VN

Vrinda Nampoothiri

Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre,Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre

ORCID iD 0000-0002-8656-8769
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About

Clinical experience
After graduating with a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) degree in 2016, I was appointed as a clinical pharmacist in the Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Program at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Kochi, Kerala, India. In this position, I played a key role in the developing the clinical pharmacist driven audit of antimicrobials and various other quality improvement initiatives in the hospital, in addition to providing AMS training to pharmacy students, pharmacists and other health care professionals both within and outside the institute.
Research experience
Since 2018, I have been engaged in social science research projects focusing on various dimensions of AMS. I contributed predominantly to the qualitative research component of these projects at our hospital, collaborating with surgical teams to co-develop targeted interventions to improve antimicrobial prescribing behaviour and infection prevention and control. These projects have fostered partnerships with institutions in the UK, South Africa, and India, including Imperial College London, the University of Cape Town, and the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh. Through collaborative research visits to these institutions I have contributed to research in AMS across South Africa, UK and India.
I have comprehensive experience in qualitative research methodologies, including ethnographic observations, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and sociogram. As part of my PhD, I also received formal training in quantitative research methods. I am proficient in using NVivo for qualitative data analysis, have a working knowledge of SPSS, and am trained in REDCap for data collection and management. Additionally, I am well-versed in Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.
Currently I am interested in expanding my research work outside the hospital setting. I have recently initiated a pilot study to provide antimicrobial resistance education to high school students in Kerala in collaboration with few other organisations working on educational activities with schools students. As a part of the PROTEA study as well, we are planning to conduct intersectional research in the community.
PhD research
My PhD explored the role of clinical pharmacist in AMS across the globe and how their role can be improved in the program in Kerala, India. Currently I am conducting a Delphi study with AMS experts (ID physicians, hospital administrators, clinical pharmacists and faculty from pharmacy colleges) to explore the feasibility of implementing the recommendations generated from my PhD in Kerala.
Professional leadership and mentorship
Along with a group of passionate clinical pharmacists trained from India and working across the globe, we have launched the Federation of Clinical Pharmacists in India (FCPI), a non-profit organisation focussed on enhancing the clinical pharmacy profession, empowering clinical pharmacists, and delivering high-quality patient care. I currently serve as the vice president of FCPI. I have previously served as the lead for the FCPI Infectious Disease Forum. In this role, I have been mentoring early career clinical pharmacists and clinical pharmacy students in different aspects of their career.
In an effort to strengthen pharmacists led research in India, I am providing guidance and mentorship to Master of Pharmacy, Doctor of Pharmacy and PhD students to conduct review and research studies.

Other contributions
1. Organizing secretary of “AMR Next 2025- Transformative Strategies to Tackle Antimicrobial Resistance: for Safer Tomorrow” at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, India (November 2025)
2. Chief course coordinator for Massive Online Course on Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infectious Prevention and Control launched by Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, Haryana, India (August 2025)
3. Member of Emerging Leaders subcommittee at the 20th International Congress on Infectious Diseases in Cape Town, South Africa (Dec 2024)
4. Lead and host of FCPI podcast (available on YouTube and Spotify) under the Federation of Clinical Pharmacists in India
5. Knowledge contribution via British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy’s course: Improving Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs using Multidisciplinary Teams’ (FutureLearn)
6. Co-Chair for a webinar on “The Value of a Multidisciplinary Approach to Sepsis Management in LMICs” published in ISID Knowledge Exchange & E-Learning Platform (September 2023)
7. Scientific committee lead of Virtual ID week organised by the Federation of Clinical Pharmacist in India (June 2023)
8. Knowledge contribution via a Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) learning platform: Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance: A Social Science Approach (FutureLearn)
9. Global Point Prevelance Survey (PPS) trainer at New Yangon General Hospital, Yangon, Myanmar (February 2019)
10. Scientific committee member for the International Conference on Antibiotic Stewardship and Infectio

Employment

  • Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre,Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Post Doctoral Researcher
    2024 - Present
  • Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre Senior Researcher
    2023 - 2024
  • Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre Clinical Research Pharmacist
    2018 - 2022
  • Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre Clinical Pharmacist in Antimicrobial Stewardship Program
    2016 - 2018

Education

  • Amrita School of Medicine Doctor of Philosophy
    2018 - 2024
  • Amrita School of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy
    2010 - 2016

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (33)