Rate My Professor Carlo Marra

Professor Carlo Marra served as Dean and Professor at the University of Otago School of Pharmacy from August 2016 to June 2024. Originally from Canada, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, a Doctor of Pharmacy, and a PhD in health care and epidemiology from the University of British Columbia. He also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in arthritis epidemiology and pharmacoepidemiology at the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada. Prior to Otago, Marra held the position of Dean and Professor at the School of Pharmacy, Memorial University of Newfoundland. A leading researcher and educator in pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical outcomes research, he brought extensive experience in advancing pharmacy education and research to Otago, including leading curriculum innovations and emphasizing expanded scopes of practice for pharmacists.

Marra's academic interests center on health economics, quality-of-life research, and pharmacoepidemiology, particularly in musculoskeletal and respiratory diseases. He has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications and presented more than 200 times at scientific conferences. Influential works include 'Meta-analysis of the impact of 9 medication classes on falls in elderly persons' (Archives of Internal Medicine, 2009, cited over 1700 times), 'Economic burden of asthma: a systematic review' (BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 2009), 'Effects of a mobile phone short message service on antiretroviral treatment adherence in Kenya (WelTel Kenya1): a randomised trial' (The Lancet, 2010), and 'A comparison of generic, indirect utility measures... in rheumatoid arthritis' (Social Science & Medicine, 2005). His research evaluates the clinical benefits and economic attractiveness of advanced pharmacist roles, demonstrating their value in managing conditions like hypertension. Marra has supervised numerous graduate students, served on grant review panels for national and international agencies, acted as associate editor for Arthritis Care and Research, and contributed to the editorial board of the Canadian Pharmacists Journal. At Otago, he delivered an Inaugural Professorial Lecture in 2017, supported the development of a virtual professional practice laboratory, and promoted culturally safe pharmacy practices, enhancing the school's research excellence and graduate quality.