Skip to main content
University of California San Francisco
UCSF School of Medicine | Department of Medicine UCSF Medical Center
Home

Main navigation

  • About Us
    • 25th Anniversary
      • 25th Anniversary Message from our Chief
      • 25th Anniversary Symposium
    • Administrative Staff
    • Contact Us
    • Faculty & Interdisciplinary Team
    • Message from the Chief
    • Multimedia
    • Team Member Spotlight
    • Organizational Chart - Leadership
  • Patient Care
  • Fellowship
    • Current Fellows
    • Curriculum
      • Clinical Curriculum
      • Didactic Curriculum
      • Resiliency Curriculum
    • Fellowship Highlights and Tracks
      • Global Palliative Educational Collaborative (GPEC)
      • Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship
      • Two-Year GeriPal Fellowship
    • Leadership and Contact
    • Our Graduates
      • Graduate Data
      • Graduate Profiles
    • To Apply
  • Education
    • Hospice & Palliative Medicine Pre-med Summer Program
      • How to Apply to Pre-med Summer Program
    • Primary Palliative Care Education Curriculum
      • Sample Surveys
      • Teaching Materials
    • Visiting Learners
  • Research
    • Ongoing Research Endeavors
    • Endowed Fund for Palliative Care Innovation
    • Works in Progress (WIP)
    • Publications
    • Data and Resources
  • Faculty Development and Mentorship
  • Giving
  • Job Openings

Breadcrumb

  1. People
  2. David O'Riordan, PhD
Image of David O'Riordan, PhD
  • Send an Email
  • +1 415 476-6792

533 Parnassus Avenue, Rm 109 UCSF Box 0125 San Francisco, CA 94117

View UCSF Profile

Associate Professor

Dr David O’Riordan is an Associate Professor in the Division of Palliative Medicine. He is a public health scholar with a Ph.D. from the University of Queensland, Australia focusing on instrument development and the application of social ecological models to promote positive health behavioral change. His extensive expertise in multi-method study design and data analytics has led to substantial contributions across three distinct research areas:
1. Patient-level clinical research
2. Institutional and programmatic research
3. Program evaluation

Dr O’Riordan collaborates closely with clinical teams to address a broad spectrum of patient outcomes, ranging from disease-specific issues like neurological disorders, ALS, heart failure, renal disease, and liver disease, to symptom-focused challenges such as pain, anxiety, dyspnea, and depression. His institutional and programmatic research has yielded invaluable insights into the structure and characteristics of inpatient, outpatient, and pediatric palliative care services. This research not only establishes normative data for performance benchmarks but also guides the nationwide expansion and sustainability of palliative care services.

In his work, Dr. O'Riordan employs the RE-AIM (Reach Effectiveness – Acceptance Implementation Maintenance) evaluation and planning framework. This approach assesses the effectiveness of quality improvement and education interventions, driving enhancements in patient care and support. He is committed to ensuring that all patients have equitable access to tailored palliative care that aligns with their individual values and goals. He has collaborated on projects aimed at investigating disparities in palliative care across diverse populations and developing a reliable screening tool to ensure that all patients with palliative care needs have access to the care they deserve.
Education
PhD, 2001 - Public Health, University of Queensland
MHSc, 1995 - Public Health, Queensland University of Technology
BEd, 1993 - Education, Queensland University of Technology
Publications
  1. Postier AC, Root MC, O'Riordan DL, Purser L, Friedrichsdorf SJ, Pantilat SZ, Bogetz JF. The Pediatric Palliative Care Quality Network: Palliative Care Consultation and Patient Outcomes. 2023. PMID: 38044667


  2. Bischoff KE, Vanegas G, O'Riordan DL, Sumser B, Long J, Lin J, Berkey AR, Kobayashi E, Zapata C, Rabow MW, Pantilat SZ. A Systematic Approach to Assessing and Addressing Palliative Care Needs in an Outpatient Population. 2023. PMID: 37380147


  3. Goss A, O'Riordan DL, Pantilat SZ. Inpatients With Dementia Referred for Palliative Care Consultation: A Multicenter Analysis. 2022. PMID: 36382122


  4. Chapman AC, Lin JA, Cobert J, Marks A, Lin J, O'Riordan DL, Pantilat SZ. Utilization and Delivery of Specialty Palliative Care in the ICU: Insights from the Palliative Care Quality Network. 2022. PMID: 35595374


  5. Bischoff KE, Lin J, Cohen E, O'Riordan DL, Meister S, Zapata C, Sicotte J, Lindenfeld P, Calton B, Pantilat SZ. Outpatient Palliative Care for Noncancer Illnesses: One Program's Experience with Implementation, Impact, and Lessons Learned. 2022. PMID: 35442773


