Wasem Alsabbagh

Dr. Alsabbagh’s research interests are in examining the impact of advances in pharmacy practice, as well as the effect of medications on large populations with a focus on disadvantaged Canadians as they unfortunately suffer more adverse health events and receive less care. He uses the analysis of large administrative data sets – big data analysis to unravel and mitigate systematic barriers faced by disadvantaged Canadians to achieve Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in healthcare.

He uses pharmacoepidemiology research techniques to evaluate the implementation and effects of pharmacists’ new services within an expanded scope of practice -- from the management of chronic diseases to minor ailments -- on patient outcomes and health-care system expenditures. He places emphasis on practical interventions that utilize pharmacists’ clinical skills to fill the gaps in patient care plans. His research program also, particularly, tracks the pharmacoepidemiology of chronic medications, including opioids, on population health using a variety of databases. In both cases, his work is equity–focused, exploring ways to mitigate Canadian health inequalities.

• Pharmacoepidemiology of chronic medications
• Health-outcomes of chronic medications
• The effects of pharmacists’ expanding scope of practice
• Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice
• Pharmacoepidemiology
• Pharmacoeconomics

Pharmacoepidemiology of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes medications. The assessment of drug effectiveness and safety using real life data. Pharmacoeconomics including the effects of health policy on drug utilization and costs

• 2015 PhD Pharmacy, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Canada
• 2000 Bachelor of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria

• 2015 Member, Board, Canadian Association for Population Therapeutics
• 2015 Member, Alberta Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) Graduate Studentship Review Committee

• Ontario College of Pharmacists
• Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists

• PHARM 120 - Pharmacy in an Evolving Healthcare System
  • Taught in 2023
• PHARM 222 - Integrated Patient Focused Care 3
  • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
• PHARM 223 - Integrated Patient Focused Care 4
  • Taught in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
• PHARM 227 - Health Systems in Society
  • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2022
• PHARM 655 - Physical Assessment and Clinical Laboratory Testing
  • Taught in 2022

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

• New study charts Canada’s 20-year journey towards opioid crisis
• Low-income Canadians are nearly four times more likely to die from opioids than the rich
• Pharmacists could dramatically reduce ER visits
• Pharmacists prescribing for minor ailments will save health-care dollars