Olga Hilas, Pharm.D., M.P.H.

Dr. Olga Hilas is a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS), a Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP) and a Fellow of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (FASCP). She is also a Certified Tobacco Training Specialist (CTTS), a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor for the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, a trainer for the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Immunization and Medication Therapy Management certificate programs, and the founding Director of the New York State-registered Opioid Overdose Prevention Program at St. John's University. Dr. Hilas completed her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees at St. John’s University, followed by a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the New York Harbor Healthcare System / U.S. Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Brooklyn and Manhattan, New York. She then completed a Master of Public Health degree (with a focus in Urban and Immigrant Health) at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She returned to St. John's University in 2004 and began her career in academia in conjunction with an appointment at NewYork Presbyterian Hospital – Weill Cornell Medical Center as the Clinical Pharmacy Manager of Internal Medicine & Geriatrics. Dr. Hilas has been a healthcare professional and educator for nearly 20 years, and is committed to the optimization of patient care through the enhancement of student learning using contemporary simulation education practices.

Research Interests

Education and training, Health promotion and disease prevention, Pain management, Substance use disorders, Geriatric syndromes, Medication safety and adherence

Courses Taught

CPP 3203: EXPERIENTIAL PHARMACY I
PHR 5201 BIOMEDICAL LABORATORY IV

Select Publications

Journal Articles

Hilas O, Caliendo T.  Reinforcement and application of the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process using educational simulation.  Journal of Health Education Teaching. 2021; 12(1), 36-45.

Smith SS, Hilas O. Peanut (arachis hypogaea) allergen powder-dnfp: the first FDA-approved oral immunotherapy for desensitization of peanut allergy in children. Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2021; 26(7): 669-674.

Hilas O. A pharmacist’s primer on prescription discount cards. U.S. Pharmacist. 2021;46(10):21-23.

Caliendo T, Hilas O. Biologic therapy for eosinophilic asthma. U.S. Pharmacist. 2021;46(7):43-47.

Hilas O. Empathy or empath? Increasing self-awareness for healthy patient-provider interactions. The Senior Care Pharmacist. 2020;35(8):334-335. 

Hilas O, Caliendo T. Lofexidine: a novel treatment option for opioid withdrawal symptoms. The Senior Care Pharmacist. 2020;35(10):413-418.

Caliendo T, Hilas O. Smoking cessation: a review of the 2020 Surgeon General Report. U.S. Pharmacist. 2020;45(7/8):26-31.

Funtanilla V, Caliendo T, Hilas O. Continuous glucose monitoring: a review of the available systems. Pharmacy & Therapeutics Journal. 2019;44(9):550-553.

Caliendo T, Hilas O. The promise and pitfalls of digital medication. U.S. Pharmacist. 2019;44(7):22-24.

Caliendo T, Hilas O. Mild cognitive impairment: overview and update. U.S. Pharmacist. 2018;43(11):36-43.

Book Chapters

Hilas O. (2021). Early childhood transitions. In: S.R. Soliman and R.P. Vellurattil (Eds.), A pharmacist parent’s guide to work-life balance. American Pharmacists Association, 1st edition.

Hilas O. (2021). Infant feeding. In: S.R. Soliman and R.P. Vellurattil (Eds.), A pharmacist parent’s guide to work-life balance. American Pharmacists Association, 1st edition.