  6. Fahrner-Scott K, Zapata C, O'Riordan DL, Cohen E, Rosow L, Pantilat SZ, Lomen-Hoerth C, Bischoff KE. Embedded Palliative Care for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Pilot Program and Lessons Learned. 2022. PMID: 36157626


  7. van Zyl C, O'Riordan DL, Kerr KM, Harris HA. Doing More with the Same: Comparing Public and Private Hospital Palliative Care within California. 2022. PMID: 35085457


  8. Deng LX, Bischoff KE, Kent DS, O'Riordan DL, Pantilat SZ, Lai JC. Frailty is strongly associated with self-reported symptom burden among patients with cirrhosis. 2021. PMID: 33731588


  9. Deng LX, Kent DS, O'Riordan DL, Pantilat SZ, Lai JC, Bischoff KE. Symptom Burden Is Associated with Increased Emergency Department Utilization among Patients with Cirrhosis. 2021. PMID: 34348042


  10. Cobert J, Cook AC, Lin JA, O'Riordan DL, Pantilat SZ. Trends in palliative care consultations in critically ill patient populations, 2013-2019. 2021. PMID: 34348177


  11. Bischoff KE, Choi S, Su A, Cohen E, O'Riordan DL, Oettel E, Blachman M, Meister S, Zapata C, Lindenfeld P, Calton B, Witt L, Pantilat SZ, Shah RJ. Better Together: A Mixed-Methods Study of Palliative Care Co-Management for Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease. 2021. PMID: 34115958


  12. Calton B, Shibley WP, Cohen E, Pantilat SZ, Rabow MW, O'Riordan DL, Bischoff KE. Patient and Caregiver Experience with Outpatient Palliative Care Telemedicine Visits. 2020. PMID: 34223495


  13. Smith GM, Calton BA, Rabow MW, Marks AK, Bischoff KE, Pantilat SZ, O'Riordan DL. Comparing the Palliative Care Needs of Patients Seen by Specialty Palliative Care Teams at Home Versus in Clinic. 2020. PMID: 33246071


  14. Bischoff KE, Zapata C, Sedki S, Ursem C, O'Riordan DL, England AE, Thompson N, Alfaro A, Rabow MW, Atreya CE. Embedded palliative care for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a mixed-methods pilot study. 2020. PMID: 32285263


  15. Liu AY, O'Riordan DL, Marks AK, Bischoff KE, Pantilat SZ. A Comparison of Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure and Cancer Referred to Palliative Care. 2020. PMID: 32101304


  16. Schoenherr LA, Bischoff KE, Marks AK, O'Riordan DL, Pantilat SZ. Trends in Hospital-Based Specialty Palliative Care in the United States From 2013 to 2017. 2019. PMID: 31808926


  17. Ufere NN, O'Riordan DL, Bischoff KE, Marks AK, Eneanya N, Chung RT, Jackson V, Pantilat SZ, El-Jawahri A. Outcomes of Palliative Care Consultations for Hospitalized Patients With Liver Disease. 2019. PMID: 31326503


  18. O'Riordan DL, Rathfon MA, Joseph DM, Hawgood J, Rabow MW, Dracup KA, De Marco T, Pantilat SZ. Feasibility of Implementing a Palliative Care Intervention for People with Heart Failure: Learnings from a Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial. 2019. PMID: 31099698


  19. Taylor BL, O'Riordan DL, Pantilat SZ, Creutzfeldt CJ. Inpatients with neurologic disease referred for palliative care consultation. 2019. PMID: 30918095


  20. Raghavan K, Copeland TP, Rabow M, Ladenheim M, Marks A, Pantilat SZ, O'Riordan D, Seidenwurm D, Franc B. Palliative care and imaging utilisation for patients with cancer. 2019. PMID: 30826736


  21. Magalhaes S, Banwell B, Bar-Or A, Fortier I, Hanwell HE, Lim M, Matt GE, Neuteboom RF, O'Riordan DL, Schneider PK, Pugliatti M, Shatenstein B, Tansey CM, Wassmer E, Wolfson C. A framework for measurement and harmonization of pediatric multiple sclerosis etiologic research studies: The Pediatric MS Tool-Kit. 2018. PMID: 29932341


  22. Bischoff K, O'Riordan DL, Marks AK, Sudore R, Pantilat SZ. Care Planning for Inpatients Referred for Palliative Care Consultation. 2018. PMID: 29159371


  23. Bischoff KE, O'Riordan DL, Fazzalaro K, Kinderman A, Pantilat SZ. Identifying Opportunities to Improve Pain Among Patients With Serious Illness. 2017. PMID: 29030211


