Perinatal Epidemiology Research Unit

Faculty of Medicine

Residents and Fellows

Clinically and socially relevant research

Many residents and practising physicians in obstetrics, gynaecology and pediatrics choose to embark on research projects with PERU. Dalhousie residents are required to complete a research project that is relevant to their field - many find that working on their project with PERU provides them with the perfect opportunity to shed light on important mother-child health issues they have encountered in their residency training. For those who have already completed residency training, a fellowship with PERU enables them to deepen their research skills so they are better prepared to seek answers to important research questions throughout their careers as academic physicians.

Current residents and fellows

Dr. Emily Gray (resident, 2020-present)

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Project: Factors associated with severe maternal and neonatal complications  in women undergoing trial of labour after cesarean section  and their effects over time 
Dr. Azar Mehrabadi, supervisor

Dr. Lisiane Leal (fellow, 2019-present)

Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Occupational Health, McGill University
Project: Effects of changing pre-eclampsia management on acute renal failure and other maternal and perinatal outcomes in the United Kingdom
Dr. Azar Mehrabadi, co-supervisor (with Dr. Robert Platt, McGill University)

Dr. Emma Pollard (resident, 2018-present)

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Project: Perineal outcomes at subsequent pregnancy in Nova Scotian women with prior obstetrical anal sphincter injury
Dr. Christy Woolcott, co-supervisor (with Dr. Anita Smith)

Dr. Megan O'Neill (resident, 2018-present)

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Project: Maternal characteristics associated with increased reported rates of cannabis use in pregnancy among women in Nova Scotia
Dr. Christy Woolcott, co-supervisor (with Dr. Victoria Allen)

Dr. Rebecca McBriarty (resident, 2017-present)

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Project: An assessment of the educational needs of Canadian obstetrics and gynaecology residents regarding opioid agonist use in pregnancy
Dr. Christy Woolcott, co-supervisor (with Dr. Victoria Allen)

Dr. Alyson Digby (resident, 2017-present)

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Project: Implementation of a provincial abortion network: qualitative analysis of a novel approach
Dr. Christy Woolcott, co-supervisor (with Dr. Melissa Brooks)

 

Recent residents and fellows

Dr. Kiel Luhning (resident, 2016-2019)

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Project: Potential benefit of medical termination of pregnancy in Halifax
Dr. Christy Woolcott, co-supervisor (with Dr. Melissa Brooks)

Dr. Gillian MacMullin (resident, 2016-2019)

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Project: Neural tube defects after folic acid fortification
Dr. Christy Woolcott, co-supervisor (with Dr. Michiel Van Den Hof)

Dr. Dave Burnett (resident, 2015-2018)

Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University
Project: Prenatal and perinatal risk factors for pediatric inflammatory bowel disease in Nova Scotia
Dr. Stefan Kuhle, co-supervisor (with Dr. Anthony Otley)
Publications:
1) Burnett D, Brown MM, Otley A, Kuhle S. The Association Between Caesarean Section and Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Childhood and Young Adulthood: Findings From 2 Retrospective Cohort Studies. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2020 Sep;71(3):e84-e89. (Abstract on PubMed)

Dr. Satvinder Ghotra (fellow, 2014-2017)

Neonatal Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics
Project: Validation of the Quality of Life in School (QoLS) measure in Canadian elementary school students
Dr. Stefan Kuhle, supervisor
Publication: Ghotra S, McIsaac JL, Kirk SF, Kuhle S. Validation of the "Quality of Life in School" instrument in Canadian elementary school students. PeerJ. 2016 Jan 12;4:e1567. doi: 10.7717/peerj.1567. (Abstract on PubMed)

Dr. Lauren Jain (resident, 2014-2018)

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Toronto
Project: Characteristics and outcomes of adolescent pregnancy in Nova Scotia: A retrospective cohort study
Dr. Stefan Kuhle, co-supervisor (with Dr. Nancy Van Eyk)
Publication: Jain LH, Van Eyk N, Woolcott C, Kuhle S. Characteristics and Outcomes of Adolescent Births in Nova Scotia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2018 Nov;40(11):1459-1465 (Abstract on PubMed)

Dr. Mila Smithies (fellow, 2014-2017)

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Project 1: Characterizing the pregnancies of a select group of women with previous Caesarean section: A population based study
Dr. Christy Woolcott, co-supervisor (with Drs. Vicky Allen and Jo-Ann Brock)
Publication: Smithies M, Woolcott CG, Brock JK, Maguire B, Allen VM. Factors Associated
with Trial of Labour and Mode of Delivery in Robson Group 5: A Select Group of
Women With Previous Caesarean Section. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2018 Mar 1. pii:
S1701-2163(17)30600-X. (Abstract on PubMed)
Project 2: The prevalence of smoking among pregnant women in Nova Scotia from 1988 to 2014 
Dr. Linda Dodds, supervisor