Catherine L. Carlson Haggerty, PhD, MPH

As a reproductive, perinatal and pediatric epidemiologist, the overall goal of my work is to improve health, prevent disease and eliminate health disparities among reproductive-aged women and their children.  I have been actively involved in women’s health research for over a decade, leading numerous studies combining sophisticated and cutting edge microbiology and reproductive epidemiology.  During my faculty appointment, I have been awarded numerous NIH and CDC grants in the area of reproductive epidemiology.  Several of my ongoing projects are focused on the identification of novel, difficult to culture bacteria which cause pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility and adverse pregnancy outcomes.  Additionally, as Director of the Reproductive, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Area of Emphasis, I am strongly committed to ensuring a robust training program for students interested in better understanding the pattern, risk factors and interventions that might improve reproductive, perinatal and pediatric health.  Our program integrates solid epidemiologic training with didactic coursework and experiences in obstetrics, gynecology, neonatology, pediatrics, psychiatry and adolescent medicine, and the basic sciences of genetics, molecular biology and developmental biology.

NRSA Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (NICHD), University of Pittsburgh, 2001 - 2004

Community Health Summer Internship, University of Pittsburgh, 2002

University of Pittsburgh, Ph.D. Epidemiology, 2001

University of Pittsburgh, M.P.H. Epidemiology, 1999

University of Pittsburgh, B.S. Mathematics, 1994

EPIDEM 2160:  Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases

EPIDEM 2720:  Reproductive Epidemiology 

2011-present
Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health

2008-present
Director, Reproductive, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Area of Emphasis, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health

2016-present
Faculty, Center for Women's Health Research and Innovation, University of Pittsburgh

2003-present
Member, Magee-Womens Research Institute

0000-0002-9849-7865  

Reproductive and women's health

Sexually transmitted infections

The role of infection and inflammation in infertility, chronic pelvic pain and adverse pregnancy outcomes

Vaginal microbiome

Global health

Mycoplasma genitalium, differentiated Ureaplasma species, and pregnancy outcomes (2016 - 2018, PI), NIH

SHARE India University of Pittsburgh Population and Intervention Research Training (2014 – 2016, Co-PI) Fogarty International Center, NIH

Member, International Society for Sexually Transmitted Disease Research

Member, International Union against Sexually Transmitted Infections

Member, American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association

Member, Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research

Member, The Society of Epidemiologic Research

Member, International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy

Member, The North American Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy

2014
University of Pittsburgh Postdoctoral Association (UPPDA) Alumni Award, University of Pittsburgh.  In recognition for dedication to the UPPDA as a founding member of the UPPDA, an UPPDA Executive Board member and for continued support as a faculty member participating in workshops for the postdoc community.

2009
Nominee, Craig Award in Teaching, University of Pittsburgh

2006
Faculty honoree, University of Pittsburgh Honors Convocation

2005
"40 Under 40" Honoree, awarded by Pittsburgh Magazine and the Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project (PUMP) to "talented individuals under the age of 40 who are making a positive impact on the region's development." 

2003
National Institutes of Health Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program Recipient

2003
Women's Health Scholar Award, University of Pittsburgh

2002
Student Honoree, University of Pittsburgh Honors Convocation

2001
Individual Postdoctoral National Research Service Award, NIH

2001
Delta Omega Society Omicron Chapter, University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health

1994
B.S., Cum Laude, University of Pittsburgh

1.  Kusneniwar GN, Whelan RM, Betha K, Eastman JM, Reddy P, Deepa K, Balasubramanian K, Vijayaraghavan K, Haggerty CL, Bunker CH, Reddy PS.  Cohort Profile: The Longitudinal Indian Family hEalth (LIFE) Pilot Study, Telangana State, India. International Journal of Epidemiology.  in press.

2.  Jones KA, Cornelius MD, Silverman JG, Tancredi DJ, Decker MR, Haggerty CL, De Genna NM, Miller E.  Abusive Experiences and Young Women's Sexual Health Outcomes: Is Condom Negotiation Self-Efficacy a Mediator?  Perspect Sex Reprod Health.  in press.

3.  Haggerty CL, Totten PA, Tang G, Astete SG, Ferris MJ, Norori J, Bass DC, Martin DH, Taylor BD, Ness RB.  Identification of novel microbes associated with pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.  Sexually Transmitted Infections.  2016 Jan 29.  PMID:26825087. doi:10.1136/sextrans-2015-052285.