  24. Anderson WG, Puntillo K, Cimino J, Noort J, Pearson D, Boyle D, Grywalski M, Meyer J, O'Neil-Page E, Cain J, Herman H, Barbour S, Turner K, Moore E, Liao S, Ferrell B, Mitchell W, Edmonds K, Fairman N, Joseph D, MacMillan J, Milic MM, Miller M, Nakagawa L, O'Riordan DL, Pietras C, Thornberry K, Pantilat SZ. Palliative Care Professional Development for Critical Care Nurses: A Multicenter Program. 2017. PMID: 28864431


  25. Grubbs V, O'Riordan D, Pantilat S. Characteristics and Outcomes of In-Hospital Palliative Care Consultation among Patients with Renal Disease Versus Other Serious Illnesses. 2017. PMID: 28655708


  26. Pantilat SZ, Marks AK, Bischoff KE, Bragg AR, O'Riordan DL. The Palliative Care Quality Network: Improving the Quality of Caring. 2017. PMID: 28384070


  27. Gordon NA, O'Riordan DL, Dracup KA, De Marco T, Pantilat SZ. Let Us Talk About It: Heart Failure Patients' Preferences Toward Discussions about Prognosis, Advance Care Planning, and Spiritual Support. 2016. PMID: 27603266


  28. Thygeson NM, Wang M, O'Riordan D, Pantilat SZ. Self-Reported California Hospital Palliative Care Program Composition, Certification, and Staffing Level Are Associated with Lower End-of-Life Medicare Utilization. 2016. PMID: 27508981


  29. Pantilat SZ, O'Riordan DL, Rathfon MA, Dracup KA, De Marco T. Etiology of Pain and Its Association with Quality of Life among Patients with Heart Failure. 2016. PMID: 27494139


  30. Beck KR, Pantilat SZ, O'Riordan DL, Peters MG. Use of Palliative Care Consultation for Patients with End-Stage Liver Disease: Survey of Liver Transplant Service Providers. 2016. PMID: 27092870


  31. Kamal AH, Harrison KL, Bakitas M, Dionne-Odom JN, Zubkoff L, Akyar I, Pantilat SZ, O'Riordan DL, Bragg AR, Bischoff KE, Bull J. Improving the Quality of Palliative Care Through National and Regional Collaboration Efforts. 2015. PMID: 26678966


  32. Bertain CJ, O'Riordan DL, Pantilat SZ. Learning from those without: identifying barriers and creating solutions to establishing hospital palliative care services. 2014. PMID: 25523274


  33. Rabow MW, O'Riordan DL, Pantilat SZ. A statewide survey of adult and pediatric outpatient palliative care services. 2014. PMID: 25137356


  34. Reid T, O'Riordan DL, Mazzini A, Bruno KA, Pantilat SZ. Pediatric palliative care consultation services in California hospitals. 2014. PMID: 25299845


  35. Pantilat SZ, O'Riordan DL, Bruno KA. Two steps forward, one step back: changes in palliative care consultation services in California hospitals from 2007 to 2011. 2014. PMID: 25084528


  36. Gomutbutra P, O'Riordan DL, Pantilat SZ. Management of moderate-to-severe dyspnea in hospitalized patients receiving palliative care. 2012. PMID: 22940561


  37. Schenker Y, Fernandez A, Kerr K, O'Riordan D, Pantilat SZ. Interpretation for discussions about end-of-life issues: results from a National Survey of Health Care Interpreters. 2012. PMID: 22788909


  38. Pantilat SZ, O'Riordan DL, Dibble SL, Landefeld CS. An assessment of the screening performance of a single-item measure of depression from the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale among chronically ill hospitalized patients. 2012. PMID: 22560356


  39. Lawler S, McDermott L, O'Riordan D, Spathonis K, Eakin E, Leslie E, Gallois C, Berndt N, Owen N. Relationships of sun-protection habit strength with sunscreen use during outdoor sport and physical activity. 2012. PMID: 22690172


  40. Pantilat SZ, Kerr KM, Billings JA, Bruno KA, O'Riordan DL. Characteristics of palliative care consultation services in California hospitals. 2012. PMID: 22394365


  41. Pantilat SZ, O'Riordan DL, Dibble SL, Landefeld CS. Longitudinal assessment of symptom severity among hospitalized elders diagnosed with cancer, heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 2012. PMID: 22371388


  42. Berger GN, O'Riordan DL, Kerr K, Pantilat SZ. Prevalence and characteristics of outpatient palliative care services in California. 2011. PMID: 21986345


  43. Pantilat SZ, Kerr KM, Billings JA, Bruno KA, O'Riordan DL. Palliative care services in California hospitals: program prevalence and hospital characteristics. 2011. PMID: 21802898


