Noelia Amador-Fernandez is a Lecturer of Pharmacy Practice in the Graduate School of Health.
After practising as a community pharmacist, educator, and researcher, Noelia gained a deep understanding of community pharmacy, pharmacy services, medicines, and scope of practice in various countries including Spain, United Kingdom and Switzerland. She is experienced in training and practice change facilitation for professional services in community pharmacy, and an expert in implementation of new pharmacy processes. Her research is focused on implementation science to translate safe and cost-efficient services into pharmacists’ daily practice. Noelia’s research and profession practice has resulted in tools to support pharmacists, such as practice guidelines, behavioural techniques, implementation systems, collaborative practice programs and IT programs to enhance the quality and safe use of medicines and implement professional services.

Prior to and during the completion of her PhD, Noelia had extensive experience working as the professional services manager at a national professional pharmacy organisation which involved extensive interactions with stakeholders such as the pharmaceutical industry, politicians, and practitioners. The PhD was awarded by The University of Granada in Spain, and involved the evaluation of protocols, agreed with general medical practitioners, for pharmacists to manage minor ailments including the management of headache, sore throat, and moderate pain. The research demonstrated optimal pharmacist practice and patient outcomes. The protocols, published in a book, have since been implemented nationally in Spain. Since then, the research has continued, with her involvement and direction, to a 2-year national implementation study funded by the professional organisation.

In 2022 Noelia took a post-doctoral position in Switzerland to carry research in pharmacy before arriving at UTS in September 2023. She was then involved in two studies aimed to evaluate a medication review to help patients managing their medications at home and a service where pharmacist could recommend medications for acute respiratory diseases and migraine, among others.
Noelia has published over 20 peer reviewed articles and over 50 contributions to conferences in many different countries.

Currently, as one of the Chief Investigators, her research is part of the NSW Pharmacy Trial with the role and responsibility of studying the implementation program of the new services where trained pharmacists provide medication that is usually only available with a medical prescription. These trials include the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection, continuing supply of the oral contraceptive pill and treatment of four skin conditions. Her role has been to develop educational and behavioural programs for change agents in order to prepare them for the implementation of the services, to monitor implementation processes and outcomes and provide continued feedback through implementation specific reports to monitor the trials.

As a Lecturer in the Graduate School of Health, Noelia is passionate about practice-based research which leads to sustainable change, research led education and supporting pharmacy students through pedagogical evidence-based practices.