Dr. David Bearden named dean of the OSU College of Pharmacy 
 

OSU College of Pharmacy is thrilled to share that David Bearden has been named dean of the college, effective March 20th.

Dr. Bearden has served as interim dean since December 2020, as well as in numerous college leadership positions since joining OSU in 2001. He is committed to advancing the College’s mission of improving societal health through excellence in pharmacy education, research, and service, as well as helping the College foster diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“One of the most valuable experiences in my time as interim dean has been hearing the amazing stories of our alumni and friends of how the College has positively shaped their path through both a professional lens and through its broader impact on their lives,” said Dr. Bearden. “I look forward to building upon that strong foundation to advance the College and its place in the rapidly changing healthcare environment.”

Prior to his time as interim dean, he was the Associate Dean for Academic Integration and Clinical Advancement, during which he enhanced the College’s connections with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) academic and clinical units. From 2009 to 2018, he also served as interim chair and chair of the College’s Department of Pharmacy Practice, championing multiple clinical partnerships for faculty practice sites, and overseeing a major increase in federally funded faculty.

The College of Pharmacy, which is based in both Corvallis and Portland, has a total of approximately 70 faculty and staff, enrolls just over 300 students, and upwards of 5000 alumni. Last fiscal year, it received more than $8 million in research funding.

“Dave Bearden will do an outstanding job advancing the College of Pharmacy’s mission of teaching, research, community service, and preparing and graduating high quality pharmacists to contribute to wellness,” said Ed Feser, OSU Provost and Executive Vice President. “He has established strong momentum in the College as interim dean and he is an outstanding steward of our valued partnerships with OHSU.”

Dr. Bearden began his career at Oregon State as a clinical assistant professor. He has been a practicing pharmacist and previously served as an inpatient clinical specialist in infectious diseases pharmacotherapy at OHSU and Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He maintains a clinical administrative practice as a director with OHSU Pharmacy and Clinical Nutrition Services with a focus on clinical education and infectious diseases.

Though a transplant to Oregon in 2001 after growing up in Chicago and attending pharmacy school at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Dr. Bearden has ‘nearly’ fully adopted his new state of Oregon. (His Chicago Cubs fandom just can’t be shed!) An avid fan of the Timbers and Thorns, and fully hooked on the beauty of the Oregon Coast, Dr. Bearden resides with his family in SW Portland.

The College is confident that Dr. Bearden’s leadership will help us continue to build on our tradition of excellence in research and training the next generation of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Bearden!

Go Beavs!