Reem Olaby

Overview

Dr. Reem Olaby is a pharmacist, educator, and scientist with more than fifteen years of experience in biomedical research, pharmacology instruction, program development, and higher‑education leadership. Her interdisciplinary background—spanning biotechnology, public health, pharmacology, neuroscience, and instructional design—shapes her commitment to delivering rigorous yet compassionate science education.

Dr. Olaby has extensive experience teaching pharmacology, toxicology, neuroscience, advanced cell and molecular biology, OMICs in biotechnology research, ethical issues in biomedical science, biochemistry, introductory biology, and undergraduate research. She integrates her scientific expertise with evidence‑based pedagogical approaches to ensure that students not only understand biomedical concepts but also can apply them effectively in clinical settings.

A central element of her teaching philosophy is her HUMAN Framework, Harbor & Hold Space, Unravel & Understand, Make Meaning & Motivate, Ask & Adjust, and Nourish & Nurture, which is designed to bring dignity, psychological safety, and meaning into high‑stakes clinical education. This framework reflects her long‑standing commitment to creating learning environments that support intellectual rigor, professional development, and learner well‑being.

Dr. Olaby was an NIH-funded postdoctoral fellow at UC Davis MIND Institute working on the genetics, epigenetics and proteomics of neurological disorders like FXS, ASD, and FXTAS. She also initiated and led a project that aims at elucidating the role of heat shock proteins in FXTAS.

Her early scientific work focused on drug discovery related to hepatitis C and malaria during her M.Sc. and Ph.D. training, research that resulted in three patents and several publications. Combined with her public health training at George Washington University and her ongoing work as an Ed.M. candidate in Higher Education Leadership at Harvard Graduate School of Education, Dr. Olaby brings a deeply holistic perspective to the integration of biomedical sciences with effective and humane instructional design.

She has also contributed significantly to faculty development and institutional advancement through her service as Chair of the Appointment, Retention, and Promotion Committee and as both Chair and Co‑Chair of the Assessment Committee, where she led efforts to strengthen assessment frameworks and promote faculty excellence. Beyond academia, Dr. Olaby has delivered keynote presentations, a TED Talk, and professional workshops for executive teams on cognitive time management and emotional intelligence. She is also a Senior Fellow of Advance HE (UK), a distinction that recognizes her sustained contributions to teaching and leadership in higher education.

Role at OPCVM

As an Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the Orange Park College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Olaby serves in a full‑time faculty role focused on teaching, research, and service within the field of veterinary medicine, with particular emphasis on pharmacology. She teaches pharmacology, toxicology, and related biomedical sciences across the pre‑clinical and clinical curriculum, preparing veterinary students to apply pharmacological principles responsibly and confidently in professional practice. In addition to her instructional responsibilities, she contributes to scholarly activity and institutional service that support the college’s mission and the broader advancement of the veterinary profession.

Research Focus

Dr. Olaby is interested in clinical teaching and learning, science education, drug discovery, neurological disorders, and andragogy with an emphasis on instructional design. Her work focuses on improving how biomedical and clinical concepts are taught to adult learners, ensuring that educational strategies align with best practices in cognition, motivation, and practical skill development.

Her earlier scientific training in biotechnology centered on drug discovery related to hepatitis C and malaria, resulting in three patents and multiple publications. She continues to pursue scholarly work at the intersection of biomedical sciences and effective, learner‑centered pedagogy.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9207-4052

Education and Certifications

Ed.M. Candidate: Harvard Graduate School of Education

Postdoctoral Fellowship: University of California Davis

PhD: The American University in Cairo

MPH: George Washington University

MSc: The American University in Cairo

BPharm (Pharmacy Degree): Ain Shams University

PMP ®: Project Management Institute