Dr. Gergana (Geri) Deevska
Dr. Gergana (Geri) Deevska is an Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at SHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. She joined the faculty in 2024, and her main focus is curricular integration and content delivery of medical biochemistry and human metabolism.
Dr. Geri Deevska earned an M.Sc. in Molecular Biology from Sofia University “St. K. Ohridski” and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. She then completed postdoctoral training in lipid metabolism and signaling in the Department of Physiology at the University of Kentucky’s College of Medicine. She is certified as an AMEE-ESME medical educator and is passionate about creating a learning environment where osteopathic student doctors and faculty can thrive.
Dr. Deevska’s journey in osteopathic medical education began in 2016 with a dual appointment at the Kentucky Colleges of Optometry and Osteopathic Medicine, where she was involved in teaching biochemistry, metabolism, genetics, and biochemical nutrition to medical and optometry students. In 2018, she became a founding faculty member at the first medical school in Idaho, ICOM, leading the integration of biochemistry and genetics content into organ system courses and actively contributing to curriculum design, development, implementation, and evaluation. Dr. Deevska’s dedication to excellence in biochemistry education and fostering a safe and engaging learning experience for her students has been recognized by receiving the “ICOM Biomedical Faculty of the Year Award” twice.
Dr. Deevska is actively engaged in service to her profession. She has been an elected member of the Association of Biochemistry Educators Professional Development Committee (ABE-PDC) for two consecutive terms (2022-2026) and elected as chair of PDC for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. She is also a member of the International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) EA Committee (2024-2027), where she engages with peer medical educators to promote the organization's mission. Dr. Deevska has been appointed an NBOME National Faculty since 2018 and an American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Educational Fellow since 2015.
As an educator, Dr. Geri Deevska firmly believes that biomedical research is integral to modern medicine. She emphasizes that engaging osteopathic medical students in research is essential to developing well-rounded, competent, and caring physicians prepared to serve and care for their patients. Her scientific research focuses on deciphering the role of different bioactive lipids, including sphingolipids, in obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and the associated pathologies. She has more than 15 peer-reviewed publications in this research area and has mentored more than 25 trainees. As a medical educator, Dr. Deevska is also interested in educational research and teaching, learning, and assessment scholarship.