Olga Hilas

Dr. Olga Hilas is a Professor in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at St. John's University. She holds certifications as a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS), Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP), and is a Fellow of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (FASCP). As the founding Director of the New York State-registered Opioid Overdose Prevention Program, she focuses on patient-centered care through innovative education. Her academic career began in 2004 at St. John's, alongside roles at NewYork Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Dr. Hilas earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from St. John’s University, followed by a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the New York Harbor Healthcare System. She holds a Master of Public Health from SUNY Downstate Medical Center, specializing in Urban and Immigrant Health. Her research emphasizes education innovation, medication safety, geriatric syndromes, and substance use disorders. She teaches courses like EXPERIENTIAL PHARMACY I and contributes to BIOMEDICAL LABORATORY IV.

Her publications span educational simulation in pharmacy practice, opioid management, pediatric immunotherapy, and empathetic patient-provider interactions. She actively promotes smoking cessation, diabetes technology, and cognitive impairment research. Awards include her FASCP fellowship, recognizing her contributions to consultant pharmacy practice. Dr. Hilas is also a certified trainer for APhA immunization programs and MHFA instructor.

Her work integrates clinical pharmacy expertise with public health initiatives, emphasizing interprofessional collaboration and community health outreach. Current projects include opioid overdose prevention strategies and advancing simulation-based learning in healthcare education.