Catherine L Haggerty

Catherine L Haggerty is a Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, where she also serves as Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Vice Chair for Practice. Her research focuses on the interplay between the vaginal microbiome, infectious pathogens, and adverse reproductive outcomes, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, and preterm birth.

Education:

• BS in Mathematics (University of Pittsburgh, 1994)
• MPH in Epidemiology (University of Pittsburgh, 1999)
• PhD in Epidemiology (University of Pittsburgh, 2001)
• Community Health Internship (Bridging the Gaps, 2002)
• NIH NRSA Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (2004)

Her work spans environmental health interventions, perinatal health inequities, and global health, with a focus on racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities. She co-leads the Healthy Environments and Strong Bodies Collaborative and the Longitudinal Indian Family hEalth (LIFE) Study, examining environmental, infectious, and metabolic factors affecting maternal and child health.

Recent publications highlight her expertise in vaginal microbiome dynamics, infectious disease epidemiology, and geographical disparities in obstetric care. Her research group has pioneered prospective studies on pathogens like Mycoplasma genitalium and Sneathia, linking them to PID and treatment failure.

Scientific Awards:

• NIH NRSA Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship

Grants and Training Leadership: She has directed major training grants, including the Fogarty International Training Grant (D43) and the Reproductive, Perinatal, and Pediatric Epidemiology T32. Haggerty also developed the School of Public Health Faculty Mentoring Program and leads the Maternal Health Center of Excellence Training Component.