The Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health in Pittsburgh (BIRCWH@Pitt Program), a NIH funded K12 training program hosted by Magee-Womens Research Institute, is currently accepting applications. The appointed scholar will be expected to be eligible to begin the program on May 1, 2025. 

The application submission deadline is 9:00 am on Monday March 3, 2025. Selected candidates will be invited to present their proposed training and research plan to the advisory committee in early April, with final award announced for a start date of May 1, 2025. Candidates must have a faculty appointment on the May 1, 2025, start date. Please see the attached program description/application and sample budget for further instructions. The application materials and any questions should be directed to the BIRCWH Program Coordinator, Lori Rideout, via email at rideoutl@mwri.magee.edu or telephone at (412) 641-2675.
 

The purpose of the BIRCWH program is to equip talented Univ. of Pittsburgh faculty Scholars to be independent investigators in interdisciplinary research in women’s health. The program encompasses basic, translational, behavioral, clinical, and health services research in reproductive sciences and women’s health, spanning embryonic life to advanced age.

BIRCWH Scholars are junior faculty members, instructor to assistant professor with a doctoral degree (e.g., MD, DDS, PhD, etc.), who have recently completed clinical training or postdoctoral fellowships and are commencing research relevant to women’s health. They are supported by BIRCWH for a minimum of two years and are able to take advantage of the extraordinary environment at the Univ. of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences and Magee-Womens Research Institute as they work with a personalized mentorship team and a supportive program advisory committee to develop a research program that is not only relevant to the Scholar’s research interests in women’s health, but will serve as the foundation for the Scholar’s independence. The BIRCWH award includes funds for the Scholar’s salary and fringe benefits, and for the Scholar’s research and career development.

Leadership / Advisory Committee
Judith Yanowitz, PhD	Program Director, Associate Professor of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences School of Medicine
Sonya Borrero, MD, MS	Director, Center for Women’s Health Research and Innovation and Professor of Medicine, School of Medicine
Catherine Chappell, MD	Assistant Professor OBGYN-RS
Jill Demirci, PhD, RN, IBCLC	Committee Member, Associate Professor, Health Promotion & Development
Robert P. Edwards, MD	Committee Member, Professor and Chair, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Mellissa Mann, PhD	Committee Member, Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Elizabeth Miller, MD, PhD	Committee Member, Professor of Pediatrics, Chief, Division of Adolescent Medicine, School of Medicine
James M. Roberts, MD	Committee Member, Professor Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Professor of Epidemiology, Professor Clinical and Translational Science, CTSI Investigator, Magee-Womens Research Institute
Anthony Zeleznik, PhD	Committee Member, Professor of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine

 

Program Mentors
Steve Abramowitch, PhD	Professor of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering
Lisa Bodnar, PhD	Professor of Epidemiology, Psychiatry and OBGYN-RS, School of Public Health
Sonya Borrero, MD, MS	Director, Center for Women’s Health Research and Innovation and Professor of Medicine, School of Medicine
Jennifer Brach, PhD, PT	Professor of Physical Therapy
Daniel Buysse, MD	Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine, and CTSI, School of Medicine
Janet Catov, PhD	Associate Professor of OBGYN-RS and Epidemiology, School of Medicine
Terence Dermody, PhD	Physician-in-Chief and Scientific Director, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Vira I. Heinz Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics,School of Medicine
Heidi Donovan, PhD, RN	Professor of Health & Community Systems and Vice Chair, Research,School of Nursing
Sharon Hillier, PhD	Professor of OBGYN-RS and Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine
Marian Jarlenski, PhD	Associate Professor and Vice Chair for Practice, Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health
Elizabeth Krans, MD, MSc	Associate Professor of OBGYN-Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine
Adrian Lee, PhD	Professor of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Director, Institute for Precision Medicine, School of Medicine
Mellissa Mann, PhD	Associate Professor of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine
Mary Marazita, PhD	Professor and Co-Director of the Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, School of Dental Health
Elizabeth Miller, MD, PhD	Professor of Pediatrics, Chief, Division of Adolescent Medicine, School of Medicine
Pamela Moalli, MD, PhD	Professor of OBGYN-RS and Bioengineering, School of Medicine
Ann Newman, MD, MPH	Professor of Epidemiology, Medicine and CTSI, Director Center for Aging and Population Health, School of Public Health
Kyle Orwig, PhD	Professor of OBGYN-RS, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, and Developmental Biology, Director, Molecular Genetics & Developmental Biology Program, School of Medicine
Lisa Rohan PhD	Professor of Pharmaceutical Science and OBGYN-RS, School of Pharmacy
Gerald Schatten, PhD	Professor of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine
Shroff, Sanjeev, PhD	Interim Dean and Professor of Bioengineering and Gerald E. McGinnis Chair in Bioengineering, School of Engineering
Judith Yanowitz, PhD	Professor of OBGYN-RS, Research Director, BIRCWH Program