4.  Taylor BD, Tang G, Ness RB, Olsen J, Hougaard DM, Skogstrand K, Roberts JM, Haggerty CL.  Mid-pregnancy Circulating Immune Biomarkers in Women with Preeclampsia and Normotensive Controls.  Pregnancy Hypertension.  2016 Jan;6(1):72-8.  PMID:26955776. PMCID:PMC4785833.  doi:10.1016/j.preghy.2015.11.002.

5.  Taylor BD, Ness RB, Olsen J, Hougaard DM, Skogstrand K, Roberts JM, Haggerty CL.  Serum Leptin Measured in Early Pregnancy is Higher in Women with Preeclampsia Compared with Normotensive Pregnant Women.  Hypertension.  2014 Dec 15.  PMID: 25510827. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.114.03979.

6.  Reynolds SA, Roberts JM, Bodnar LM, Haggerty CL, Youk AO, Catov JM.  Fetal Sex and Race Modify the Predictors of Fetal Growth.  Maternal and Child Health Journal.  2014 Jul 17.  PMID: 25030701. doi:10.1007/s10995-014-1571-3.

7.  Taylor BD, Darville T, Ferrell RE, Ness RB, Haggerty CL.  Cross-sectional analysis of Toll-like receptor variants and bacterial vaginosis in African American women with pelvic inflammatory disease.  Sexually Transmitted Infections, in press.  Online first:  2014 May 21.  PMID: 24848367.

8.  Barral R, Desai R, Zheng X, Frazer LC, Sucato GS, Haggerty CL, O'Connell CM, Zurenski MA, Darville T.  Frequency of Chlamydia trachomatis-specific T cell Interferon-g and Interleukin-17 responses in CD4-enriched peripheral blood mononuclear cells of sexually active adolescent females.  Journal of Reproductive Immunology.  2014 Jun; 103:29-37.  PMID: 24582738. 

9.  Nelson DB, Hanlon A, Nachamkin I, Komaroff E, Haggerty CL, Mastrogiannis DS, Dibble L, Sears J, Liu D, Fredricks D.  Early Pregnancy Changes in Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)-associated Bacteria and Preterm Birth.  Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology.  2014 Mar;28(2):88-96.  PMID: 24405280.

10.  Darville T, The Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Workshop Proceedings Committee (O’Connell C, Wiesenfeld HC, Cherpes TL, Hillier SL, Xu F, Paavonen J, Hoover KW, Eschenbach DA, Soper DE, Brunham RC, Oakeshott P, Martin DH, Sweet RL, Marrazzo JM, Haggerty CL, Ingalls R, Deal C).  Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Identifying Research Gaps - Proceedings of a Workshop Sponsored by Department of Health and Human Services/National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, November 3-4, 2011.  Sexually Transmitted Diseases.  2013 Oct;40(10): 761 – 767.  PMID: 24275724. 

11.  Nelson DB, Komaroff E, Nachamkin I, Haggerty CL,  Dibble L, Mastrogiannis D, Liu C, Fredricks D.  Relationship of Selected Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)-Associated Microbiota to BV among Urban Women Early in Pregnancy.  Sexually Transmitted Diseases.  2013 Sep;40(9):721-3.  PMID: 23945426.

12.  Haggerty CL, Klebanoff MA, Panum I, Uldum SA, Bass DC, Olsen J, Roberts JM, Ness RB.  Prenatal Chlamydia trachomatis infection increases the risk of preeclampsia.  Pregnancy Hypertension.  2013 Jul 1;3(3):151-154.  PMID: 24058897.  PMCID: PMC3775369.

13.  Taylor BD, Darville T, Ferrell RE, Kammerer CM, Ness RB, Haggerty CL.  Racial variation in toll-like receptor variants among women with pelvic inflammatory disease.  Journal of Infectious Diseases.  2013; 207: 940-6.  PMID: 23255565.  PMCID: PMC3571443.

14.  Taylor BD, Darville T, Haggerty CL.  Does bacterial vaginosis cause pelvic inflammatory disease?  Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 2013;40(2):117-22.  doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e31827c5a5b.  PMID: 23324974.

15.  Haggerty CL, Panum I, Uldum SA, Bass DC, Olsen J, Darville T, Eastman JM, Simhan HN, Roberts JM, Ness RB.  Chlamydia trachomatis infection may increase the risk of preeclampsia.  Pregnancy Hypertension: An International Journal of Women’s Cardiovascular Health.  2013 Jan 1;3(1):28-33.  http:dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.preghy.2012.09.002.

16.  Reynolds SA, Roberts JM, Bodnar LM, Haggerty CL, Youk AO, Catov JM.  Newborns of Preeclamptic Women Show Evidence of Sex-Specific Disparity in Fetal Growth.  Gender Medicine.  2012;9(6): 424-435.  PMID: 23217566.

