"…you always want to hire people smarter than you are…”
- Gavin Herbert
Critical Essay by
Rennolds Ostrom, Ph.D.
Professor, Dean of the School of Pharmacy
Dean of the School of Pharmacy
View Bio
Gavin S. Herbert, Sr., an entrepreneur and philanthropist, was born in 1933 in Los Angeles, CA, and has lived his entire life in Southern California. Mr. Herbert’s first business venture started at the age of 12 when he successfully developed a business plan to sell apricots from his grandmother’s orchard in a roadside fruit stand.1 Influenced by his pharmacist father, Mr. Herbert attended the University of Southern California to major in pharmacy. At the same time, he co-founded Allergan, an Ophthalmology Specialty Company, with his father on the balcony of their home, where they formulated the first antihistamine eye/nose drop. Inspired by the challenges of the new company, Mr. Herbert changed his major from pharmacy to business to focus on advancing the ophthalmology company. He went on to serve as Allergan’s Chairman from 1977 to 1995 and Chief Executive Officer from 1961 to 1991. During Herbert’s leadership, Allergan became one of the largest ophthalmology companies in the world, expanding its product line to neurology and aesthetics. The company's research and development efforts under his guidance led to the creation of numerous treatments and technologies that improved eye care worldwide. One of the notable products developed under his leadership was Botox, which is used in both medical and cosmetic applications.
Gavin Herbert, Sr.’s leadership in Pharmaceutical Sciences and scientific enterprise did not end after his retirement from Allergan, as he remained active in the industry as an advisor and board member for various organizations. In 2021, he co-founded and assumed the role of Executive Chairman of the Board of TechImmune in Orange County, CA, a company that conducts groundbreaking research in vaccine development. Beyond pharmaceuticals, Mr. Herbert’s passion for environmental sustainability led him to establish REGENESIS, Bioremediation Products in San Clemente, CA, which focuses on innovative solutions for environmental remediation. Through cutting-edge technologies, REGENESIS tackles soil and groundwater contamination, leaving a lasting positive impact on our planet. Herbert’s interest in environment and horticulture dates back to his childhood when he moved to his grandmother’s farm in the San Fernando Valley. His love of flowers and horticulture was also the motivation behind his acquisition of Roger’s Garden, a plant nursery located in Orange County, in 1970.
Beyond his business achievements, Gavin Herbert, Sr. has been an advocate for eye health. He has supported various initiatives aimed at advancing research and providing access to eye care services, particularly for underserved communities. While leading Allergan, Mr. Herbert helped the establishment of the UCI Ophthalmology department by recruiting the internationally renowned glaucoma researcher Dr. Irving Leopold as its founding chair. Additionally, he, his mother, and his colleague James V. Mazzo (Chapman University Board of Trustees Member and Vice Chair) were the major philanthropists who were instrumental in the establishment of the UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, which became operational in 2013. One year after its establishment, the Institute launched the Eye Mobile for Children, which brought free vision screenings to children from underserved families. In addition to patient care, the center conducts cutting-edge ophthalmology research.
As an advocate of higher education and community, Gavin Herbert, Sr. has also established a lasting and impactful connection with Chapman University in many ways. Specifically, he has served Chapman University as a member of the Board of Trustees and President Cabinet, providing strategic guidance and fostering growth for many years. As a member of the Chapman Board of Trustees, Mr. Herbert played a crucial role in the establishment of Chapman University School of Pharmacy in 2013 as the first School of Pharmacy in Orange County. He also established the Gavin Herbert Award at the School of Pharmacy, which recognizes individuals who exemplify the highest standard of professionalism, entrepreneurial leadership, and compassion in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. The award, which was inaugurated in 2015, is presented annually during the Chapman University School of Pharmacy’s White Coat Ceremony. He also created the Gavin Herbert Endowed Professor of Pharmacy at the School of Pharmacy to help recruit top-notch faculty.
Gavin S. Herbert, Sr. is a current or past member of many educational, philanthropical, scientific, and historical boards, such as Doheny Eye Institute, the Nixon Foundation, Allergan, Allergan Foundation, SmithKline-Beckman, Beckman Corporation, and the Beckman Foundation. He is also a life trustee of the University of Southern California. Gavin Herbert, Sr.’s leadership, vision, and innovation have transformed Orange County into one of the major areas in the world for pharmaceutical research and products in ophthalmology. His immense philanthropic efforts have had a tremendous impact on the eye care of patients and the success of higher education institutions, like Chapman University, in Orange County and beyond. His contributions are a source of pride for the community and will continue to inspire for years to come.
[1] The Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Museum of Vision & Ophthalmic Heritage, Conversation Between Gavin Herbert and H. Dunbar Hoskins, Jr. MD, Chicago IL, November 10, 2012.