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Headshot of Sydney Springer

Sydney P. Springer, Pharm.D., M.S., BCPS, BCGP

Assistant Professor

Location

College of Pharmacy Building 237

Dr. Springer received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy in 2015. After graduating, she completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and a PYG2 Geriatric Pharmacotherapy Residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) St. Margaret Hospital. During her two years at UPMC St. Margaret she also completed a Faculty Development Fellowship alongside physician colleagues, an alternative to a teaching certificate that focused on effective presentation design and skills; interprofessional communication, teaching and precepting; as well as clinical research and professional development.

After residency sparked her interest in geriatric pharmacotherapy research, she subsequently completed a Fellowship in Medication Safety and Pharmacy Outcomes at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, under the Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP) and the VA Center for Medication Safety (VA MedSAFE). During this time, she practiced as a clinical geriatric pharmacist in the Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) clinic and created and implemented a polypharmacy consult service for primary care patients. She also completed her Master’s of Science in Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy Research at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy in 2019, where she completed her thesis on the prevalence and factors predicting aspirin discontinuation at end-of-life amongst VA nursing home residents with an indication for aspirin for secondary cardiovascular prevention.

Throughout residency and fellowship training, Dr. Springer worked closely with faculty at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and began broadening her research in deprescribing of chronic medications at end-of-life. She continues to conduct outcomes research and quality improvement projects in the area of deprescribing, polypharmacy, and appropriate geriatric pharmacotherapy management. She is also interested in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and women’s health. Dr. Springer is board certified as a pharmacotherapy specialist (2016), and a geriatric pharmacist (2017).

Dr. Springer is a preceptor for Advance Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) students in Ambulatory Care. She works in family practice at Mid Coast Medical Group - Family Practice Parkview in Brunswick, ME. She works closely with providers, nurses, medical assistants and social workers to coordinate care for community dwelling patients - with a focus on geriatrics, polypharmacy, and deprescribing. 

Credentials

Education

Doctor of Pharmacy
University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy
2015
Master's of Science, Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy Research
University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
2019

Clinical Affiliations

Mid Coast Medical Group - Parkview (Brunswick, Maine)

Board Certifications and Licenses

Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (2016-present)
Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacy (2017-present)
Licensed pharmacist, Pennsylvania (2015-present)
Licensed pharmacist, Maine (2019-present)

Post-Doctoral Training

Residency, PGY1 Pharmacy Practice
UPMC St. Margaret (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

Residency, PGY2 Geriatric Pharmacotherapy
UPMC St. Margaret (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

Fellowship, Faculty Development
UPMC St. Margaret (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

Fellowship, Medication Safety and Pharmacy Outcomes
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

Research

Current research

Prevalence of, and factors predicting, discontinuation of chronic medications at end-of-life (limited life expectancy and/or advanced dementia). Evaluating quality-of-life in deprescribing literature. 

Selected publications

Pruskowski JA, Springer SP, Thorpe CT, Klein-Fedyshin M, Handler SM.  Does Deprescribing Improve Quality of Life? A Systematic Review of the Literature. Drugs Aging. Dec 2019;36(12): 1097-1110. doi: 10.1007/s40266-019-00717-1.

Aspinall SL, Springer SP, Zhao X, Cunningham FE, Thorpe CT, Semla TP, Shorr RI, Hanlon JT. CNS medication burden and risk of recurrent serious falls and hip fractures in VA nursing home residents. J Am Geriatr Soc. 11 Oct 2018. PMID: 30306541. DOI: 10/1111/jgs.15603.

Niznik J, Zhang S, Mor MK, Zhao X, Ersek M, Aspinall SL, Gellad W, Thorpe J, Hanlon JT, Schleiden L, Springer SP, Thorpe CT. Adaptation and initial validation of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) mortality risk index to MDS version 3.0. J Am Geriatr Soc. 18 Oct 2018. PMID: 30335184. DOI: 10.1111/jgs.15579.

Springer SP, Payette NP, Wilson S, Haugh A. Probiotics to prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea [EMS1070]. HDA. Evidence-Based Practice. Sep 2018; 21(8):34-36.

Copenhaver AM, DiPlacido AJ, Springer SP. Is acupuncture better than prophylactic pharmacotherapy for reducing the frequency and intensity of episodic and chronic migraines? HDA. Evidence-Based Practice. May 2018; 21(5): E21.

Aspinall SL, Hanlon JT, Niznik JD, Springer SP, Thorpe CT. Deprescribing in older nursing home patients: focus on innovative composite measures for dosage deintensification. Innovation in Aging. 1 Sep 2017; 1(2): 1-8.

Niedermier V, Ayers G, Springer SP. Lixisenatide (Adlyxin) for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Am Fam Physician. 15 Aug 2017; 96(4): 257-8.

Ie K, Felton M, Springer SP, Wilson SA, Albert SM. Multimorbidity and Polypharmacy in Family Medicine Residency Practices. J Pharm Technol. 11 Aug 2017; 33(6): 219-24.

Ie K, Felton M, Springer SP, Wilson SA, Albert SM. Physician Factors Associated with Polypharmacy and Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use. J Am Board Fam Med. Jul-Aug 2017; 30(4): 528-36. PMID: 28720634. DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2014.04.170121.  

Invited plenary presentation

Springer SP. AGS Beers Criteria 2019: Updates and Clinical Pearls. 46th Annual Refresher Course in Family Medicine. Pittsburgh, PA. 14 March 2019.