17.  Pittrof R, Sully E, Bass DC, Ness RB, Kelsey SF, Haggerty CL.  Stimulating an immune response:  Oral sex is associated with less endometritis.  International Journal of STD & AIDS, 2012;23:775-780. doi: 10.1258/ijsa.2012.011407.  PMID: 23155096.  PMCID: 21844746.

18.  Haggerty CL, Seifert ME, Tang G, Olsen J, Bass DC, Karumanchi SA, Ness RB.  Second trimester anti-angiogenic proteins and preeclampsia.  Pregnancy and Hypertension: An International Journal of Women’s Cardiovascular Health.  2012 Apr 1;2(2):158-163.  PMID: 22712058; PMCID: PMC3375839.

19.  Taylor BD, Darville T, Ferrell RE, Kammerer CM, Ness RB, Haggerty CL.  Variants in Toll-like receptor 1 and 4 genes are associated with Chlamydia trachomatis among women with pelvic inflammatory disease.  Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2012;205:603-609, Feb 15.  doi:10.1093/infdis/jir822.  PMID: 22238472.  PMCID: PMC3266128.

20.  Haggerty CL, Taylor BD.  Mycoplasma genitalium: an emerging cause of pelvic inflammatory disease.  Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2011;2011:959816.  doi:1155/2011/959816.  Epub 2011 Dec 25. Review.  PMID: 22235165.  PMCID: PMC3253449.

21.  Taylor BD, Darville T, Tan C, Bavoil PM, Ness RB, Haggerty CL.  The role of Chlamydia rachomatis polymorphic membrane proteins in inflammation and sequelae among women with pelvic inflammatory disease.  Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics & Gynecology.  2011;Vol.2011, Article ID 989762, 8 pages.  doi:10.1155/2011/989762.  PMID: 22028586.  PMCID: PMC3199047.

22.  Trent M, Bass D, Ness RB, Haggerty CL.  Recurrent PID, Subsequent STI, and Reproductive Health Outcomes:  Findings from the PID Evaluation and Clinical Health (PEACH) Study.  Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 38(9):879-881. 2011 Sep.  PMID: 21844746.

23.  Taylor BD, Haggerty CL.  Management of Chlamydia trachomatis genital tract infection:  Screening and treatment challenges.  Infection and Drug Resistance.  2011;4:19-29.  PMID: 21694906.  PMCID: PMC3108753.

24.  Taylor BD, Ness RB, Darville T, Haggerty CL.  Microbial correlates of delayed care for pelvic inflammatory disease.  Sexually Transmitted Diseases.  38(5):434-438, May 2011.  doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e3181ffa7c7.  PMID: 21124257.

25.  Trent M, Haggerty CL, Jennings JM, Bass DB, Lee S, Ness RB.  Adverse adolescent reproductive health outcomes after pelvic inflammatory disease.  Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.  2011 Jan;165(1):49-54.  PMID: 21199980.

26.  Meyer JL, Gold MA, Haggerty CL.  Advance Provision of Emergency Contraception Among Adolescent and Young Adult Women:  A Systematic Review of Literature.  Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, Volume 24, Issue 1, Page 2-9. 2011 Feb.  PMID: 20869281.

27.  Haggerty CL, Gottlieb SL, Taylor BD, Low N, Xu F, Ness RB.  Risk of sequelae after Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection in women.  Journal of Infectious Diseases.  Volume 201, Issue S2, Page S134-S155.  2010 Jun.  PMID: 20470050.

28.  Short VL, Jensen JS, Nelson DB, Murray P, Ness RB, Haggerty CL.  Mycoplasma genitalium among young, urban pregnant women.  Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology.  Volume 2010 (2010), Article ID 984760, 8 pages.  doi:10.1155/2010/984760.  PMID: 20379360.  PMCID: PMC2850137.

29.  Short VL, Totten PA, Ness RB, Astete SG, Kelsey SF, Murray P, Haggerty CL.  The demographic, sexual health and behavioral correlates of Mycoplasma genitalium infection among women with clinically suspected pelvic inflammatory disease.  Sexually Transmitted Infections. 2009 Aug 24.  PMID: 19703841.

30.  Tan C, Hsia R, Shou H, Haggerty CL, Ness, RB, Gaydos C, Dean D, Scurlock A, Wilson D, Bavoli P.  Chlamydia trachomatis-infected patients display variable antibody profiles against the nine-member polymorphic membrane protein family.  Infection and Immunity.  2009 Aug:77(8):3218-26  Epub 2009 Jun 1.  PMID: 19487469; PMCID: PMC2715660.

