John Harris, MD, MSc

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John Harris, MD, MSc

Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences

Contact

UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital
300 Halket Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Phone: 412-641-1403
Email: harrisja@mail.magee.edu

Areas of Research

Gynecology

Women’s Wellness

Education

BA, Williams College, Williamstown, MA

MD, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC

Residency in Ob-Gyn, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

MSc (Health and Healthcare Research) University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Fellowship, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

"Whether it is someone with a disability learning how to achieve her reproductive health goals or someone with severe obesity and disability searching for good long-term care services, we need to help healthcare systems have more dignity, more equity, more accessibility, and more accommodation."
John Harris, MD, MSc

Research in Brief

Dr. Harris strives to improve the lives of people with disabilities across their lifespans, from decisions about reproductive health to end-of-life care. He aims to improve how the healthcare system interacts with people of all sizes, cognitive functions, mobility needs, and communication styles. Dr. Harris’s research is motivated by the patients he sees in the UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Center for Women with Disabilities.

Specific areas of research include:

- Improving reproductive health and health education for women with disabilities from preconception health to menopause.

- Improving health care delivery for people with severe obesity needing long-term services and supports.

Current Projects

CENTER FOR PREGNANCY AND DISABILITY RESEARCH

Funding: National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (PIs: Mitra/Horner-Johnson) 2001-2029

A CONTINUING EDUCATION INTERVENTION TO ADDRESS ABLEISM AMONG OBSTETRIC CLINICIANS PROVIDING PERINATAL CARE

Funding: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (PIs: Mitra/Iezzoni) 2024-2029

NAVIGATING AND EMBRACING CHANGE: EXPLORING KEY FACTORS IN THE MENOPAUSE EXPERIENCE OF WOMEN WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY

Funding: Craig H. Neilsen Foundation (PI: Kalpakjian) 2025-2027

ADDRESSING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE DISPARITIES AND BARRIERS AMONG YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES

Funding: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (PIs: Mitra/Horner-Johnson) 2023-2028

DISPARITIES IN PERINATAL CARE AND OUTCOMES AMONG BLACK WOMEN AND LATINAS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES

Funding: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (PIs: Mitra/Horner-Johnson) 2001-2025

DEVELOPING AND TESTING AN EVIDENCE-BASED TOOLKIT FOR NURSING HOME CARE OF RESIDENTS WITH OBESITY

Funding: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 1R01 HS026943 (PI: Harris) 7/18-4/24

EVALUATION OF HOME- AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES FOR ADULTS WITH OBESITY AND DISABILITIES

Funding: Pennsylvania Department of Health Project 4100088553 (PI: Harris) 6/21-6/25

Selected Publications

McCabe M, Gabor A, Stephens J, McKee MM, Brown HK Ayers KB, Valentine A, Horner-Johnson W, Mitra M, Harris JA. Pilot Study for a Preconception Educational Intervention for People with Mobility Disabilities. Sex Reprod Healthc. 2025 Jun; 44:101101.
Shieu B, Lee YW, Epps F, Wang MC, Harris JA. Improving Medication-Related Safety for Residents in Nursing Homes: A Qualitative Study. J Gerontol Nurs. 2025 Mar;51(3):38-43. Epub 2025 Jan 10.
Gabor A, Stephens J, McKee MM, Brown HK Ayers KB, Valentine A, Horner-Johnson W, Mitra M, Harris JA. Consensus Preconception Educational Domains for People With Mobility Disabilities: A Delphi Study. Women's Health Issues. 2025;35(1):20-7.
Fernandez L, Shieu B, Trinkoff A, Castle N, Wolf DG, Handler S, Harris JA. Paying A Heavy Price: Costs of Care for People with Severe Obesity in Nursing Homes. Gerontologist. 2024 Jul; 64(7):gnad150.
McMahan C, Shieu B, Trinkoff A, Castle NG, Wolf NG, Handler S, Harris JA. Factors associated with the ability of US Nursing Homes to accept residents with severe obesity. JAMDA. 2024 May; 25(5):912-916.e3.
Harris JA, Kavalieratos D, Thoonkuzhy M, Shieu B, Schenker Y. • Trends in Obesity Prevalence among US Older Adults in the Last Two Years of Life, 1998-2018. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2023 Feb;65(2):81-86. PMID: 36384180O
McGarity MZ, Herndon CN, Harris JA, Hobbs BF. Impact of satellite clinics on geographic access to assisted reproductive technology services in the United States. BMC Health Serv Res. 2022 Jul 19; 22(1):928.
O'Connor-Terry C, Harris JA. Pregnancy Decision-Making in Women with Physical Disabilities. Disability and Health Journal. 2022 Jan; 15(1):101176.

For additional publications, click here.

Research Group

Rachel Durst, MS Research Coordinator durstrm@upmc.edu →

Jennifer Stephens, RN Nurse Educator stephensja2@upmc.edu →

Ashley Davis Research Assistant davisac7@upmc.edu →

In the News

Jul 7, 2025
Q&A with Dr. John A. Harris, Director of The Center for Women with Disabilities

Oct 12, 2020
MWRI Investigator Dr. John Harris’ clinical work featured in Tribune Review

Jun 19, 2020
TODAY covers the Center for Women with Disabilities at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital

Jun 18, 2020
Women with disabilities can't get OB-GYN care. Some clinics are trying to fix that