معرفی
Dr. Joy Spark is an Associate Professor in Pharmacy at the School of Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New England (UNE), where she has been actively contributing to pharmacy education and research since 2017. Her academic leadership focuses on pharmacy practice, person-centered care, and specialized compounding services such as compounded progesterone. She plays a key role in teaching and curriculum development within the pharmacy program.
- PhD in Pharmacy Practice, La Trobe University (2014)
- Master of Pharmacy (Medicinal Chemistry), Victorian College of Pharmacy (Monash University)
- Bachelor of Pharmacy, Victorian College of Pharmacy (Monash University)
Her research interests center on how pharmacists deliver care and how patients perceive pharmacy services. She investigates patient satisfaction, medication adherence, and the impact of pharmacy education on workforce readiness. A significant portion of her work explores compounded progesterone, including access, acceptability, and regulatory frameworks. She also studies rural pharmacy practice and early-career pharmacist placement decisions.
Her recent publications reflect a strong trend in qualitative and mixed-methods research on patient behavior, medication safety, and pharmacy policy. Themes include codeine regulation, hospital medication reporting systems, pain management, and international perspectives on pharmacy education. Her work frequently appears in high-impact journals such as Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, Maturitas, and JBI Evidence Synthesis.
Dr. Spark is a registered pharmacist with AHPRA and an active member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and the Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA). She has contributed to curriculum design, experiential placement frameworks, and national pharmacy education initiatives.
She has supervised numerous research projects and mentored students in pharmacy practice and education research. Her grants and collaborative projects focus on improving patient outcomes, evaluating pharmacy services, and enhancing the educational experience for pharmacy undergraduates. Her work often involves interdisciplinary teams and partnerships across Australia and internationally.
Dr. Spark has been instrumental in developing research labs and collaborative networks focused on pharmacy practice innovation, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Her team conducts community-based studies on medication use, patient perspectives, and healthcare access. She also leads initiatives in digital health tools and pharmacist-led interventions.
