Scientist profiles S-Z

Education:

• B.Sc., 1983, physiology, University of Toronto, Canada
• B.Sc.Phm, 1986, pharmacy, University of Manitoba, Canada
• Accredited pharmacy residency, 1987, pharmacy, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and U of T, Canada
• PharmD, 1991, pharmacy, Wayne State University, U.S.
• Postdoctoral fellowship, 1993, pharmacy/pharmacokinetics, Sunnybrook and U of T, Canada

Appointments and Affiliations:

• Affiliate scientist, Biological Sciences, Veterans Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Infectious diseases and antimicrobial stewardship pharmacy lead, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
• Associate professor (status), Leslie Dan faculty of pharmacy, U of T

Research Foci:

• Antimicrobial use (treatment selection, adverse events and drug interactions)
• Patient outcome
• Screening tools for infection
• Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and dose optimization
• Resistance
• Antimicrobial stewardship
• Pharmacy practice

Research Summary:

The focus of Dr. Walker’s research is a patient focused approach to optimization of antimicrobial use in hospitalized patients. Her initiatives typically evolve from questions that arise from clinical practice in infectious diseases and antimicrobial stewardship at Sunnybrook.

Dr. Walker’s patient-focused research initiatives encompass work in the following areas: antimicrobial use (selection, adverse events and drug interactions), patient outcomes, screening tools for infection, antimicrobial pharmacokinetics, dose optimization based on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles, antibiotic resistance, antimicrobial stewardship and pharmacy practice.

Selected Publications:

See current publications list at Google Scholar.

*When not the first author, Dr. Walker was the senior responsible author. Sequence determines credit approach to authorship. Underlined authors were under her supervision for the said research and publication.

1. Lee C, Walker SAN*, Walker SE, Seto W, Simor A, Jeschke M. A prospective study evaluating tobramycin pharmacokinetics and optimal once daily dosing in burn patients. BURNS. 2017 June 21 [published online]. doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2017.05.009.
2. Maslikowska JA, Walker SAN*, Elligsen M, Mittmann N, Palmay L, Daneman N, Simor A. Impact of infection with extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli or Klebsiella species on outcome and hospitalization costs. J Hosp Infection. 2016;92(1):33–41. doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2015.10.001.
3. Wanis M, Walker SAN*, Daneman N, Elligsen M, Palmay L, Simor A, Cartotto R. Impact of hospital length of stay on the distribution of gram negative bacteria and likelihood of isolating a resistant organism in a Canadian burn centre. BURNS. 2016;42(1):104–111. doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2015.07.010.
4. Kim J, Walker SAN*, Iaboni DC, Walker SE, Elligsen M, Dunn MS, Allen VG, Simor A. Determination of Vancomycin Pharmacokinetics in Neonates to Develop Practical Initial Dosing Recommendations. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2014;58(5):2830–40. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01718–13.
5. Vella D, Walker SAN*, Walker SE, Daneman N, Simor A. Determination of tobramycin pharmacokinetics in burn patients to evaluate the potential utility of once daily dosing in this population. Journal of Burn Care and Research. 2014;35:e240–249. doi: 10.1097/BCR.0b013e3182a226fb.

Related Links:

• University of Toronto, Leslie Dan faculty of pharmacy profile