Neil J. MacKinnon, Ph.D

Biography

Dr. Neil MacKinnon is a Professor and the Walter Pearce Endowed Chair at the College of Public Health at the University of Arizona. He is also the Director of the Center for Rural Health which includes the state office for rural health in Arizona. In addition, he is the Section Head for Public Health Policy & Management.

Prior to joining the University of Arizona, Neil was the Associate Director for Research and a Professor at the Dalhousie University College of Pharmacy in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

After completing an undergraduate pharmacy degree at Dalhousie University, MacKinnon completed a Master's degree in Hospital Pharmacy and an administrative hospital pharmacy residency at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics. He then attended the University of Florida where he completed a PhD and a fellowship. In 2007-08, Neil was a Harkness Fellow in International Health Care Policy with the Commonwealth Fund in New York City.

A pharmacist, Neil has practiced in both the community and hospital settings. He is the past president of the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists.

Neil has edited two books published by the Canadian Pharmacists Association, Seamless Care and Safe and Effective. In 2010, Neil co-authored the national bestselling book Take as Directed: Your Prescription for Safe Health Care in Canada with Rhonda Church, a family physician.

Neil was born and raised in rural communities and is actively engaged to improve healthcare in the rural setting.