Dr Lorna Marie West graduated in Pharmacy from the University of Malta in 2000. She read for a Master of Science degree in Clinical Pharmacy at the Robert Gordon University, Scotland, and graduated in 2006. Dr West worked as a clinical pharmacist at Mater Dei Hospital within the respiratory field till June 2013, after which she was appointed Principal Pharmacist at Sir Paul Boffa Hospital, where she led the oncology and dermatology pharmacy services. In 2015, following migration of Sir Paul Boffa Hospital to Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre, Dr West was Principal Pharmacist in-charge of the aseptic reconstitution unit. In February 2019 she was the Principal Pharmacist responsible to establish oncology ward pharmacy services at Mater Dei Hospital/ Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre. She is now Senior Research Officer at The Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology.

Dr West was awarded a scholarship by the Malta Government Scholarship Scheme to read for a PhD at the Robert Gordon University, Scotland, and graduated in 2015. Her research applied mixed methods to investigate into aspects of medication wastage in Malta. In 2016 she was awarded a post-doctoral grant under the Reach-High Scholars Programme Scheme, which was part-financed by the European Union, Operational Programme II – Cohesion Policy 2014 – 2020 'Investing in human capital to create more opportunities and promote the well-being of society' – European Social Fund. The research programme was conducted with the Medicines Use Research Group at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Malta. The research, which was composed of a series of studies, aimed to determine behaviour and practices in relation to medication wastage. It also aimed to identify medication wastage minimisation strategies and the effects of quality improvement measures in relation to enhanced value and wastage minimisation in pharmacy processes. Dr West’s research has been published in diverse international peer-reviewed scientific journals, as well as presented at several national and international conferences.

Dr West was first appointed as Visiting Assistant Lecturer with the University of Malta since 2005 and was appointed as Visiting Senior Lecturer in 2019.