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.

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.

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

2002 | Community Health Summer Internship, University of Pittsburgh

2001 | University of Pittsburgh, Ph.D. Epidemiology

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

1994 | University of Pittsburgh, B.S. Mathematics

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
• 2017-present | Affiliate Faculty, Center for Microbiome & Medicine, University of Pittsburgh
• 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
• Preconception biomarkers for adverse pregnancy outcomes
• The role of infection and inflammation in infertility, chronic pelvic pain and adverse pregnancy outcomes
• Microbiome
• Global health

The influence of vaginal microbiota on adverse pregnancy outcomes in the Longitudinal Indian Family hEalth (LIFE) study (2017-2018, PI), Center for Global Health, University of Pittsburgh

Mycoplasma genitalium, differentiated Ureaplasma species, and pregnancy outcomes (2016 - 2019, PI), NIH/NIAID

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

• 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

1.     Taylor BD, Ness RB, Klebanoff MA, Tang G, Roberts JM, Hougaard DM, Skogstrand K, Haggerty CL.  The impact of female fetal sex on preeclampsia and the maternal immune milieu. Pregnancy Hypertension: An International Journal of Women’s Cardiovascular Health. 2018 Feb 24; 12:53-57. PMID: 29674199.

2.     Taylor BD, Totten PA, Astete SG, Ferris MJ, Martin DH, Ness RB, Haggerty CL. Toll-like receptor variants and cervical Atopobium vaginae infection in women with pelvic inflammatory disease.  American Journal of Reproductive Immunology. 2018 Feb; 79(2). PMID: 29286178.

3.     Gorwitz RJ, Wiesenfeld HC, Chen PL, Hammon KR, Sereday KA, Haggerty CL, Johnson RE, Papp JR, Kissin DM, Henning TC, Hook EW 3rd, Steinkampf MP, Markowitz LE, Geisler WM. Population- attributable fraction of tubal factor infertility associated with chlamydia. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2017 Sep; 217(3):336.e1-336.316. PMID: 28532600.

4.     Taylor BD, Ness RB, Klebanoff MA, Zoh R, Bass D, Hougaard DM, Skogstrand K, Haggerty CL. First and second trimester immune biomarkers in preeclamptic and normotensive women. Pregnancy Hypertension: An International Journal of Women's Cardiovascular Health. 2016 Oct; 6(4):388-393. PMID: 27939488.

5.     Taylor BD, Zheng X, Darville T, Abiodun-Ojo O, Konganti K, Ness RB, Haggerty, CL. Whole-exome sequencing to identify novel candidate genes associated with infertility following pelvic inflammatory disease. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 2017 Jan; 44(1):35-41. PMID: 27898568.

6.     Betha K, Eastman JM, Tang, G, Haggerty CL. Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis among Childbearing Age Women in India: A Systematic Review. Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2016; 2016:8561645. PMID: 27672303.

7.     Kusneniwar GN, Whelan RM, Betha K, Robertson JM, Ramidi PR, Balasubramanian K, Kamasamudram V, Haggerty CL, Bunker CH, Reddy PS. Cohort Profile: The Longitudinal Indian Family hEalth (LIFE) Pilot Study, Telangana State, India. International Journal of Epidemiology. 2017 Jun 1; 46(3):788-789j. PMID: 27649805.

8.     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? Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. 2016 Jun; 48(2):57-64.  PMID: 27077497.

9.     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.

10.  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 Sep; 92(6):441-6. PMID: 26825087.

11.  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; 3(1):28-33. PMID: 26105737.

12.  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. 2015 Mar; 65(3):594-9. PMID: 25510827.

13.  Reynolds SA, Roberts JM, Bodnar LM, Youk AO, Haggerty CL, Catov JM. Fetal sex and race modify the predictors of fetal growth. Maternal and Child Health Journal. 2015 Apr; 19(4):798-810. PMID: 25030701.

14.  Taylor BD, Darville T, Ferrell RE, Ness RB, Kelsey SF, Haggerty CL. Cross-sectional analysis of Toll-like receptor variants and bacterial vaginosis in African-American women with pelvic inflammatory disease. Sexually Transmitted Infections. 2014 Nov; 90(7):563-6. PMID: 24848367.

15.  Barral R, Desai R, Zheng X, Frzer 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.

16.  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.

17.  Darville T, 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 RR, Deal CD. 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):761–7. PMID: 24275724.

18.  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.

19.  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.

20.  Taylor BD, Darville T, Haggerty CL. Does bacterial vaginosis cause pelvic inflammatorydisease?  Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 2013 Feb; 40(2):117-22. PMID:23324974.

21.  Taylor BD, Darville T, Ferrell RE, Kammerer CM,Ness RB, Haggerty CL. Racial variationin toll-like receptor variants among women with pelvic inflammatory disease. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2013 Mar 15; 207(6):940-6. PMID: 23255565.

22.  Reynolds SA, Roberts JM, Bodnar LM, Haggerty CL, Youk AO, Catov JM.Newborns of preeclamptic women show evidence of sex-specific disparity in fetalgrowth. Gender Medicine. 2012 Dec; 9(6):424-35.PMID: 23217566.

23.  Pittrof R, Sully E, Bass DC, Ness RB, Kelsey SF, Haggerty CL. Stimulating an immuneresponse: Oral sex is associated with less endometritis. International Journal of STD & AIDS. 2012 Nov; 23(11):775-80. PMID: 23155096.

24.  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.

25.  Taylor BD, Darville T, Ferrell RE, Kammerer CM, Ness RB, Haggerty CL. Variants in toll-likereceptor 1 and 4 genes are associated with Chlamydiatrachomatis among women with pelvic inflammatory disease. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2012 Feb15; 205(4):603-9. PMID: 22238472.

