Researcher Profile Detail
Dr. Carlos Rojas-Fernandez
BSc. Pharm (Dalhousie), PharmD (Wayne State University)
Schlegel Research Chair in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy
Assistant Professor, School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Rojas-Fernandez received his undergraduate degree in pharmacy from Dalhousie University in 1990, practiced for 4 years and returned to graduate studies in 1994. Dr. Fernandez earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michegan (1996), and subsequently completed post-doctoral training as a clinical research fellow in geriatric pharmacotherapy in the Division of Geriatric Medicine, Dalhousie University (1996-1998).
Dr. Rojas-Fernandez joined the faculty of Pharmacy Practice at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Centre as the founding director of the Geriatric Pharmacy Residency program in 1998. He was responsible for providing geriatric pharmacotherapy consultation and management services at a long-term care facility as well as an ambulatory senior care centre.
Prior to joining the University of Waterloo and the Research Institute for Aging, Dr. Rojas-Fernandez worked in the Neuroscience Research and Development division of Bristol Myers Squibb as Senior Medical Science Liaison (2003-2009).
RESEARCH
Optimal medication use in older people can be a challenge as exemplified by three common problems encountered in this population: 1) Overuse of medications, 2) Underuse of medications, and 3) Use of medications that are generally not well-suited for use in older people. Additionally, patients sometimes do not fully appreciate the continued need for their medications or experience potentially preventable adverse drug events. These situations can lead to partial or complete non-adherence with long-term medication regimens.
Dr. Rojas-Fernandez and his team have previously completed various research projects utilising existing population databases to characterise antidepressant, benzodiazepine, cardiovascular and osteoporosis drug use in older people. These investigations have demonstrated areas for improvement in how these medications are used, and have served as a foundation for improving the care of older people via educational interventions.
The goal of Dr. Rojas-Fernandez's clinical research program is to enhance the quality of life and care of older adults by addressing these issues and optimizing (i.e. ensuring the safe and appropriate use) medication use across different care settings. Opportunities for optimizing medications in older adults will be identified, prioritized, and developed into appropriate clinical research projects. He and his team will utilise various research methods, as appropriate, including population-based methods, patient-level implicit and explicit methods, as well as qualitative methods.
KEY PUBLICATIONS
Rojas-Fernandez CH, Moorhouse P. Current concepts in vascular cognitive impairment and pharmacotherapeutic implications. Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 2009;43(7):1310-23.
Rojas-Fernandez CH. Pain in older persons: Progress in Pain Research and Management, Volume 35. Book review in Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 2006;40(7):1478.
Rojas-Fernandez CH. Inappropriate medications and older people: has anything changed over time? Ann Pharmacother. 2003 Jul-Aug;37(7-8):1142-4.
Xu KT, Rojas-Fernandez CH. Ancillary community pharmacy services provded to older people in largely rural and ethnically diverse region: A survey of consumers in West Texas. Journal of Rural Health. 2003;19:79-86.
Rojas-Fernandez CH, Eng M, Allie ND. Pharmacological management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in nursing home residents by clinical pharmacists: Results from a pilot study. Pharmacotherapy. 2003;23:217-21.
Rojas-Fernandez CH, Chen M, Fernandez HL. Implications of amyloid precursor protein and subsequent beta-amyloid production to the pharmacotherapy of Alzheimer's disease. Pharmacotherapy. 2002;22:1547-63.
Rojas-Fernandez CH, Slattum PW, Hanlon J, Howard KA. A pilot study of pharmacist's knowledge of essential geriatric pharmacotherapy concepts. Consult Pharm. 2002;17:962-71.
Rojas-Fernandez CH, Lapane KL, MacKnight C, Howard K. Undertreatment of osteoporosis in residents of nursing homes: Population-based study with the use of the Systematic Assessment of Geriatric Drug Use via Epidemiology (SAGE) database. Endocr Pract. 2002;8:335-42.
Sleeper RB, Rojas-Fernandez C. Underutilisation of aspirin for secondary prophylaxis of cardiovascular disease in long-term care facility. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2002;59:1294-5.
CONTACT INFORMATION
| Email: | carlos.rojas-fernandez@uwaterloo.ca |
| Phone: | 519.888.4567 ext. 21326 |
| Address: | School of Pharmacy |