Sarah McDonald

Sarah McDonald is a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology within the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University. Her scholarly activity demonstrates extensive contributions to maternal-fetal medicine with over 233 publications in the last decade. She maintains active clinical and research engagement as evidenced by publications extending into 2025.

Dr. McDonald's research focuses on critical areas in obstetrics including preterm birth prevention, gestational diabetes management, pregnancy weight gain patterns, antenatal corticosteroid use, and outcomes in twin pregnancies. Her work spans clinical trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and population-based cohort studies addressing significant questions in maternal-fetal medicine. She has particular expertise in analyzing perinatal outcomes related to obstetric interventions and maternal conditions.

Recent publication trends show continued leadership in clinical trials (including the SNACS trial on single-dose antenatal corticosteroids), national surveys examining practice patterns across Canada, and investigations into the long-term implications of preterm birth. Her work increasingly incorporates mixed-methods approaches and social-ecological models to understand complex obstetric phenomena beyond purely biomedical factors.

Dr. McDonald actively collaborates across multiple Canadian institutions and contributes to clinical practice guidelines in obstetrics. Her scholarly impact is reflected in numerous publications in high-impact journals including American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, JAMA Network Open, and BJOG.

Her clinical expertise spans the full spectrum of obstetric care with particular attention to high-risk pregnancy management, evidence-based decision making, and translating research findings into clinical practice. She maintains an active role in shaping obstetric care through guideline development and national surveys of practice patterns.