Grounded in her clinical practice as a pharmacist, Dr. McCarthy’s leads an impactful research program that shapes policy and practice. Her research uses mixed methods to explore ways to optimize medication therapy for people (i.e., maximizing benefit while minimizing harm) at the individual, organizational and health system levels, with areas of focus including older adults, deprescribing and prescribing cascades, and transitions in care. She holds leadership roles with the Ontario Pharmacy Evidence Network, the Bruyère Deprescribing Research team, and served as Co-chair for Ontario Health Quality’s Medication Safety Quality Standard Advisory Committee (2020-21).
MSc, McMaster University, 2010
PharmD, University of Toronto, 2005
BScPhm, University of Toronto, 2002
- Top Reviewer, Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy (RSAP) Journal (2018, 2019, 2020)
- Best Paper of 2019, Canadian Pharmacists Journal for “Pharmacy in the 21st century: Enhancing the impact of the profession of pharmacy on people’s lives in the context of health care trends, evidence and policies”
- Joan Lesmond Quality Excellence Award, Women’s College Hospital (2018)
- Mentor Award, Women’s College Research Institute (2018)
- Bill Wilson Patient Safety Award, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (2018)
- Health system solutions
- Aging
- Medications