26.  Haggerty CL, Taylor BD. Mycoplasma genitalium: an emerging cause of pelvic inflammatory disease.  Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2011; 2011:959816. PMID: 22235165.

27.  Taylor BD, Darville T, Tan C, Bavoil PM, Ness RB, Haggerty CL. The role of Chlamydia trachomatis polymorphic membrane proteins in inflammation and sequelae among women with pelvic inflammatory disease. Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2011; 2011:989762. PMID: 22028586.

28.  Trent M, Bass D, Ness RB, Haggerty C. Recurrent PID, subsequent STI, and reproductive health outcomes: findings from the PID evaluation and clinical health (PEACH) study. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 2011 Sep; 38(9):879-81. PMID: 21844746.

29.  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.

30.  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.

31.  Taylor BD, Ness RB, Darville T, Haggerty CL. Microbial correlates ofdelayed care for pelvic inflammatory disease. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 2011 May; 38(5):434-8. PMID:21124257.

32.  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. 2011 Feb; 24(1):2-9. PMID: 20869281.

33.  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. 2010 Jun; 201 Suppl 2:S134-55.  PMID: 20470050.

34.  Short VL, Jensen JS, Nelson DB, Murray PJ, Ness RB, Haggerty CL. Mycoplasma genitalium among young, urban pregnant women. Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2010; 2010:984760. PMID: 20379360.

35.  Short VL, Totten PA, Ness RB, Astete SG, Kelsey SF, Murray P, Haggerty CL. The demographic, sexual health and behavioural correlates of Mycoplasma genitalium infection among women with clinically suspected pelvic inflammatory disease. Sexually Transmitted Infections. 2010 Feb; 86(1):29-31. PMID: 19703841.

36.  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. PMID: 19487469.

37.  Haggerty CL, Ness RB. Diagnosis and treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease. Women’s Health. 2008 Jul; 4(4):383-97. PMID: 19072503.

38.  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.

39. Haggerty CL,Totten PA, Ferris M, Martin DH, Hoferka S, Astete SG, Ondondo R, Norori J, Ness RB. Clinical characteristics ofbacterial vaginosis among women testing positive for fastidious bacteria.  SexuallyTransmitted Infections. 2009 Aug; 85(4):242-8. PMID: 19004865.

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

41.  Wu CS, Sun Y, Vestergaard M, Christensen J, Ness RB, Haggerty CL, Olsen J. Preeclampsia and risk for epilepsy in offspring. Pediatrics. 2008 Nov; 122(5):1072-8. PMID: 18977989.

42.  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. PMID: 18445635.

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

44.  Haggerty CL, Totten PA, Astete SG, Ness RB. Mycoplasma genitalium among women with nongonococcal, nonchlamydial pelvic inflammatory disease. Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2006; 2006:30184. PMID: 17485798.  

45.  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. 2007 May 13; 1(5):1494-9.  PMID: 17400677.

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

47.  Haggerty CL, Ness RB. Epidemiology, pathogenesis and treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease.  Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy. 2006 Apr; 4(2):235-47. PMID: 16597205.

48.  Taaffe DR, Newman AB, Haggerty CL, Colbert LH, de Rekeneire N, Visser M, Goodpaster BH, Nevitt MC,Tylavsky FA, Harris TB. Estrogen replacement, muscle composition, and physicalfunction: The Health ABC Study. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 2005 Oct; 37(10):1741-7. PMID: 16260975.

49.  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 Jul; 193(1):209-15. PMID: 16021081.

50.  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 May; 32(5):293-9. PMID: 15849530.

51.  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 Dec 1; 160(11):1033-8. PMID: 15561982.

52.  Haggerty CL, Hillier SL, Bass DC, Ness RB; PID Evaluation and Clinical Health study investigators. Bacterial vaginosis and anaerobic bacteria are associated with endometritis. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2004 Oct 1; 39(7):990-5. PMID: 15472851.

53.  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.

54.  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):934-939. PMID: 14672466.

55.  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; 58(8):715-20. PMID: 12902529.

56.  Haggerty CL, Ness RB, Kelsey S, Waterer G. The Impact of Estrogen and Progesterone on Asthma.  Annals of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. 2003 Mar; 90(3):284-291; quiz 291-293. Review. PMID: 12669890.

57.  Newman AB, Haggerty CL, Goodpaster B, Harris T, Kritchevsky S, Nevitt M, Miles TP, Visser M; Health Aging And Body Composition Research Group. Strength and muscle quality in a well-functioning cohort of older adults: the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2003 Mar; 51(3):323-30. PMID: 12588575.

58.  Haggerty CL, Ness RB, Amortegui A, Hendrix SL, Hillier SL, Holley RL, Peipert J, Randall H, Sondheimer SJ, Soper DE, Sweet RL, Trucco G. Endometritis does not predict reproductive morbidity after pelvic inflammatory disease. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2003 Jan; 188(1):141-8. PMID:12548208.

59.  Goodpaster BH, Krishnaswami S, Resnick H, Kelley DE, Haggerty C, Harris TB, Schwartz AV, Kritchevsky S, Newman AB. Association between regional adipose tissue distributionand both type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance in elderly men and women. Diabetes Care. 2003 Feb; 26(2):372-9. PMID: 12547865.

60.  Sanders MH, Newman AB, Haggerty CL, Redline S, Lebowitz M, Samet J, O’Connor GT, Punjabi NM, Shahar E; 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 Jan 1; 167(1):7-14. PMID: 12502472.

61.  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 Jun; 90(6):2157-65. PMID: 11356778.

62.  Carlson CL, Cushman M, Enright, PL, Cauley JA, Newman AB; 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(2):423-8. PMID: 11179117.

63.  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.