Dr. Justine Tomlinson
Assistant Professor
- Area
- School of Pharmacy, Optometry and Medical SciencesFaculty of Health and Social Care
- Phone

Biography
I am an Assistant Professor in Physician Associate Studies and Pharmacy Practice, and a pharmacist with a background in community and secondary care practice. Since joining the University of Bradford in 2016, I have combined teaching, research, and clinical collaboration across pharmacy and medical education. My research focuses on medicines optimisation, medication safety, and person-centred approaches to long-term condition management, particularly for older adults and people living with frailty, and multimorbidity.
My work explores how patients, carers, and healthcare professionals navigate complex medicines use across healthcare settings, with a particular interest in medicines self-management, transitions of care experience, and reducing medication-related harm. I have expertise in qualitative and participatory research methodologies, including experience-based co-design, and theory-driven intervention development. Much of my research is interdisciplinary and undertaken in collaboration with NHS partners, patients, carers, and multidisciplinary clinical teams to develop implementable, practice-oriented solutions that improve healthcare experiences and outcomes.
I have contributed to a range of NIHR-funded and collaborative research projects examining safer medicines use, integrated care, and healthcare professional education. Alongside my clinical and applied health services research, I have growing interests in health professions education research, particularly reflective practice, interprofessional learning, equity and inclusion, and the development of professionalism.
I supervise 4 brilliant doctoral researchers in the fields of medicines optimisation and healthcare education and I teach across pharmacy and physician associate programmes in areas including patient safety, clinical communication, research methods, and evidence-based practice. I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and I remain committed to bridging research, clinical practice, and healthcare education through collaborative and impact-focused scholarship.
Research
- Patient safety
- Medicines management at transitions of care
- Care for the Elderly & Frailty
- Medication safety
- Pharmacogenomics
- Education & Training of healthcare professionals
- Developing research capacity and capability within pharmacy
Research projects
Assessing the feasibility and implementation of the 'My Medicines Journey' intervention: a mixed methods evaluation
- Role
- CI
- Date
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Feasibility study
The SAfe-Home-Meds Study (SAHMS): Co-designing and implementing a medicines management safety system for use in homecare
- Role
- Co-lead
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This research aims to create and test a set of tools (a medicines safety system) to improve how people manage medicines at home with the support of care workers.
Teaching
- Patient safety
- Medicines optimisation
- Communication Skills
- Clinical Practice & Patient centred Care
- Research skills
Modules
- Service Improvement Project for Pharmacists - PHA7089-C
- Research, Innovation and Professional Practice - PHA7062-C
- Professional Competence 1 - PHA7064-Z
- Professional Competence 2 - PHA7065-Z
- Applied Research for Pharmacy Practice - PHA7086-C
Professional activities
Admin responsibilities (3)
- Academic Leadership: PGR co-ordinator for School (4 January 2022)
- General Administration: Administrator for the Medicines Optimisation Research Group (MORG).
- Module Leader: Professional competence 1 & 2 and Research, innovation and professional practice (RIPP) (6 September 2021)
Awards (4)
- Senior Fellow of HEA (1 September 2025)
- Fellow of HEA (1 January 2020)
- Associate Fellow of the HEA (1 December 2018)
- MFRPSI (1 December 2016)
Committees (2)
- University of Bradford ethics panel member, (6 January 2025)
- NIHR North East and Yorkshire Research for Patient Benefit regional committee,
Education (6)
- University of Bath - MPharm
- University of Kent - Practice Certificate
- University of Manchester - Diploma
- Kings College London - Statement of Teaching Proficiency
- University of Leeds - Postgraduate certificate in clinical education
- University of Bradford - PhD
Employment (6)
- University of Bradford - Assistant Professor in Medical Education (Physician Associates) (4 January 2022)
- University of Bradford - Lecturer (4 October 2016)
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust - Specialist Pharmacist (research) (4 October 2016)
- L. Rowland & Co. - Hospital Outpatient Pharmacist (1 September 2015)
- L. Rowland & Co. - Learning & Development Pharmacist (split role) (1 April 2014)
- L. Rowland & Co. - Community Pharmacist Manager (1 July 2010)
Professional associations (1)
- General Pharmaceutical Council, Pharmacist #2072703
Publications
Abstract (9)
