Associate Professor Chris Freeman has been appointed as the inaugural Associate Professor of Safe and Effective Medication Research for UQ’s School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Metro North Health.
As a registered and practicing clinical pharmacist, a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), PSA National President and current company director on the Brisbane South Primary Health Network, Associate Professor Freeman has ample experience to bring to the role.
What do you hope to bring to the role?
I am very honoured to be taking on such an important role and I think I bring my vision, energy, experience, clinical practice skills, and network of collaborators and key stakeholders with the aim to establish a future Centre of national significance aligned with the identified National Health Priority for quality and safe use of medicines.
What are your key research interests?
My current research focus is on the Safe and Quality use of Medicines, specifically relating to developing the evidence to support future roles for pharmacists in collaborative healthcare settings, reducing harm from inappropriate medication use, and tailoring therapy through personalised medicine.
Can you share your career highlights?
One of the proudest achievements in my career to date is my leadership in the underpinning research and health policy work directly behind the COAG health council declaring Quality Use of Medicines and Medicines Safety the 10th National Health Priority Area. I have been leading a program of work which has aimed to improve the quality use of medicines and reduce medicine-related harm through collaborative models of practice. This includes the REMAIN HOME trial, a landmark five-year project, which demonstrated a how a collaborative model of practice can reduce hospital presentations and readmissions by 30%.
What aspects do you enjoy most about your work?
A great aspect of this new role is that it is a Conjoint position between UQ and MNHHS which allows me the opportunity to connect with a wide range of clinicians, patients, and researchers. As they say, “variety is the spice of life!”
What inspired you to get into Pharmacy?
It was the perfect mix of my favourite subjects in school – health and the sciences – coupled with my passion for wanting to make a meaningful difference for people
His current research theme focusses on the Safe and Quality use of Medicines, specifically relating to developing evidence to support future roles for pharmacists in collaborative healthcare settings, reducing harm from inappropriate medication use, and tailoring therapy through personalised medicine.
Associate Professor Freeman has published over 50 publications and secured over $4 million as chief investigator in competitive research grants and fellowships.