31.  Haggerty CL, Totten PA, Ferris M, Martin D, Hoferka S, Astete S, Ondondo R, Norori J, Ness RB.  Clinical characteristics of bacterial vaginosis among women testing positive for fastidious bacteria.  Sexually Transmitted Infections.  2009 Aug;85(4):242-248.  PMID: 19004865; PMCID: PMC2708344.

32.  Nelson DB, Hanlon A, Hassan S, Britto J, Geifman-Holtzman O, Haggerty C, Fredricks DN.  Preterm labor and bacterial vaginosis-associated bacteria among urban women.  Journal of Pediatric Medicine. 2009.  37(2):130-4.  PMID: 18999913.

33.  Short VL, Totten PA, Ness RB, Astete SG, Kelsey SF, Haggerty CL.  Clinical presentation of Mycoplasma genitalium infection versus Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection among women with pelvic inflammatory disease.  Clinical Infectious Diseases.  2009 Jan 1;48(1):41-7.  PMID: 19025498; PMCID: PMC2652068.

34.  Haggerty CL, Ness RB.  Diagnosis and treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease.  Women’s Health.  2008. 4(4), 383-397.  PMID:19072503.

35.  Haggerty CL, Totten PA, Astete SG, Lee S, Hoferka SL, Kelsey SF, Ness RB.  Failure of cefoxitin and doxycycline to eradicate endometrial Mycoplasma genitalium and the consequence for the clinical cure of pelvic inflammatory disease.  Sexually Transmitted Infections.  2008 Oct; 84(5):338-42.  Epub 2008 Apr 29.  PMID: 18445635; PMCID: PMC2572206.

36.  Wu C, Sun Y, Vestergaard M, Christensen J, Ness RB, Haggerty CL, Olsen J.  Preeclampsia and risk for epilepsy in offspring.  Pediatrics.  2008.  122(5):1072-1078.  PMID: 18977989.

37.  Haggerty CL.  Evidence for a role of Mycoplasma genitalium in pelvic inflammatory disease.  Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases.  21(1):65-9, 2008 Feb.  PMID: 18192788.

38.  Hegewald MJ, Lefor MJ, Jensen RL, Crapo RO, Kritchevsky SB, Haggerty CL, Bauer DC, Satterfield S, Harris T.  Peak expiratory flow is not a quality indicator for spirometry: peak expiratory flow variability and FEV1 are poorly correlated in an elderly population.  Chest.  131(5):1494-9.  2007 May.  PMID: 17400677.

39.  Haggerty CL, Ness RB.  Newest Approaches to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Treatment: A Review of the Recent Randomized Clinical Trials.  Clinical Infectious Diseases.  44(7):953-60.  2007 Apr 1.  PMID: 17342647.

40.  Haggerty CL, Totten PA, Astete SG, Ness RB.  Mycoplasma genitalium among women with non-gonococcal, non-chlamydial pelvic inflammatory disease.  Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics & Gynecology.  vol. 2006, Article ID 30184, 5 pages, 2006.  http://www.hindawi.com/GetArticle.aspx?doi=10.1155/IDOG/2006/30184.  PMID: 17485798.

41.  Haggerty CL, Ness RB.  Epidemiology, Treatment, and Pathogenesis of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.  Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy. 2006 Apr;4(2):235-47.  PMID: 16597205.

42.  Taaffe DR, Newman AB, Haggerty CL, Colbert L, de Rekeneire N, Visser M, Goodpaster BH, Nevitt MC, Tylavsky FA, Harris TB.  Muscle composition, muscle strength, and physical function in users and nonusers of estrogen-replacement therapy: The Health ABC Study.  Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.  2005.  37(10):1741-1747.  PMID: 16260975.

43.  Haggerty CL, Ferrell RE, Hubel CA, Markovic N, Harger G, Ness RB.  Association between allelic variants in cytokine genes and preeclampsia.  American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.  2005.  193(1): 209-15.  (Digested in the September issue of AHRQ’s Research Activities).  PMID: 16021081.

44.  Haggerty CL, Peipert JF, Weitzen S, Hendrix SL, Holley RL, Nelson DB, Randall H, Soper DE, Wiesenfeld HC, Ness RB, for the PID Evaluation and Clinical Health (PEACH) Study Investigators.  Predictors of Chronic Pelvic Pain in an Urban Population of Women with Symptoms and Signs of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.  Sexually Transmitted Diseases.  2005.  32(5):293-9.  (Digested in Reuters Health e-line, “Pelvic Inflammatory Disease linked to pelvic pain”, http://www.reutershealth.com, posted June 15, 2005 and the AHRQ Research Activities, September 2005).  PMID: 15849530.

