Dr Karen Whitfield
Dr

Karen Whitfield

Email: 

Background

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).

Availability

Dr Karen Whitfield is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences

Qualifications

  • Masters (Coursework), Keele University
  • Bachelor of Science, Council for National Academic Awards
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Aston University
  • Postgraduate Diploma, James Cook University

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.

Search Professor Karen Whitfield’s works on UQ eSpace

55 works between 2010 and 2024
All (55) Journal Article (45) Book Chapter (1) Conference Publication (9)

1 - 20 of 55 works

2024

Journal Article

Impact of preoperative haemoglobin A1c levels on postoperative outcomes in adults undergoing major noncardiac surgery: a systematic review

Yu, Abby, Truong, Quynh, Whitfield, Karen, Hale, Andrew, Taing, Meng‐Wong, Barker, Natalie and D’Emden, Michael (2024). Impact of preoperative haemoglobin A1c levels on postoperative outcomes in adults undergoing major noncardiac surgery: a systematic review. Diabetic Medicine, 41 (10) e15380, e15380. doi: 10.1111/dme.15380

Impact of preoperative haemoglobin A1c levels on postoperative outcomes in adults undergoing major noncardiac surgery: a systematic review

2024

Journal Article

Measuring the impact of pharmaceutical care bundle delivery on patient outcomes: An observational study

Canning, Martin Luke, McDougall, Ross, Yerkovich, Stephanie, Barras, Michael, Coombes, Ian, Sullivan, Clair and Whitfield, Karen (2024). Measuring the impact of pharmaceutical care bundle delivery on patient outcomes: An observational study. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy, 46 (5), 1-9. doi: 10.1007/s11096-024-01750-w

Measuring the impact of pharmaceutical care bundle delivery on patient outcomes: An observational study

2024

Journal Article

Defining quality indicators, pharmaceutical care bundles and outcomes of clinical pharmacy service delivery using a Delphi consensus approach

Canning, Martin Luke, Barras, Michael, McDougall, Ross, Yerkovich, Stephanie, Coombes, Ian, Sullivan, Clair and Whitfield, Karen (2024). Defining quality indicators, pharmaceutical care bundles and outcomes of clinical pharmacy service delivery using a Delphi consensus approach. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy, 46 (2), 451-462. doi: 10.1007/s11096-023-01681-y

Defining quality indicators, pharmaceutical care bundles and outcomes of clinical pharmacy service delivery using a Delphi consensus approach

2023

Journal Article

A randomised trial of topical polaprezinc to prevent oral mucositis in patients undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ToPaZ study)

Nakagaki, Midori, Kennedy, Glen A., Gavin, Nicole C., Butler, Jason, Clavarino, Alexandra and Whitfield, Karen (2023). A randomised trial of topical polaprezinc to prevent oral mucositis in patients undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ToPaZ study). Supportive Care in Cancer, 32 (1) 44, 1-10. doi: 10.1007/s00520-023-08235-y

A randomised trial of topical polaprezinc to prevent oral mucositis in patients undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ToPaZ study)

2023

Journal Article

Resilience and empathy in pharmacy interns: Insights from a three-year cohort study

Halimi, Syafiqah Nadiah, Mirzaei, Ardalan, Rowett, Debra, Whitfield, Karen and Luetsch, Karen (2023). Resilience and empathy in pharmacy interns: Insights from a three-year cohort study. Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy, 12 100333, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2023.100333

Resilience and empathy in pharmacy interns: Insights from a three-year cohort study

2023

Journal Article

Relationships between growth indicators, liver and kidney function markers, and blood concentrations of essential and potentially toxic elements in environmentally exposed young children

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, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114237

Relationships between growth indicators, liver and kidney function markers, and blood concentrations of essential and potentially toxic elements in environmentally exposed young children

2023

Conference Publication

An exploration of resilience with early career pharmacists: a qualitative study

Halimi, Syafiqah Nadiah, Luetsch, Karen, Whitfield, Karen and Rowett, Debra (2023). An exploration of resilience with early career pharmacists: a qualitative study. 2022 International Social Pharmacy Workshop, Online, 11-14 July 2022. Philadelphia, PA, United States: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2023.04.004

An exploration of resilience with early career pharmacists: a qualitative study

2023

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

Medication administration evaluation and feedback tool: Longitudinal cohort observational intervention

2023

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

How early career pharmacists understand resilience – A qualitative study of experiences, challenges and strategies

2022

Journal Article

The Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Pharmacist-Managed Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) Service for Vancomycin—A Pilot Study

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

The Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Pharmacist-Managed Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) Service for Vancomycin—A Pilot Study

2022

Conference Publication

How using the medication administration evaluation feedback tool improves nurses infection prevention strategies: Stepped wedge cluster randomised trial

Davies, Karen, Hay, Karen, Whitfield, Karen, Chippindall, Karen, Donovan, Peter, Keogh, Samantha and Coombes, Ian (2022). How using the medication administration evaluation feedback tool improves nurses infection prevention strategies: Stepped wedge cluster randomised trial. 2022 ACIPC International Conference, Sydney, NSW Australia, 13-16 November 2022. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.idh.2022.09.052

How using the medication administration evaluation feedback tool improves nurses infection prevention strategies: Stepped wedge cluster randomised trial

2022

Journal Article

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

Noradrenaline use for neonatal circulatory support

2022

Journal Article

Pharmacist-managed therapeutic drug monitoring programs within australian hospital and health services—a national survey of current practice

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

Pharmacist-managed therapeutic drug monitoring programs within australian hospital and health services—a national survey of current practice

2022

Book Chapter

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

Women’s health from a pharmacy perspective

2022

Journal Article

The incidence of severe oral mucositis in patients undergoing different conditioning regimens in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

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

The incidence of severe oral mucositis in patients undergoing different conditioning regimens in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

2021

Journal Article

Students’ proposed self-management strategies in response to written cases depicting situations of adversity

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

Students’ proposed self-management strategies in response to written cases depicting situations of adversity

2021

Journal Article

Effects of storage conditions on the stability and distribution of clinical trace elements in whole blood and plasma: application of ICP-MS

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

Effects of storage conditions on the stability and distribution of clinical trace elements in whole blood and plasma: application of ICP-MS

2021

Journal Article

A real-world accuracy of oral mucositis grading in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

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

A real-world accuracy of oral mucositis grading in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

2021

Journal Article

Environmental exposure to metals and metalloids in primary school-aged children living in industrialised areas of Eastern South Asian megacity Dhaka, Bangladesh

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

Environmental exposure to metals and metalloids in primary school-aged children living in industrialised areas of Eastern South Asian megacity Dhaka, Bangladesh

2021

Journal Article

Medication utilisation program, quality improvement and research pharmacist—implementation strategies and preliminary findings

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, 182. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy9040182

Medication utilisation program, quality improvement and research pharmacist—implementation strategies and preliminary findings

Availability

Dr Karen Whitfield is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Master Philosophy

    To investigate the impact of a pharmacist medication management across the continuum

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Ian Coombes

  • Doctor Philosophy

    A study to investigate a Preoperative diabetes optimisation clinic and the pharmacists role.

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Exploration of resilience in pharmacy students and pharmacists

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Karen Luetsch

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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communications@uq.edu.au