Contact Information
Orange Park Florida Bldg 2
Phone: 423-869-6372
Email: c.rabinovitch-deere@lmunet.edu
Office Location: TBD
Overview
Dr. Christine Deere is a Ph.D. microbiologist, educator, and lifelong learner with a strong commitment to student success and to advancing understanding of the diverse ways microbes influence human life. She has over two decades of experience in science education and academic leadership, with a particular focus on optimizing teaching practices and institutional support systems to help students realize their full academic and professional potential.
Dr. Deere has more than 21 years of teaching experience, during which she has taught environmental and medical microbiology in both classroom and laboratory settings. Her teaching career spans a wide range of educational levels, including high school, community college, undergraduate, master’s, doctoral (Ph.D.), and medical students. She brings eight years of administrative experience, during which she has designed and refined curricula, implemented innovative strategies to support student learning, and collaborated with faculty and institutional leaders to streamline and strengthen academic governance and educational infrastructure.
Dr. Deere also has 17 years of research experience across multiple institutions and interdisciplinary settings. Her scholarly work includes studies on biofilm control strategies and the art–science collaboration Bioglyphs at the Center for Biofilm Engineering (Montana State University–Bozeman); investigations into bacterial sensing and chemotaxis in response to toxic munitions chemicals in the University of California, Davis Department of Microbiology; and research in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering to produce renewable chemicals using bacterial systems in the UC Davis Department of Chemistry. More recently, she has contributed to bacteriophage discovery and characterization research at Christopher Newport University. Through her combined expertise in teaching, research, and academic leadership, Dr. Deere remains dedicated to advancing science education, mentoring diverse learners, and fostering innovative approaches to microbiology and microbiological research.
Role at OPCVM
Dr. Christine Deere serves as Director of Professional Life Skills and Assistant Professor of Veterinary Medicine at OPCVM. In this role, she provides leadership for the Professional Life Skills curriculum, preparing veterinary students for successful careers through the development of essential professional competencies. She oversees the simulated client and communication program, designs and delivers courses in professional identity, ethics, communication, and practice management, and leads assessment initiatives including communication‑focused OSCEs.
Research Focus
Bacteriophage discovery and characterization for treatment of recalcitrant bacterial infections.
https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1898-1073
Education and Certifications
BS: Montana State University-Bozeman
PhD: University of California-Davis
