Dr. Newby received her undergraduate degree from Howard University's School of Nursing in 1982. She obtained her Masters of Science of Nursing with a certificate to practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Hampton University in 1996. In 1997 she became board certified as a Nurse Practitioner and then in 2011 she became a Certified Diabetes Educator to further aid her patients.

As of May 2014, Dr. Newby received her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Old Dominion University. Her research work entitled "Culturally Tailored Group Medical Appointments for Diabetic Black Americans" was published in The Journal for Nurse Practitioners in its May 2016 edition. She has co-authored a book entitled I Have Diabetes. Now What? and is currently vice-president of the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners. She is adjunct faculty at Norfolk State University and Old Dominion University.

Dr. Olivia Newby Opens Community Farmer's Market