Dr. Grace M. Kuo: Practice-Based Research on Medication Safety, Medication Therapy Management, and Pharmacogenomics Education

Research Summary: Medication Safety. MTMS. Pharmacogenomics Education

Dr. Kuo and her research team evaluate medication safety practices at the system, provider, and patient levels in the primary care setting. She has conducted research projects to 1) evaluate effects of electronic medical records on medication safety; 2) implement best practices for safe use of medications in primary care practices; 3) assess effects of patients’ health literacy on medication safety; 4) analyze types of medication errors reported by clinicians; and 5) measure safety cultures in practices.

Collaborating with physicians and pharmacists, Dr. Kuo has helped to design, implement, and evaluate medication therapy management services (MTMS) for chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, anticoagulation, and asthma.

Dr. Kuo is the Program Director for PharmGenEd™, a pharmacogenomics education program that strives to educate clinicians and students about concepts and clinical applications of pharmacogenomics.

Academic Achievements

Education: B.S. in Psychobiology (1985) UCLA; B.S. in Pharmacy (1988) Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences; Pharm.D. (1998) OSU College of Pharmacy and OHSU School of Medicine; Specialized Residency in Primary Care (1998-1999) NIH Clinical Center; M.P.H. (2005) UTHS-Houston School of Public Health; Ph.D. (2011) UTHS-Houston School of Public Health.

Awards and Honors: TSHP Lewis S. Smith Pharmacy Practitioner Award (2002); ASHP Foundation Literature Award for Innovation in Pharmacy Practice in Health Systems (2005); AHRQ Mentored Clinical Scientist Career Development Award (2005-2010); ACCP-Southern California Chapter Research Award (2010); ACCP Fellow (2011).

Leadership Experience: Program Director, Southern Primary-Care Urban Research Network (SPUR-Net; 2001-2007); Director, San Diego Pharmacist Resource and Research Network (SDPharmNet; 2008-present); Director, American College of Clinical Pharmacy Practice Based Research Network (ACCP PBRN; 2009-2010).

Teaching

• Pharmacy Practice (SPPS 203).
• Pharmacy Informatics (SPPS 205).
• Study Design (SPPS 208).
• Pharmacogenomics (SPPS 219); IPPE; APPE.
• (Family Medicine); Introduction to the Health Care System (SOM 202D).

Key Contributions to Pharmaceutical Sciences

• Improved medication safety through practice-based translational research.
• Established physician and pharmacist collaborative practice for medication therapy management with reimbursement models in primary care clinics.
• Disseminated pharmacogenomics information to clinicians and students via a national program.
• Pioneered formation of local and national practice-based research networks for pharmacists and physicians.

Selected Recent Publications (from >40 peer-reviewed articles)

Kuo et al. (2008). Conducting medication safety research projects in a primary care physician practice-based research network. J Am Pharm Assoc 48:163-170.

Kuo et al. (2008). Medication errors reported by U.S. family physicians and their office staff. Qual Saf Health Care 17:286-290.

Lee et al. (2010). Pharmacogenomics: Bridging the gap between science and practice. J. Am Pharm Assoc. 50:e1–e17.

Marinac et al. (2010). Characterizing the American College of Clinical Pharmacy Practice-Based Research Network. Pharmacotherapy. 30:264e-273e.

Kuo et al. (2011). Institutional Profile: University of California San Diego Pharmacogenomics Education Program (PharmGenEd™): bridging the gap between science and practice. Pharmacogenomics. Feb; 12(2):149-53.
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Potential Collaborative Programs with the Pharmaceutical Industry

• Medication surveillance and safety programs in practice-based research networks.
• Clinical pharmacogenomics education programs; http://pharmacogenomics.ucsd.edu.