Elise Erickson

Elise Erickson , PhD, CNM, FACNM

Assistant Professor, BIO5 Institute

Assistant Professor, Clinical Translational Sciences

Assistant Professor, Nursing

Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice-Science

Elise Erickson PhD, CNM, FACNM has been a Certified Nurse Midwife since 2005 and earned a PhD in 2018 at Oregon Health and Science University where she served as a faculty midwife from 2014-2022. Her research lab, "Mechanisms Underpinning Maternal Health" (MUMH), is broadly focused on understanding variation in the physiology governing labor and birth to improve individualization of care practices and promote healthy transitions to motherhood/parenthood. At the University of Arizona she conducts research on epigenetic and genetic variation in oxytocin function for improving the use of oxytocin during the birth process and addressing postpartum hemorrhage specifically. In addition, her work includes the role of epigenetic aging (biological aging) in maternal health and maternal morbidity. Through this line of study, Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) and social environmental factors (adversity/ support) are considered for their role in contributing to epigenetic age acceleration. In addition, Dr. Erickson conducts studies using wearable devices for monitoring maternal autonomic/ hormonal physiology during pregnancy with the objective of understanding signals leading up to pregnancy complications or events for enhanced prediction of labor or pregnancy-related complications. She specializes in latent mixture modeling for understanding heterogeneous and complex phenomenon. She is accepting doctoral and post-doctoral trainees. She lives in Tucson and enjoys playing in nature with her children, spouse and dogs "Biscuit" and "Gravie." 

Education

  • Ph.D., , Oregon Health and Science University, 2018
  • M.S.N., Midwifery and Women's Health, University of Illinois Chicago, 2005
  • B.S.N., , University of Michigan, 2003

Licensure & Certifications

  • Basic Life Saving, American Heart Association, 2022
  • Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (Nurse Midwife), Arizona State Board of Nursing, 2022
  • Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP), 2022
  • Nurse Practitioner (Nurse Midwife), Oregon State Board of Nursing, 2010
  • Surgical First Assistant- Cesarean Delivery, Jefferson University, 2009
  • Certified Nurse Midwife, American Midwifery Certification Board, 2005
  • Third Trimester Limited Obstetric Ultrasound, 2005

Teaching Interests

Reproductive/female-oriented healthcare. Midwifery care and management of physiologic birth and postpartum care. Human development: ovarian and uterine function, perinatal physiology, physiology of parturition including postpartum and lactation. Oxytocin function throughout the body. Development of research questions, methods and analysis.

Courses

  • Dissertation
    NURS 920 (Fall 2023)
  • Independent Study
    NURS 599 (Fall 2023)
  • Honors Independent Study
    PSIO 499H (Summer 2023)
  • Honors Thesis
    PSIO 498H (Summer 2023)
  • Research Preceptorship
    NURS 791A (Spring 2023)

Research Interests

I have been a Certified Nurse Midwife since 2005 and earned a PhD in 2018 at Oregon Health and Science University where I served as a faculty midwife from 2014-2022. My research lab, "Mechanisms Underpinning Maternal Health" (MUMH), is broadly focused on understanding variation in the physiology governing labor and birth to improve individualization of care practices and promote healthy transitions to motherhood/parenthood. At the University of Arizona, I conduct research on epigenetic and genetic variation in oxytocin function for improving the use of oxytocin during the birth process and addressing postpartum hemorrhage specifically.In addition, my work includes the role of epigenetic aging (biological aging) in maternal health and maternal morbidity. Through this line of study, Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) and social environmental factors (adversity/ support) are considered for their role in contributing to epigenetic age acceleration. In addition, I am conducting studies using wearable devices for monitoring maternal autonomic/ hormonal physiology during pregnancy with the objective of understanding signals leading up to pregnancy complications or events for enhanced prediction of labor or pregnancy-related complications. I specialize in latent mixture modeling for understanding phenotypes within heterogeneous and complex phenomenon. Currently I am accepting doctoral and post-doctoral trainees.