Post-discharge medication management: The gaps, traps, bridges, and props
J. Tomlinson; J. Silcock; H. Smith; K. Karban; B. Fylan (2020) Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety.
The assessment of safety incidents reported by recently discharged older adults
J. Tomlinson; J. Silcock; H. Smith; K. Karban; B. Fylan (2020) Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety.
Examining the utility of the connect with pharmacy (CWP) intervention in reducing elderly readmission
Sabir, F.; Tomlinson, Justine; Strickland-Hodge, B.; Smith, H. (2019)
A Grounded Theory approach to understanding the role of medication safety within a hospital early discharge team
Tomlinson, Justine; Silcock, Jonathan; Karban, Kate; Blenkinsopp, Alison; Smith, H. (2019)
Introducing a pharmacy undergraduate student-led health check service at the University of Bradford
A.M. Sarvestani, K. Medlinskiene, J. Tomlinson, K. Adams (2019) Pharmacy Education.
Exploring the impact of Research Culture and Supervision on Post Graduate Researcher engagement within the School of Pharmacy
Zulekha Azim, Krzysztof Paluch, Justine Tomlinson (2019) Pharmacy Education.
Exploring the use of digital technology in the M.Pharm. programme to prepare students for their first day of practice
Tomlinson, Justine; Yaqoob, Mohammed U.; Shabbir, Subhaan; Medlinskiene, Kristina (2018)
Exploring digital teaching tools, including the use of social media, to support teaching; perspectives of M.Pharm. students
Tomlinson, Justine; Azad, Imran; Saleem, Mohammed Adil; Medlinskiene, Kristina (2018)
What health-related activities could be delivered by pharmacy students in the Digital Health Enterprise Zone (DHEZ) Academic?
Medlinskiene, Kristina; Tappas, Theodora; Tomlinson, Justine (2018)
Book chapter (2)
Designing complex health interventions using experience-based co-design
Fylan B, Tomlinson J, Raynor DK, Silcock J (2022) Contemporary Research Methods in Pharmacy and Health Services. In Shane Desselle, Victoria Garcia Cardenas, Claire Anderson, Parisa Aslani, Aleda Chen, Timothy Chen editor(s) Academic Press.
Acute coronary syndrome
Zaman H.;Cheong V.;Tomlinson J.;Nejadhamzeeigilani Z. (2019) Encyclopedia of Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Pharmacy. 140-168.
Conference publication (2)
The assessment of safety incidents reported by recently discharged older adults
Tomlinson J, Silcock J, Smith H, Karban K, Fyl (2020) Prescribing and Research in Medicines Management (PRIMM). 29(S2)
Post-discharge medicines management: The gaps, traps, bridges and props
Tomlinson J, Silcock J, Smith H, Karban K, Fyl (2020) Prescribing and Research in Medicines Management (PRIMM). 29(S2)
Peer reviewed journal (19)
Use of medications with pharmacogenomic guidelines and adverse outcomes in hospitalised older patients: a retrospective cross-sectional study.
Victoria David;Ciaran McInernay;Justine Tomlinson;Eleanor Bryant;Gurdeep Sagoo;V-Lin Cheong;Healther Smith;Beth Fylan;Marcus Rattray (2026) Pharmacogenomics. 26
Pharmacogenomic Medicine Use and Adverse Outcomes in Hospitalised Older Patients: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study
Victoria David Ciarán McInerney Justine Tomlinson Eleanor Bryant Gurdeep Sagoo V-Lin Cheong Heather Smith Beth Fylan Marcus Rattray (2026) Pharmacogenomics Journal.
The feasibility of the enhancing medicines self-management for community dwelling people living with dementia and family carers (MAGNET) psychosocial intervention: protocol for a non-randomised feasibility study.