45.  Ness RB, Haggerty CL, Harger G, Ferrell R.  Differential Distribution of Allelic Variants in Cytokine Genes among African-American and White Americans.  American Journal of Epidemiology.  2004.  160(11):1033-8.  (Digested in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 4, 2004 and the Voice of America Report, www.voanews.com, posted December 2004).  PMID: 15561982.

46.  Haggerty CL, Hillier SL, Bass DC, Ness RB.  Bacterial vaginosis and anaerobic bacteria are associated with endometritis.  Clinical Infectious Diseases.  2004.  39:990-5.  (Digested in the February 2005 No. 294 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Newsletter, http://www.ahrq.gov/research/feb05/0205RA12.htm).  PMID: 15472851.

47.  Weiner DK, Haggerty CL, Kritchevsky SB, Harris T, Simonsick EM, Nevitt M, Newman AB, for the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Research Group.  How Does Low Back Pain Impact Physical Function in Independent, Well-Functioning Older Adults?  Evidence from the Health ABC Cohort and Implications for the Future.  Pain Medicine.  2003 Dec;4(4):311-20.  PMID: 14750907.

48.  Haggerty CL, Schulz R, Ness RB.  Lower Quality of Life Among Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain Following Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.  Obstetrics & Gynecology.  2003 Nov;102(5 Pt 1):934-9. PMID: 14672466.

49.  Newman AB, Haggerty CL, Kritchevsky SB, Nevitt MC, Simonsick EM, Health ABC Collaborative Research Group.  Walking performance and cardiovascular response: associations with age and morbidity--the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study.  The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences.  2003 Aug;55(8):715-20.  PMID:12902529.

50.  Haggerty CL, Ness RB, Kelsey S, Waterer GW.  The Impact of Estrogen and Progesterone on Asthma.  Annals of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.  2003 Mar;90(3):284-91; quiz 291-3, 347.  Review.  PMID: 12669890.

51.  Newman AB, Haggerty CL, Goodpaster B, Kritchevsky S, Nevitt M, Miles TP, Visser M, Harris T, for the Health, Aging and Body Composition Research Group.  Strength and Muscle Quality in a Well-Functioning Cohort of Older Adults: The Health ABC Study.  Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.  2003 Mar;51(3):323-330.  PMID: 12588575.

52.  Goodpaster BH, Krishnaswami S, Resnick H, Kelley DE, Haggerty C, Harris TB, Schwartz AV, Kritchevsky S, Newman AB.  Association Between Regional Adipose Tissue Distribution and Both Type 2 Diabetes and Impaired Glucose Tolerance in Elderly Men and Women.  Diabetes Care.  2003 Feb; 26:372-379.  PMID: 12547865.

53.  Haggerty CL, Ness RB, Soper DE, Holley RL, Peipert J, Randall H, Sweet RL, Sondheimer SJ, Hendrix AL, Amortegui A, Trucco G, Hillier SL, for the PID Evaluation and Clinical Health (PEACH) Study Investigators.  Endometritis Does Not Predict Reproductive Morbidity After Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.  American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.  2003 Jan; 188(1):140-147.  PMID: 12548208.

54.  Sanders MH, Newman AB, Haggerty CL, Redline S, Lebowitz M, Shahar E, Samet J, O’Connor GT, for the Sleep Heart Health Study.  Sleep and sleep-disordered breathing in adults with predominately mild obstructive airway disease.  American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.  2003;167(1): 7-14.  PMID: 12502472.

55.  Goodpaster BH, Carlson CL, Visser M, Kelley DE, Scherzinger A, Harris TB, Stamm E, Newman AB.  Attenuation of skeletal muscle and strength in the elderly: The Health ABC Study.  Journal of Applied Physiology.  2001; 90:2157-2165.  PMID: 11356778.

56.  Carlson CL, Cushman M, Enright, PL, Cauley JA, Newman AB. M.D, for the Cardiovascular Health Study Research Group.  Hormone Replacement Therapy Is Associated with Higher FEV1 in Elderly Women.  American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine.  2001 Feb; 163:423-8. PMID: 11179117.

57.  Ness RB, Markovic N, Carlson CL, Coughlin MT.  Do men become infertile after having sexually transmitted urethritis?  An epidemiologic examination.  Fertility & Sterility.  1997 Aug; 68(2):205-13.  PMID: 9240243.