Journals/Publications

  • Carlson, N. S., Carlson, M. S., Erickson, E. N., Higgins, M., Britt, A. J., & Amore, A. D. (2023). Disparities by race/ethnicity in unplanned cesarean birth among healthy nulliparas: a secondary analysis of the nuMoM2b dataset. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 23(1), 342.
  • Erickson, E. N., Gotlieb, N., Pereira, L. M., Myatt, L., Mosquera-Lopez, C., & Jacobs, P. G. (2023). Predicting labor onset relative to the estimated date of delivery using smart ring physiological data. NPJ digital medicine, 6(1), 153.
  • Erickson, E. N. (2023). A prolonged latent phase: An early career in oxytocin during birth. Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology, 15, 100190.
  • Erickson, E. N., Myatt, L., Danoff, J. S., Krol, K. M., & Connelly, J. J. (2023). Oxytocin receptor DNA methylation is associated with exogenous oxytocin needs during parturition and postpartum hemorrhage. Communications medicine, 3(1), 11.
  • Weinstein, S. R., Erickson, E. N., Molina, R., & Bell, A. F. (2023). Maternal outcomes related to Genetic and epigenetic Variation in the oxytocin system: A scoping review. Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology, 16, 100209.
  • Erickson, E. N., Krol, K. M., Perkeybile, A. M., Connelly, J. J., & Myatt, L. (2022). Oxytocin receptor single nucleotide polymorphism predicts atony-related postpartum hemorrhage. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 22(1), 884.
  • Erickson, E. N., Knight, A. K., Smith, A. K., & Myatt, L. (2022). Advancing understanding of maternal age: correlating epigenetic clocks in blood and myometrium. Epigenetics communications, 2.
  • Erickson, E. N., & Carlson, N. S. (2022). Maternal Morbidity Predicted by an Intersectional Social Determinants of Health Phenotype: A Secondary Analysis of the NuMoM2b Dataset. Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.).
  • Grant, A. D., & Erickson, E. N. (2022). Birth, love, and fear: Physiological networks from pregnancy to parenthood. Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology, 11, 100138.
  • Kissler, K., Breman, R. B., Carlson, N., Tilden, E., Erickson, E., & Phillippi, J. (2022). Innovations in Prospective Perinatal Research as a Result Of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of midwifery and women's health, 67(2), 264-269.
  • Erickson, E. N., Bailey, J. M., Colo, S. D., Carlson, N. S., & Tilden, E. L. (2021). Induction of labor or expectant management? Birth outcomes for nulliparous individuals choosing midwifery care. Birth (Berkeley, Calif.), 48(4), 501-513.
  • Denfeld, Q., Erickson, E., Valent, A., Villasana, L., Zhang, Z., Myatt, L., & Guise, J. (2020). COVID-19: Challenges and Lessons Learned from Early Career Investigators.
  • Erickson, E. N., Bovbjerg, M. L., & Cheyney, M. J. (2020). Factors affecting third-stage management and postpartum hemorrhage in planned midwife-led home and birth center births in the United States. Birth (Berkeley, Calif.), 47(4), 397-408.
  • Erickson, E. N., Lee, C. S., & Carlson, N. S. (2020). Predicting Postpartum Hemorrhage After Vaginal Birth by Labor Phenotype. Journal of midwifery & women's health, 65(5), 609-620.
  • Erickson, E. N., Carter, C. S., & Emeis, C. L. (2020). Oxytocin, Vasopressin and Prolactin in New Breastfeeding Mothers: Relationship to Clinical Characteristics and Infant Weight Loss. Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association, 36(1), 136-145.
  • Erickson, E. N., & Carlson, N. S. (2020). Predicting Postpartum Hemorrhage After Low-Risk Vaginal Birth by Labor Characteristics and Oxytocin Administration. Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN, 49(6), 549-563.
  • Erickson, E. N., Lee, C. S., Grose, E., & Emeis, C. (2019). Physiologic childbirth and active management of the third stage of labor: A latent class model of risk for postpartum hemorrhage. Birth (Berkeley, Calif.), 46(1), 69-79.
  • Thiele, D. K., Erickson, E. N., & Snowden, J. M. (2019). High Prevalence of Maternal Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Deficiency Is Not Associated With Poor Birth Outcomes Among Healthy White Women in the Pacific Northwest. Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN, 48(2), 163-175.
  • Erickson, E. N., Lee, C. S., & Emeis, C. L. (2017). Role of Prophylactic Oxytocin in the Third Stage of Labor: Physiologic Versus Pharmacologically Influenced Labor and Birth. Journal of midwifery & women's health, 62(4), 418-424.
  • Erickson, E. N., & Emeis, C. L. (2017). Breastfeeding Outcomes After Oxytocin Use During Childbirth: An Integrative Review. Journal of midwifery & women's health, 62(4), 397-417.
  • Bell, A. F., Erickson, E. N., & Carter, C. S. (2014). Beyond labor: the role of natural and synthetic oxytocin in the transition to motherhood. Journal of midwifery & women's health, 59(1), 35-42: quiz 108.