Voluntary Faculty
Voluntary faculty are typically clinicians or others who are employed outside of the School but make significant contributions to department programs at the medical center or at affiliate institutions.
Voluntary rank detailsJoan Combellick, PhD, MPH, MSN, CNM
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Titles
Co-Director, Midwifery Department
Biography
Dr. Combellick is a certified nurse midwife and graduate of the Yale School of Nursing midwifery program. In addition to a Masters in Nursing degree from Yale, she holds a Masters in Global Public Health degree from New York University and a PhD from New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing. Her program of practice-based research includes her doctoral dissertation which investigated the impact of common birth interventions on the neonate's microbiome. Dr. Combellick completed the Advanced Women's Health Fellowship at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) in West Haven, CT. In her post doctoral work she has investigated the relationship between mental health conditions and reproductive health outcomes, and the midwifery model of care. She is currently working at the VHA on severe maternal morbidity and mortality among Veterans who use VHA maternity benefits. She is an assistant professor at Yale School of Nursing and the Co-Director of the midwifery specialty. She also works at Yale New Haven Hospital as part of the Yale Midwifery Faculty Practice.
Last Updated on December 22, 2024.
Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Advanced Women's Health Fellow
- VA CT Healthcare System (2019)
- PhD
- New York University, Nursing (2017)
- MPH
- New York University, Global Public Health/Epidemiology (2011)
- MSN
- Yale University, School of Nursing (1993)
Research
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Overview
Medical Research Interests
Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Maternal Mortality; Pregnancy Outcome
ORCID
0000-0003-3163-9467
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Joan Combellick's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Joan Combellick's research output by year.
Bridget Basile Ibrahim
Sally Haskell, MD
Cynthia Brandt, MD, MPH
Galina A. Portnoy, PhD
Janene Batten, EdD, MLS
Joseph Lucien Goulet, PhD, MS
29Publications
1,448Citations
Publications
2025
Every two minutes, one woman dies during pregnancy and birth – We are failing mothers
Maimburg R, Declercq E, Combellick J. Every two minutes, one woman dies during pregnancy and birth – We are failing mothers. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare 2025, 44: 101104. PMID: 40344894, DOI: 10.1016/j.srhc.2025.101104.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2024
The Social Context of Pregnancy, Respectful Maternity Care, Biomarkers of Weathering, and Postpartum Mental Health Inequities: A Scoping Review
Basile-Ibrahim B, Combellick J, Mead T, Sorensen A, Batten J, Schafer R. The Social Context of Pregnancy, Respectful Maternity Care, Biomarkers of Weathering, and Postpartum Mental Health Inequities: A Scoping Review. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health 2024, 21: 480. PMID: 38673391, PMCID: PMC11049830, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21040480.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMaternity care teamNegative birth experienceRespectful maternity careMental health outcomesBirth experienceCare teamSocioeconomic disadvantageHealth outcomesScoping ReviewObstetric violenceMaternity carePost-traumatic stress disorderBirth-related post-traumatic stress disorderJBI scoping review methodologySocial context of pregnancyPeer-reviewed original research articlesMaternity care providersMental health inequalitiesScoping review methodologySymptoms of PMADsMental health disordersBiological indicator of stressBirth companionHealth inequalitiesIncidence of diagnosisThe Impact of Military Trauma Exposures on Servicewomen's Pregnancy Outcomes: A Scoping Review
Manzo L, Dindinger R, Batten J, Combellick J, Basile‐Ibrahim B. The Impact of Military Trauma Exposures on Servicewomen's Pregnancy Outcomes: A Scoping Review. Journal Of Midwifery & Women's Health 2024, 69: 634-646. PMID: 38384111, DOI: 10.1111/jmwh.13620.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsAdverse pregnancy outcomesPregnancy outcomesActive-duty servicewomenMilitary trauma exposurePosttraumatic stress disorderWomen veteransRisk of adverse pregnancy outcomesHypertensive disorders of pregnancyCombat deploymentDisorders of pregnancyMilitary servicewomenTrauma exposureLow birth weightMental health conditionsJunior enlisted rankMilitary sexual traumaNeonatal outcomesPerinatal outcomesHypertensive disordersPreterm birthGestational diabetesPostpartum managementPerinatal moodBirth weightMaternal mortalityPerinatal mental health and pregnancy-associated mortality: opportunities for change
