Assistant Professor of Health Outcomes
Director of Pharmacy Addictions Research & Medicine Program
Tyler Varisco is an assistant professor in the Health Outcomes Division and Director of the Pharmacy Addictions Research and Medicine Program at the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy. A registered pharmacist and trained health services researcher, Dr. Varisco earned his Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from the University of Texas at Austin and his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy. His research focuses on evaluating and improving the quality of care for persons with opioid use disorder (OUD).
Dr. Varisco’s work leverages diverse research methods to identify and address systemic barriers to harm reduction and treatment in provider offices and pharmacies. Dr. Varisco led a collaborative effort between the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, the National Community Pharmacists Association, and three colleges of pharmacy to create and disseminate the Pharmacy Access to Resources and Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Practice Guideline, a consensus, evidence based guidance to address clinical obstacles that limit access to medication for OUD in the community pharmacy setting.
Dr. Varisco has a keen interest in identifying policy targets to promote equitable access to treatment for individuals living with substance use disorder or other behavioral health conditions. He currently serves as a subject matter expert for the revision of Treatment Improvement Protocol 63, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s guidance on medications for OUD. Much of his published research examines how policy changes affect patient and provider experiences with healthcare quality at the point of care for individuals in treatment and recovery
Education
Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Houston College of Pharmacy
Pharm.D., The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
BS, Biology, Texas A&M University
Research Profile
ORCid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9795-8837
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tdC8PrYAAAAJ&hl=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tvarisco/
Selected Recent Publications
*Denotes student(s)/trainee(s) at the time of the study.
CORE Area: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Anyanwu P, Olateju OA, Tata V, Varisco T, Gilbert LR, Ogunsanya ME, Essien EJ, Johnson ML, Thornton JD. Understanding the financial barriers to treatment among individuals with opioid use disorder: a focus group study. Harm Reduct J. 2024 Dec 20;21(1):220. doi: 10.1186/s12954-024-01133-4. PMID: 39707438; PMCID: PMC11660775.
Varisco TJ, Downs CG, Sansgiry SS, Al Saadi R, Hastings T, Thornton JD. Parents' intention to have their child vaccinated at a community pharmacy: A national cross-sectional survey. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2023 Mar-Apr;63(2):511-517.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2022.10.008. Epub 2022 Oct 13. PMID: 36376213; PMCID: PMC9558631.
CORE Area: Healthcare Systems Research
Varisco T, Fish H, Bolin J, et al. The Pharmacy Access to Resources and Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (PhARMOUD) Guideline. University of Houston; 2024. doi:10.52713/PhARM-OUD
Varisco TJ, Thornton D, Hussain T, Fish H, Bolin J, Dadiomov D, Essien EJ, Wanat MA, Ginsburg D, Waggener J, Bratberg JP, DiPaula B, Hill LG; PhARM-OUD Working Group. Addressing wholesale distributor barriers to buprenorphine access: Consensus recommendations from the PhARM-OUD expert panel. Drug Alcohol Depend Rep. 2025 Jul 10;16:100360. doi: 10.1016/j.dadr.2025.100360. PMID: 40727322; PMCID: PMC12301831.
Varisco TJ, Wanat M, Hill LG, Thornton D. The impact of the mainstreaming addiction treatment act and associated legislative action on pharmacy practice. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2023 Jul-Aug;63(4):1039-1043. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2023.04.016. Epub 2023 Apr 23. PMID: 37088366.
Varisco TJ, Downs CG, Rathburn KR, Fleming ML, Thornton JD. Applying the capability, opportunity, motivation, and behavior model to identify opportunities to increase pharmacist comfort dispensing naloxone in Texas: A structural equation modeling approach. Int J Drug Policy. 2020 Sep;83:102827. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102827. Epub 2020 Jun 28. PMID: 32589581.
CORE Area: Health Economics and Outcomes Research
Varisco TJ, Abughosh S, Chen H, Cho SK, Fleming ML, Ziedonis D, Thornton D. Switching pharmacies leads to gaps in medication possession in individuals treated with buprenorphine. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2021 Sep-Oct;61(5):589-595. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2021.04.014. Epub 2021 Apr 24. PMID: 34016547.
Chi W, Okeke C, Thornton D, Chen H, Sadeghi A, Varisco TJ. Leveraging prescription monitoring program data to evaluate the implementation of buprenorphine telehealth flexibilities: An interrupted time series analysis in Texas. Drug Alcohol Depend Rep. 2024 Feb 22;10:100222. doi: 10.1016/j.dadr.2024.100222. PMID: 38463634; PMCID: PMC10920117.
Thornton JD, Varisco TJ, Downs CG. Factors associated with the use of the prescription monitoring program by prescribers and pharmacists in Texas. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2021 Apr;30(4):492-503. doi: 10.1002/pds.5198. Epub 2021 Jan 31. PMID: 33458926.
Significant/Recent Activities
National and International Service Activities
- Subject Matter Expert, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Improvement Protocol 63
- Vice President of the Board, Moving Waters
University/College Service Activities
- Director, Pharmacy Addictions Research and Medicine Program
- Academic Support Committee