MIRECC / CoE

Meet a SC MIRECC Researcher: Mary Shapiro, PhD

Q. Please tell us a bit about your educational and career background.

While attending graduate school at Florida State University, my program of research focused on the identification and mitigation of risk factors for anxiety- and trauma-related disorders. Following my graduate training, I completed my pre-doctoral internship at the Charleston Consortium, which included training activities at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and the Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center (VAMC). Following the pre-doctoral internship, I completed an NIMH-funded postdoctoral fellowship at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center (NCVC) at MUSC, focusing on traumatic stress.

During my fellowship, I became aware of the deleterious impact of trauma on perinatal Veterans and the lack of treatments available for pregnant Veterans with a history of trauma. This piqued my interest in research among women Veterans and led me to accept my current position as a clinical psychologist at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System (SLVHCS) and Affiliated Investigator with the SC MIRECC.

Q. What do you like about doing research with Veterans?

I find immense fulfillment in conducting research with women Veterans, particularly those who are pregnant or postpartum. This population faces unique challenges related to military service, trauma, and the transition to motherhood. By studying and treating these women, I can gain valuable insights into their needs and develop evidence-based interventions to improve their mental health and overall well-being.

Q. Do you have any ongoing or upcoming projects that you want to highlight?

I am currently funded by the Small aWard Initiative For impacT Independent VA Investigators (SWIFT-IVI) program and recruiting women Veterans for a study examining the utility of Present-Centered Therapy for trauma-exposed pregnant Veterans. Additionally, I received an intent to fund notice for my Health Systems Research (HSR) Career Development Award-2 (CDA-2), which will hopefully start in April 2025. This study aims to refine and examine an intervention called Calm Moms. Calm Moms is a web-based treatment program designed to reduce anxiety, stress, and low mood symptoms among pregnant Veterans with a history of trauma exposure. The current proposal also aims to collect information regarding the implementation of Calm Moms at additional sites, which will allow Calm Moms to impact a larger group of pregnant Veterans.

Q. Who are the people who have played important roles in your professional development that you would like to mention?

Throughout my graduate and postgraduate training, many mentors played an integral role in my training and success. More recently, at SLVHCS and the SC MIRECC, Dr. Gala True, Dr. Amanda Raines, Dr. Laurel Harlin, and Dr. Ellen Fischer have contributed immensely to my professional development and success.

Q. How has your SC MIRECC affiliation helped grow your research career?

The SC MIRECC has been pivotal in my success since beginning my position at SLVHCS. Specifically, the SC MIRECC provided financial support to collect pilot data for my CDA-2 via the pilot study program. Further, the MIRECC Implementation, Design and Analysis Support (MIDAS) program provided crucial methodological feedback during my CDA-2 resubmission process. Outside of financial support, the SC MIRECC has provided opportunities to collaborate and connect with investigators beyond SLVHCS which has dramatically enhanced my program of research and professional development.

Q. What would your dream research study be if funding weren’t an issue?

My CDA-2! I’m so excited to run this study. Outside of this, I would love to do a study providing psychoeducation and resources to help mitigate the maternal morbidity crisis in the United States.

Q. How can people get in touch with you if they have questions?

Mary.Shapiro1@va.gov

Last updated: February 3, 2025