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Keith M. Olsen, Pharm. D
Keith Olsen, Pharm. D., Named UAMS College of Pharmacy Dean
| July 10, 2015 | Keith M. Olsen, Pharm. D., has been named dean of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy and will begin his role at UAMS on or before Nov. 1.
Keith M. Olsen, Pharm. D.
Olsen succeeds Stephanie Gardner, Pharm. D., Ed. D., who on July 1 became the UAMS provost and chief academic officer. Kathryn Neill, Pharm. D., assistant dean and associate professor in the College of Pharmacy, will serve as interim dean of the College until Olsen takes his new post at UAMS.
Since 2007, Olsen has been chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Pharmacy in Omaha, Nebraska. He also serves as manager of education and research in the Department of Pharmaceutical and Nutrition Care at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
He specializes in critical care and infectious diseases, teaching and serving as the Infectious Disease Section coordinator for pharmacotherapy II and is a preceptor for the critical care and infectious diseases clerkships.
He was a member of the UAMS College of Pharmacy faculty from 1989 to 1993, serving as associate professor and director of the Clinical Pharmacokinetic Laboratory and Monitoring Service.
“We are so pleased Keith has accepted this position. I enjoyed working with him when he was on faculty several years ago and look forward to all he will bring to the College of Pharmacy,” said Gardner.
“I am confident that Dr. Olsen’s wide-ranging experience will enable him to be a wonderful leader for the college and for UAMS,” said Chancellor Dan Rahn, M.D.
In 1977, Olsen earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska, and in 1980 his doctor of pharmacy from UNMC. After receiving his doctorate, he completed a residency in clinical pharmacy at UNMC.
As dean, Olsen will oversee all aspects of the UAMS College of Pharmacy.