Mercedes Olaya Contreras is linked to the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana since 2007, and is currently an associate professor in the Department of Pathology. She teaches in the medical program and conducts research in the field of basic sciences with emphasis on perinatal medicine. In the field of perinatal pathology, she has developed research since her postdoctoral stay at the Universidad
postdoctoral at the Autonomous University of Barcelona with the Pathology group of Vall d'Hebron hospital and with perinatal pathologists of the North western group in Chicago.
She has developed several researches on placenta, umbilical cord, preeclampsia, and perinatal diseases from the pathology point of view. She has been the head of the Pathology department in 2015 2021 and from 2022, to present.
As a member of the group of the pathology service of the Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, she develops her care service work, especially pediatric and perinatal issues.
Dr. Olaya has published over the years, a considerable number of original articles in international peer-reviewed journals of high reputation. She is a professor and reviewer for several journals on the topics of perinatal pathology, umbilical cord and placenta.