Research Fellow

• Oct 2020 - Present

I collaborate on the evaluation of the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of pharmaceuticals and vaccines for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), and the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of diagnostic tests and medical devices for the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC). I collaborate on the evaluation of the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of pharmaceuticals and vaccines for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), and the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of diagnostic tests and medical devices for the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC).

Researcher PHD Student

• Aug 2016 - Nov 2020

The PhD allowed me to develop as a researcher, gaining experience in Health Economics, Clinical Trials, Health Services Research, and Systematic Reviews.As a researcher, I had the opportunity to participate in the development from the inception of a cluster randomized controlled trial. This study evaluated a professional pharmacy service in the Chilean primary healthcare (See The Polaris Trial below). I demonstrated my collaboration skills, engaging with stakeholders from the government, municipalities, health centres, and two universities. In this trial, I participated writing the protocol, submitting three ethics applications and two grant submissions, acted as a practice change facilitator and a clinical monitor, and performed the economic evaluation. Once the clinical trial started, I acted as a clinical trial assistant, ensuring ICH/HCP standards in 12 healthcare centres. Here I used my attention to detail and communication skills which led to the successful trial completion.As that data became available, I developed skills in Health Economics to conduct a two-stage economic evaluation: a trial-based cost-utility analysis and a state-transition microsimulation model. Both are currently under review in peer-reviewed journals. As part of this process, I also published a systematic review to describe the state of the art of current economic evaluations of the research topic.This project provided evidence for decision-makers at the local setting to evaluate the implementation of the intervention nationwide.

Casual Examiner

• Apr 2019 - Apr 2020

My role at this position is to ensure that students follow-up university’s standards. To do this, I provide high-level support to permanent staff in different examination formats.Here I demonstrated my ability to follow protocols. as every exam has its own rules. Also, as most of the exams required several invigilators, I could put in practice my teamwork skills to carry out the exams successfully and in the required timeframe.After invigilating more than 20 exams, I can proudly say that all of them finished successfully. Thanks to this, I could earn the trust of my supervisors, other invigilators, as well as the students.

Lecturer

• Mar 2018 - Dec 2018

This multifaceted role allowed me to explore different aspects of teaching in Pharmacy. Here I could increase my experience and skills in lecturing, clinical simulations, OSCE, and clinical placements. Here I had the opportunity to approach mentoring from a practice-based focus and combine it with evidence-based medicine. Participating in the subjects of “Clinical Pharmacy” and “Pharmacovigilance and Health Education” allowed me to develop my communication skills with other lecturers as well as with students. In addition, I had the opportunity to support students in their first approach with patients visiting a primary care centre and performing an educational activity for the community. Traditionally pharmacists have advocated their role to medications. In this context, I can proudly say that thanks to the university's approach, I could help students to shift to a patient-centred approach introducing new topics regarding patients’ behaviour, as well as evidence-based medicine.

Hospital Pharmacist

• Jun 2016 - Mar 2017

This high paced role saw me assisting clinical units as well as two satellite pharmacies acting as the link between them. My problem-solving skills were tested as this hospital cared for the entire northern sector of Chile’s capital, Santiago. Each action taken at the hospital was aimed at providing quick and practical solutions, with the primary goal of timely and adequate patient’s care. Here my teamwork and communication skills were put to the test, particularly with intensive care units. To ensure rational use of medications, one of my primary functions was to monitor if medicines' use protocols were being followed by prescribers. To achieve this, my clinical skills, as well as negotiation skills, played a key role.

Pharmacist

• Sep 2015 - Jun 2016

This position was particularly important to me because it laid the foundations of my PhD. In this primary care organisation, pharmacy supervision was already established in all four pharmacies. This, allowed me to implement innovations in protocols and services. Here I collaborated in the production of the pharmacies local protocol, but more importantly, I could try new professional services. These new initiatives were mainly focused on patient care, and although they were sparse, they allowed me to acquire the experience and motivation to pursue my PhD.

Pharmacist

• Jun 2014 - Aug 2015

This was my first experience in primary care that later became one of my passions. This role allowed me to learn this area from scratch since at that moment, there has never been a pharmacist overseeing pharmacy services. My role was to supervise three of the six centres. In this position, I demonstrated self-motivation and determination, developing protocols to ensure the quality of care according to local standards. In addition, I had the opportunity to develop my mentoring skills supervising university students introducing them in primary care pharmacy. Some of them did their Bachelor’s thesis with the municipality, and I acted as supervisor of two of them.

Hospital Pharmacist

• Sep 2013 - May 2014