1. Current Status, Position

Dr Barbara Farrell (PharmD) (Co-PI Lead, Deprescribing Guidelines for the Elderly project) is a Scientist with the Bruyère Research Institute and CT Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre, Assistant Professor with the Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa and Adjunct Assistant Professor with the School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo. She maintains a clinical practice as a pharmacist in the Bruyère Geriatric Day Hospital and is Clinical and Research Coordinator in the Pharmacy Department at Bruyère Continuing Care.

2. Education

Dr Farrell completed her Bachelor’s and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees at the University of Toronto, and her residency at Chedoke-McMaster Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario. She has worked clinically in hospital pharmacy, community pharmacy, primary care and most recently in a specialised Geriatric Day Hospital practice, all of which have provided her with a broad perspective on pharmacy practice and the needs of patients in different health care environments. Dr Barbara Farrell has experience in curricular design, including designing and implementing a structured practice experience program for undergraduate students and developing online educational programming focused on medication management skills for pharmacists. She was also instrumental in co-leading a large demonstration project incorporating pharmacists into primary health care teams and resulting in growth of this practice model in Canada. In recognition of these accomplishments, Dr Farrell received the Canadian Pharmacist of the Year award in 2011.

3. Research Area

As a pharmacist, educator and researcher, Dr Farrell is focused on addressing challenges related to polypharmacy and improving interprofessional medication-related care for older adults. This includes development and evaluation of deprescribing guidelines to safely reduce or stop potentially harmful or unneeded medications, as well as development and evaluation of innovative educational programming to improve medication-related care. She believes strongly in professional advocacy, leadership and mentorship.

4. Conflict of interest: none