Dr. Bakken is an experienced health systems administrator, workforce researcher, educator, and leader. She is passionate about people, process, creativity, diversity, data, strategy, and innovation.

Dr. Bakken joined the University of Iowa College of Nursing as a Health Systems Administration associate professor in October 2023. Dr. Bakken received her PharmD from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, followed by completion of the PGY1/PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics along with a Master of Health Administration degree from the University of Iowa College of Public Health. 

Prior to joining the college, Dr. Bakken was a founding faculty member and assistant professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) where she assisted in the development and launch of their Doctor of Pharmacy program in 2017. While at MCW, Dr. Bakken also developed and led the Teaching Certificate Program and served as the faculty advisor to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists student chapter. At her faculty practice site, Dr. Bakken served as a pharmacy manager at Children’s Wisconsin where she had oversight of strategic planning, practice advancement, pharmacy education, and residency programs. 

Dr. Bakken is a member of the Midwest Pharmacy Workforce Research Consortium that produces the National Pharmacist Workforce Study, a systematic nationwide survey of pharmacists, that is conducted approximately every five years. Her research interests include pharmacy workforce issues and trends, gender and racial diversity, discrimination, harassment, pharmacy residency training and certifications, leadership aspiration, practice advancement, and ambulatory care pharmacy practice. 

Dr. Bakken is also passionate about improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and the pharmacy profession, including advancing women in leadership.  She maintains active membership and has held leadership positions in local, regional, and national organizations, including the Iowa Pharmacists Association, the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin, the American Pharmacists Association, and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.