Current Scholars
Amanda Artsen, MD	Project: Host factors that determine outcomes after polypropylene mesh implantation Primary mentor(s): Pamela Moalli, MD, PhD Current appointment: Assistant Professor of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Brittany Brown Podgorski, PhD	Project: Understanding Structural Contributors to Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease Among Black Women Primary mentor(s): Marian Jarlenski, PhD Current appointment: Assistant Professor of Health Policy & Management, School of Public Health
Rachael Gordon, MD, PhD	Project: Investigating the Role of IL-12 in Sjogren’s Disease Pathogenesis Primary Mentor: Mark Schlomchik MD, PhD  Current Appointment: Assistant Professor of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Katrina Knight, PhD	Project: Development of an Elastomeric Auxetic Membrane System for Vaginal and Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair Primary mentor(s): Pamela Moalli, MD, PhD Current appointment: Assistant Professor of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering

Alumni
Erik Koppes, PhD (2023-2024)	Project: The Regulation of Chromatin Structure at Imprinted Domains by Nucleoporins  Primary mentor(s): Mellissa Mann, PhD  Current appointment: Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences
Alisse Hauspurg, MD (2019-2023)	Project: Cardiovascular Recovery and Progression to Chronic Hypertension in the First Year after Preeclampsia  Primary mentor(s): Janet Catov, PhD  Current appointment: Assistant Professor of OBGYN, Brown University
Steven Abramowitch, PhD (2008-2012)	Project: Vaginal and connective tissue remodeling in response to pelvic floor deficiency Primary mentor(s): Pamela Moalli, MD, PhD Current appointment: Professor Bioengineering and OBGYN, University of Pittsburgh
Sharon Achilles, MD (2011-2012)	Project: Impact of hormonal contraception on the immune environment of the female genital tract Primary mentor(s): Sharon Hillier, PhD Current appointment: Deputy Director, Reproductive Health Technologies, Global Health at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Lisa Bodnar, PhD, MPH, RD (2005-2006)	Project: Perinatal depression and maternal nutritional status Primary mentor(s): Katherine Wisner, MD Current appointment: Professor of Epidemiology, Psychiatry and OBGYN, University of Pittsburgh
Debra L. Bogen, MD (2003-2007)	Project: The role of maternal depression on women’s breastfeeding decisions Primary mentor(s): Katherine Wisner, MD Current appointment: Secretary of Health, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Bryan N Brown, PhD (2013-2017)	Project: Modulating the host response: An opportunity for improving outcomes in prolapse repair Primary mentor(s): Harvey Borovetz, PhD Current appointment: Associate Professor of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh
Janet M. Catov, PhD, MS (2008-2012)	Project: Preterm birth and maternal cardiovascular risk Primary mentor(s): Kim Sutton Tyrell, DrPH, MPH, RN Current appointment: Associate Professor of OBGYN, University of Pittsburgh
Judy Chang, MD (2003-2006)	Project: Examining communication and power dynamics of female patients and their healthcare providers Primary mentor(s): Robert Arnold, MD Current appointment: Associate Professor of OBGYN, Assistant Dean of Medical Student Research, Director of the Clinical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh
Catherine Chappell, MD, MSc (2015-2020)	Project: Hepatitis C viral infection in pregnancy Primary mentor(s): Sharon Hillier, PhD Current appointment: Assistant Professor of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Molly B. Conroy, MD, MPH (2005-2007)	Project: Healthy, minds, bodies and hearts after menopause Primary mentor(s): Andrea Kriska, PhD, MS Current appointment: John Rex and Alice C. Winder Presidential Endowed Chair in Internal Medicine and Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Utah
