Janet Shaw

Janet Shaw is a Professor of Health & Kinesiology at the University of Utah's College of Health. She holds adjunct roles as Adjunct Professor in Nutrition & Integrative Physiology, and Adjunct Associate Professor in Obstetrics & Gynecology and the College of Nursing. Her research focuses on postpartum health, pelvic floor support, and physical activity's role in maternal well-being. She has led NIH-funded projects, including the Motherhood and Pelvic Health (MAP) study, and contributed to guidelines for prenatal exercise recommendations. Shaw's work bridges clinical and cultural factors influencing pelvic floor outcomes, emphasizing the impact of intra-abdominal pressure and physical activity on postpartum recovery.

Education:

• BS in Music, Indiana University
• MA in Physical Education, University of North Carolina
• PhD in Exercise and Sport Science, Oregon State University

Research Interests: Sports science, exercise physiology, allied health, postpartum recovery, and pelvic floor disorders. Her studies explore how physical activity, body composition, and intra-abdominal pressure affect maternal and postpartum health outcomes.

Grants: Principal investigator of an NIH PPG grant (2015-2021) on postpartum pelvic floor health. Her work integrates multi-disciplinary approaches to understand postpartum physical and cultural determinants.

Awards: Distinguished Teaching Award (2010), Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (2002).

Teaching & Mentorship: Advises PhD students in thesis research and honors projects. Engages undergraduates in clinical research through the MAP study, emphasizing translational kinesiology.

Labs/Teams: Leads the MAP Study team, collaborating with obstetrics, urogynecology, and public health experts. Focuses on long-term postpartum pelvic health monitoring.