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)

41 - 55 of 55 works

2016

Journal Article

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

The effect of pasteurization on trace elements in donor breast milk

2016

Journal Article

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

Effect of pasteurisation on the concentrations of vitamin D compounds in donor breastmilk

2016

Journal Article

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

The simultaneous analysis of eight essential trace elements in human milk by ICP-MS

2016

Conference Publication

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

Medication management of the extremely premature neonate - The impact of a specialist pharmacist

2015

Journal Article

Using the general levelframework to guide training and development needs of pharmacists working in paediatrics

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

Using the general levelframework to guide training and development needs of pharmacists working in paediatrics

2015

Journal Article

Simultaneous quantitative analysis of eight vitamin D analogues in milk using liquid chromatographyetandem mass spectrometry

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

Simultaneous quantitative analysis of eight vitamin D analogues in milk using liquid chromatographyetandem mass spectrometry

2014

Journal Article

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

Innovation - an essential leadership skill, limited only by one’s own imagination

2014

Journal Article

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

Characteristics of adverse medication events in a children's hospital

2014

Journal Article

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

What does advanced practice mean to Australian paediatric pharmacists? A focus group study

2014

Journal Article

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

Utilisation trends of rosiglitazone and pioglitazone in Australia before and after safety warnings

2013

Journal Article

Perioperative medication management: Expanding the role of the preadmission clinic pharmacist in a single centre, randomised controlled trial of collaborative prescribing

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

Perioperative medication management: Expanding the role of the preadmission clinic pharmacist in a single centre, randomised controlled trial of collaborative prescribing

2013

Journal Article

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

Recent trends in the determination of vitamin D

2012

Conference Publication

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

Advanced practice in pediatric pharmacy: the Australian experience

2011

Conference Publication

Outcomes of a structured clinical placement as part of the curriculum for international students in a postgraduate clinical pharmacy program

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.

Outcomes of a structured clinical placement as part of the curriculum for international students in a postgraduate clinical pharmacy program

2010

Journal Article

Improvement in pharmacist's performance facilitated by an adapted competency-based general level framework

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

Improvement in pharmacist's performance facilitated by an adapted competency-based general level framework

Availability

Dr Karen Whitfield is:
Available for supervision

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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