Francesca Facco, MD (2013-2015)	Project: Sleep disordered breathing, obesity and pregnancy Primary mentor(s): Patrick Strollo, Jr, MD Current appointment: Associate Professor of OBGYN, University of Pittsburgh
Chiara Ghetti, MD (2008-2012)	Project: The interrelatedness of depression and anxiety in women seeking surgery for pelvic organ prolapse Primary mentor(s): Katherine Wisner, MD Current appointment: Associate Professor of OBGYN, Washington University in St Louis
Rachel Hess, MD, Msc (2004)	Project: Does menopause matter? Primary mentor(s): Wishwa Kapoor, MD, MPH Current appointment: Chief, Division of Health System Innovation and Research, Professor of Population of Health Sciences and Internal Medicine, University of Utah
Marian Jarlenski, PhD, MPH (2015-2019)	Project: Effects of state prenatal substance use policies on access to treatment and birth outcomes Primary mentor(s): Lisa Bodnar PhD, MPH, RD Current Appointment: Associate Professor, Health Policy and Management, Associate Director, Center for Innovative Research on Gender Health Equity, and Vice Chair for Practice, Health Policy and Management
Arundhathi Jeyabalan, MD, MSCR (2003-2007)	Project: The Role of Vascular Gelatinase(s) in Pregnancy- and Relaxin- Mediated Renal Vasodilation and Hyperfiltration in Rats Primary mentor(s): Kirk Conrad, MD Current appointment: Associate Professor of OBGYN and Director, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh
Grace Lim, MD, MS (2016-2021)	Project: Impact of Labor Analgesia on Postpartum Depression  Primary mentor(s): Francesca Facco, MD  Current appointment: Associate Professor of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, Chief, Division of Obstetric & Women’s Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh
Heather McCauley, ScD (2014-2016)	Project: Engaging natural Mentor(s)s of girls in foster care to reduce unintended pregnancy Primary mentor(s): Elizabeth Miller, MD, PhD Current appointment: Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, Michigan State University
Kathleen M. McTigue, MD, MS, MPH (2003-2004)	Project: Environmental approaches to obesity prevention in women Primary mentor(s): Lewis Kuller, MD, DrPH Current appointment: Associate Professor of General Medicine, and Epidemiology, Director, General Medicine Clinical Scientist Track, Associate Director, General Medicine Intl Scholars Program, University of Pittsburgh
Beth Prairie, MD (2010-2013)	Project: Meeting the needs of women at midlife: depressed mood, disturbed sleep and sexual dysfunction Primary mentor(s): Katherine Wisner, MD Current appointment: Midlife Women’s Associates, Pittsburgh, PA
Sarah Reynolds, PhD (2004-2007)	Project: Diabetes and pregnancy: personality, mood, and health behaviors Primary mentor(s): Katherine Wishner, MD Current appointment: Independent Practice and Adjunct Associate Professor, Columbia University School of Social Work
Dana Rofey, PhD (2008-2009)	Project: Healthy body, healthy mind: helping adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome Primary mentor(s): Ronald Dahl, MD Primary mentor(s): Ronald Dahl, MD Current appointment: Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh
Haitao Yang, PhD (2013-2015)	Project:Use of multilayer nanoparticles for combined vaginal delivery of Griffithsin (GRFT) and Dapivirine (DAP) for sexually transmitted HIV Prevention Primary mentor(s): Lisa Rohan Current appointment: Staff Scientist, University of Florida Center for Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology, Gainesville

PittMed feature story on BIRCWH Program