Lubena Mirza;John L.O'Dwyer;Mariam Fargin;Beth Fylan;Zoe Edwards;Justine Tomlinson;Mohammed Akhlak Rauf;Catherine Quinn;Catherine Powell (2025) Pilot And Feasibility Studies. 11
Supporting Older People Living With Frailty to Self-Manage Multiple Medicines: An Experience-Based Co-Design of a Complex Intervention Developed in UK Primary Care
Giorgia Previdoli;Ruth Simms-Ellis;Jonathan Silcock;David Phillip Alldred;V-Lin Cheong;Savi Tyndale-Biscoe;Justine Tomlinson;Beth Fylan (2025) Health Expectations. 28
Shaping the research space: a template analysis of the consultant pharmacist research role in North England and their emergence as future research role models
Hazel Jamieson , Hannah Beba , Anika Kaval , Yusuf Ishaq , Justine Tomlinson (2025) International Journal of Pharmacy Practice.
Measures and tools assessing medication self-management capability in older people across the hospital-to-home transition: a systematic scoping review.
Mohamed H;Tomlinson J;Ali E;Badawoud A;Silcock J;Jameson A;Sutherland A;Smith H;Fylan B;Gardner P (2025) BMC Geriatrics. 25
Patient work self-managing medicines: a skilled job at the sharp end of care
Beth Fylan;Justine Tomlinson (2024) BMJ QUALITY AND SAFETY (ONLINE).
Normalising the Implementation of Pharmacogenomic (PGx) Testing in Adult Mental Health Settings: A Theory-Based Systematic Review
• Jameson A;Tomlinson J;Medlinskiene K;Howard D;Saeed I;Sohal J;Dalton C;Sagoo GS;Cardno A;Bristow GC;Fylan B;McLean SL (2024) Journal of Personalized Medicine. 14
A rapid review of interventions to improve medicine self-management for older people living at home
Previdoli G;Cheong VL;Alldred D;Tomlinson J;Tyndale-Biscoe S;Silcock J;Okeowo D;Fylan B;. (2023) Health Expectations. 26
Interventions for self-management of medicines for community dwelling people with dementia, mild cognitive impairment and family carers: a systematic review
Powell, C; Tomlinson, J; Quinn, C; Fylan, B (2022) Age and Ageing. 51
Supporting medicines management for older people at care transitions - a theory-based analysis of a systematic review of 24 interventions.
Tomlinson J;Marques I;Silcock J;Fylan B;Dyson J; (2021) BMC Health Services Research. 21
Using experience-based co-design with patients, carers and healthcare professionals to develop theory-based interventions for safer medicines use
Fylan B, Tomlinson J, Raynor DK, Silcock J (2021) Research In Social & Administrative Pharmacy : Rsap. .
Barriers and facilitators to the uptake of new medicines into clinical practice: a systematic review.
Medlinskiene K;Tomlinson J;Marques I;Richardson S;Stirling K;Petty D; (2021) BMC Health Services Research. 21
Post-discharge medicines management: the experiences, perceptions and roles of older people and their family carers.
Tomlinson J;Silcock J;Smith H;Karban K;Fylan B; (2020) Health Expectations.
Successful care transitions for older people: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of interventions that support medication continuity.
Tomlinson J;Cheong VL;Fylan B;Silcock J;Smith H;Karban K;Blenkinsopp A; (2020) Age and Ageing.
A preliminary insight into the role and importance of management skills in the prevention of occupational derailment: An exploratory analysis of UK and Spanish pharmacists
Breen L.;Acosta-Gómez J.;Tomlinson J.;Medlinskiene K.;Elies-Gomez J. (2020) European Management Journal. 38
Piloting an undergraduate student-led health check service
Medlinskiene K.;Tomlinson J. (2019) Clinical Pharmacist. 11
Evaluating the Connect with Pharmacy web-based intervention to reduce hospital readmission for older people
Sabir F.;Tomlinson J.;Strickland-Hodge B.;Smith H. (2019) International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy.
Patient and public involvement in designing and conducting doctoral research: the whys and the hows.
Tomlinson J;Medlinskiene K;Cheong VL;Khan S;Fylan B; (2019) Research Involvement And Engagement. 5