Active + productive research opportunities in the MFM fellowship at Tufts Medical Center
Tufts Medical Center MFM fellows dive into high-impact research across basic science, clinical studies and translational projects. Fellows receive hands-on experience, expert mentorship and access to cutting-edge resources, developing the skills to lead in maternal-fetal medicine research locally, nationally and globally. The program emphasizes scholarly productivity, innovation and opportunities to present findings at regional, national and international conferences.
Fellows dedicate at least 12 months to research during their fellowship. They regularly present updates to faculty, addressing challenges, exploring new ideas and refining projects under expert guidance. The research period includes training in statistics, clinical study design and optional graduate courses at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. The work culminates in a thesis presented to the division faculty.
Mentorship and support
Fellows are guided by dedicated mentors who provide hands-on support and career guidance, including:
- Dr. Sabrina Craigo, Clinical Research mentor
- Dr. Michael House, Basic Research mentor
- Additional resources through the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Tufts Medical Center
Fellows also have access to the Woman, Mother + Baby Research Institute (WOMB), a multidisciplinary research hub uniting investigators from maternal-fetal medicine, newborn medicine, and gynecology. WOMB has secured multiple NIH grants and has a strong track record of mentoring MFM fellows through their thesis projects. Perrie O’Tierney-Ginn, PhD, serves as Executive Director, guiding research initiatives and supporting fellow development.
Fellows gain hands-on experience with the clinical trials research team, which provides practical support for research activities, including:
- Screening and recruiting study participants
- Sample collection and processing
- Workflow design for new trials
- Data collection and abstraction
- Assistance with IRB applications, renewals and protocol development
- Preparation for federal and sponsor audits
Areas of clinical and research excellence
Fellows are encouraged to explore diverse topics, including:
- Detection of fetal anomalies by sonography
- Cervical insufficiency
- Diabetes management
- Cost effectiveness and implementation science
- Structural racism and disparities in perinatal outcomes
Collaboration with other departments is welcomed to support unique research interests and interdisciplinary projects.
Conference participation
Fellows are encouraged and supported to present their work at national and international meetings, including:
- Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM)
- Society of Reproductive Investigation (SRI)
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
- International Society of Prenatal Diagnosis (ISPD)
- New England Perinatal Society (NEPS)
- Society of Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP)
