Maine Medical Center
A group of OB-GYN residents standing together on a large staircase

Research

Each OB/GYN resident is expected to complete an academic research project prior to completion of residency. We provide residents with a well-structured research curriculum that starts in the PGY1 year and is spread over 3 separate rotations across the first three years. Dr. Daniel Spratt, oversees the resident research experience. Residents complete a 2 day course in research basics and fundamentals sponsored by the MaineHealth Institute for Research (MHIR).

Additional didactic content is provided by department and research institute faculty. It is our expectation that research projects will be publication-caliber, and we provide many resources to help residents achieve this goal, including access to an epidemiologist as well as additional services through MHIR. In the past, some of our residents have even received intramural funding for research projects.

The research obligation is completed in two parts: presentation of a poster at the Annual MaineHealth Maine Medical Center (MHMMC) Costas Lambrew Research Day in May of the PGY 3 year, followed by an oral presentation of the research abstract at the Annual Departmental Resident Research Day in October of the PGY 4 year. This timeline affords residents the opportunity to spend the remainder of their PGY 4 year preparing manuscripts for publication and completing the other necessary aspects of training in order to graduate.

Selected Recent Publications (resident author bolded):

  • Efficacy of Sex Steroid Therapy Without Progestin or GnRH Agonist for Gonadal Suppression in Adult Transgender Patients. Pappas II, Craig WY, Spratt LV, Spratt DI. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Mar 8;106(3):e1290-e1300. PMID: 33247919

  • Integrating Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) for Substance Use into Prenatal Care. Hostage JC, Brock J, Craig W, Sepulveda D. Matern Child Health J. 2020 Apr;24(4):412-418. PMID: 32026324

  • Characterizing the use of osteopathic manipulative medicine in the obstetric population by trimester and indications for use. Faloon J, Bishop K, Craig W, Brock J. J Osteopath Med. 2021 Jan 1;121(1):85-96. PMID: 33512388
  • The effect of temperature on bacterial growth in the presence of nonsterile ultrasound coupling gel. Ricci S, Pinette MG, Wax JR, Craig W, Forrest L, Dragoni C. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020 Feb;222(2):188. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2019.10.001. PMID: 31610151

  • Perinatal Outcomes Associated With Isolated Velamentous Cord Insertion in Singleton and Twin Pregnancies. Sinkin JA, Craig WY, Jones M, Pinette MG, Wax JR. J Ultrasound Med. 2018 Feb;37(2):471-478. doi: 10.1002/jum.14357. PMID: 28850682

  • Serum Testosterone Concentrations Remain Stable Between Injections in Patients Receiving Subcutaneous Testosterone. McFarland J, Craig W, Clarke NJ, Spratt DI. J Endocr Soc. 2017 Jul 21;1(8):1095-1103 PMID: 29264562

  • Subcutaneous Injection of Testosterone Is an Effective and Preferred Alternative to Intramuscular Injection: Demonstration in Female-to-Male Transgender Patients. Spratt DI, Stewart II, Savage C, Craig W, Spack NP, Chandler DW, Spratt LV, Eimicke T, Olshan JS. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2017 Jul 1;102(7):2349-2355. PMID: 28379417