  44. Berndt NC, O'Riordan DL, Winkler E, McDermott L, Spathonis K, Owen N. Social cognitive correlates of young adult sport competitors' sunscreen use. 2011. PMID: 21059896


  45. Pantilat SZ, O'Riordan DL, Dibble SL, Landefeld CS. Hospital-based palliative medicine consultation: a randomized controlled trial. 2010. PMID: 21149765


  46. Glanz K, Gies P, O'Riordan DL, Elliott T, Nehl E, McCarty F, Davis E. Validity of self-reported solar UVR exposure compared with objectively measured UVR exposure. 2010. PMID: 20940277


  47. O'Riordan DL, Nehl E, Gies P, Bundy L, Burgess K, Davis E, Glanz K. Validity of covering-up sun-protection habits: Association of observations and self-report. 2009. PMID: 19278750


  48. Maddock JE, O'Riordan DL, Lee T, Mayer JA, McKenzie TL. Use of sunglasses in public outdoor recreation settings in Honolulu, Hawaii. 2009. PMID: 19156011


  49. O'Riordan DL, Steffen AD, Lunde KB, Gies P. A day at the beach while on tropical vacation: sun protection practices in a high-risk setting for UV radiation exposure. 2008. PMID: 19015419


  50. Glanz K, McCarty F, Nehl EJ, O'Riordan DL, Gies P, Bundy L, Locke AE, Hall DM. Validity of self-reported sunscreen use by parents, children, and lifeguards. 2008. PMID: 18945582


  51. Glanz K, Yaroch AL, Dancel M, Saraiya M, Crane LA, Buller DB, Manne S, O'Riordan DL, Heckman CJ, Hay J, Robinson JK. Measures of sun exposure and sun protection practices for behavioral and epidemiologic research. 2008. PMID: 18283179


  52. O'Riordan DL, Glanz K, Gies P, Elliott T. A pilot study of the validity of self-reported ultraviolet radiation exposure and sun protection practices among lifeguards, parents and children. 2008. PMID: 18179624


  53. Sutton NM, Suzuki TM, Della D, Albright C, O'Riordan DL. Involving Hawai'i's youth as partners in global health initiatives to impact change at the local level. 2007. PMID: 20879470


  54. Maddock JE, O'Riordan DL, Lunde KB, Steffen A. Sun protection practices of beachgoers using a reliable observational measure. 2007. PMID: 17688402


  55. Glanz K, Jarrette AD, Wilson EA, O'Riordan DL, Jacob Arriola KR. Reducing minors' access to tobacco: eight years' experience in Hawaii. 2006. PMID: 17084888


  56. O'Riordan DL, Lunde KB, Steffen AD, Maddock JE. Validity of beachgoers' self-report of their sun habits. 2006. PMID: 17043185


  57. O'Riordan DL, Field AE, Geller AC, Brooks DR, Aweh G, Colditz GA, Frazier AL. Frequent tanning bed use, weight concerns, and other health risk behaviors in adolescent females (United States). 2006. PMID: 16633915


  58. O'Riordan DL, Sutton N. A community-based approach to tobacco prevention: Hawaii's youth taking on the tobacco industry. 2005. PMID: 16379225


  59. O'Riordan DL, Lunde KB, Urschitz J, Glanz K. A noninvasive objective measure of sunscreen use and reapplication. 2005. PMID: 15767357


  60. Geller AC, Shamban J, O'Riordan DL, Slygh C, Kinney JP, Rosenberg S. Raising sun protection and early detection awareness among Florida high schoolers. 2005. PMID: 15804297


  61. Geller AC, O'Riordan DL, Oliveria SA, Valvo S, Teich M, Halpern AC. Overcoming obstacles to skin cancer examinations and prevention counseling for high-risk patients: results of a national survey of primary care physicians. 2004. PMID: 15575033


  62. O'Riordan DL, Geller AC, Brooks DR, Zhang Z, Miller DR. Sunburn reduction through parental role modeling and sunscreen vigilance. 2003. PMID: 12520258


  63. Stanton WR, Chakma B, O'Riordan DL, Eyeson-Annan M. Sun exposure and primary prevention of skin cancer for infants and young children during autumn/winter. 2000. PMID: 10790938


  64. O'Riordan DL, Stanton WR, Eyeson-Annan M, Gies P, Roy C. Correlations between reported and measured ultraviolet radiation exposure of mothers and young children. 2000. PMID: 10649890


UCSF Sublogo

 
© 2025 The Regents of the University of California. The University of California San Francisco  |  UCSF Department of Medicine                                                                  Accessibility  Privacy Policy  Terms of Use  A-Z Website List