معرفی
Maureen Murtaugh, PhD, serves as Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine, with adjunct appointments in Population Health Sciences, Ophthalmology, and Nutrition and Integrative Physiology. She directs the Targeted Research Training Program and Pilot Project Research Training program for the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH), and concurrently holds the position of Director of Graduate Studies for the Department of Population Health Sciences. Dr. Murtaugh co-directs the Utah Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) KL2 program and serves on the RMCOEH Executive Committee, while also functioning as a School of Medicine Ombuds and former Chair of the Faculty Advancement and Retention Committee.
Her research integrates epidemiological methods with clinical practice across multiple domains, emphasizing systemic sclerosis pathophysiology, occupational health risks among commercial truck drivers, maternal-fetal health outcomes, and ocular epidemiology in indigenous populations. Key investigations examine allostatic load as a mediator of racial disparities in cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal manifestations in systemic sclerosis, and pandemic-related impacts on intimate partner violence and eye health. Her work consistently employs cohort studies, clinical trials, and database analyses to address health inequities.
Analysis of her recent publications reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) systemic sclerosis biomarker validation and multidisciplinary management approaches, (2) occupational health interventions targeting metabolic syndrome in transportation workers, and (3) pregnancy-related allostatic load mechanisms linking stress physiology to long-term cardiovascular outcomes. These streams demonstrate exceptional methodological breadth spanning genetic epidemiology, clinical trials, and public health surveillance.
As Director of Graduate Studies for Population Health Sciences, Dr. Murtaugh oversees curriculum development and mentorship for graduate researchers. Her leadership in the CCTS KL2 program focuses on developing sustainable research careers through inclusive mentorship environments, as evidenced by her 2017 publication on scholar retention strategies. She actively participates in grant review panels for RMCOEH pilot projects and NIH-funded translational research initiatives.
Dr. Murtaugh collaborates extensively with RMCOEH's occupational health teams and the CCTS infrastructure, contributing to the Total Worker Health Center and NORA Symposium initiatives. Her work with the Outreach Center for Meeting Effectiveness and HAZWOPER training programs demonstrates commitment to translating research into workplace safety practices, particularly within the Mountain West OSHA framework.
