2011.
PhD and MPhil Supervision
Current Supervision
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A Pharmacist Managed Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Program
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
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A study to investigate a Preoperative diabetes optimisation clinic and the pharmacists role.
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
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To investigate the impact of a pharmacist medication management across the continuum
Master Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
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To investigate the pharmacotherapy management of the bariatric surgery patient and the impact of the pharmacist in the multidisciplinary team
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
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Exploration of resilience in pharmacy students and pharmacists
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Completed Supervision
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Improving oral mucositis management in patients undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation
(2023) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
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Design, validation and testing of a nursing administration assessment and evaluation tool
(2020) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
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Therapeutic heparin during the peripartum period.
(2019) Master Philosophy — Principal Advisor
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Essential Trace Element Analysis of Human Breast Milk
(2017) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
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(2014) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
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(2022) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
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Development of an assay for vitamin D in biological samples
(2018) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
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Development of an assay for total vitamin D content in milk and application to study the effect of pasteurisation in breastmilk
(2016) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
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Impact of drug warning system on prescriptions
(2015) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
