Dr. David Bearden serves as Dean of the Oregon State University College of Pharmacy, where he leads the college’s academic, clinical, and research missions. Officially appointed in March 2023 after serving as interim dean since 2020, Dr. Bearden is the first dean to be based primarily at the Robertson Life Sciences Building on the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) campus in Portland—reflecting the college’s deepening integration with clinical and interprofessional education.
Dr. Bearden earned his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Illinois at Chicago, followed by a pharmacy practice residency at the University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics and a fellowship in infectious diseases pharmacotherapy at the University of Illinois. His clinical expertise focuses on adult infectious diseases, and his research interests include antimicrobial pharmacokinetics, drug therapy for resistant pathogens, and pharmacist involvement in vaccine-preventable diseases.
Since joining OSU in 2001, Dr. Bearden has held several key leadership roles, including Chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Associate Dean for Academic Integration and Clinical Advancement. He also maintains a clinical role at OHSU Pharmacy and Clinical Nutrition Services, where he supports infectious diseases care and academic collaboration.
A Fellow of both the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (FCCP) and the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (FIDP), Dr. Bearden has received multiple awards for teaching and leadership, including the OHSU Faculty Senate Outstanding Leadership Award.
Dean's Programs
Dean's Circle
The Dean’s Circle is a community of alumni, partners, and friends who support the mission and strategic goals of the OSU College of Pharmacy.
Partner's Program
The OSU College of Pharmacy’s Pharmacy Partners Program brings health systems, community pharmacies, and industry together with our students and faculty.