Combellick J, Esmaeili A, Johnson A, Haskell S, Phibbs C, Manzo L, Miller L. Perinatal mental health and pregnancy-associated mortality: opportunities for change. Archives Of Women's Mental Health 2024, 27: 417-424. PMID: 38172275, DOI: 10.1007/s00737-023-01404-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsPerinatal mental health conditionsPregnancy-associated deathsMental health conditionsHealth conditionsMaternal deathsPatient educationIndividual chart reviewNational VHA databasesPregnancy-associated mortalityAdverse pregnancy outcomesPerinatal mental healthLate postpartum periodReproductive health concernsMental health cohortQuality improvement projectMental health effectsMedication continuityChart reviewMental health contextPregnancy outcomesHealth cohortVHA databasesPostpartum periodHealthcare cliniciansMost deaths
2023
Improving the Maternity Care Safety Net: Establishing Maternal Mortality Surveillance for Non-Obstetric Providers and Institutions
Combellick J, Ibrahim B, Esmaeili A, Phibbs C, Johnson A, Patton E, Manzo L, Haskell S. Improving the Maternity Care Safety Net: Establishing Maternal Mortality Surveillance for Non-Obstetric Providers and Institutions. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health 2023, 21: 37. PMID: 38248502, PMCID: PMC10815856, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21010037.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsVeterans Health AdministrationPregnancy-associated deathsQuality improvement projectMaternal outcomesMaternity careCare providersIndividual chart reviewMaternal mortality surveillancePregnancy-associated mortalityLate postpartum periodPercent of deathsSpecialty care providersAdverse social determinantsMortality review processMulti-specialty careMaternity care providersNational VA databasesMental health conditionsIntegration of careImprovement projectSystem-level factorsTime of deathPostpartum deathChart reviewPerinatal complicationsCervical Cancer Prevention Among Veterans: What Is the Impact of Military Sexual Trauma, PTSD, and Women’s Health Primary Care Providers on Screening and Prevention?
Domenicano I, Combellick J, Warren A, Kyriakides T, Brandt C, Haskell S, Goulet J. Cervical Cancer Prevention Among Veterans: What Is the Impact of Military Sexual Trauma, PTSD, and Women’s Health Primary Care Providers on Screening and Prevention? Journal Of Military Social Work And Behavioral Health Services 2023, 11: 226-235. DOI: 10.1080/21635781.2023.2246884.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsMental health conditionsWomen veteransMilitary sexual traumaCervical cancerCancer screeningCervical cancer screening ratesHealth conditionsVHA medical centersCancer screening ratesCervical cancer preventionCervical cancer screeningMultivariable logistic regressionPrimary care providersSexual traumaDiagnosis of PTSDPTSD disordersPatient characteristicsScreening ratesOutpatient careCancer preventionMultivariable modelMedical CenterCare providersWomen's healthCurrent studyMidwifery care during labor and birth in the United States
Combellick J, Telfer M, Ibrahim B, Novick G, Morelli E, James-Conterelli S, Kennedy H. Midwifery care during labor and birth in the United States. American Journal Of Obstetrics And Gynecology 2023, 228: s983-s993. PMID: 37164503, DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.09.044.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMidwifery careCesarean deliveryHigh-income countriesContinuum of pregnancyMore vaginal birthsInduction of laborHigh patient satisfactionNeonatal mortality ratePreterm birthVaginal birthIntrapartum careIntrapartum periodPatient satisfactionLive birthsHealth characteristicsIntrapartum settingRespectful careMortality rateHealth outcomesHealthcare providersPractice protocolsCareMidwivesBirthNational outcomesApplying Lessons Learned from the COVID‐19 Pandemic to Future Threats to the Perinatal Care System
Combellick J, Ibrahim B, Scharer K, Brickley T, Julien T, Kennedy H. Applying Lessons Learned from the COVID‐19 Pandemic to Future Threats to the Perinatal Care System. Journal Of Midwifery & Women's Health 2023, 68: 333-339. PMID: 36905175, DOI: 10.1111/jmwh.13481.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPerinatal care systemBirth settingsCare systemCOVID-19 pandemicCare provider typePerinatal care providersQuality of careHealth system strengtheningHealth care disruptionsHigh-quality careExperience of pregnancyHealth care systemConventional content analysis approachHospital birthsCare disruptionsCare providersProvider typeCommunity birthsWeb-based surveySystem strengtheningSystem-level changesBirthExploratory qualitative studyCareSatisfying birth
2022
Midwifery Care of Pregnant Individuals Experiencing Opioid use Disorder: Changing Regulations, Complexities, and Call to Action
Bukowski H, Combellick J. Midwifery Care of Pregnant Individuals Experiencing Opioid use Disorder: Changing Regulations, Complexities, and Call to Action. Journal Of Midwifery & Women's Health 2022, 67: 770-776. PMID: 36269042, DOI: 10.1111/jmwh.13415.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsOpioid use disorderUse disordersNeonatal opioid withdrawal syndromeCo-occurring mental disordersCo-occurring mental illnessMental Health Services AdministrationProvision of MOUDOpioid withdrawal syndromeAdministration of buprenorphineLong-term sequelaeHealth Services AdministrationDepartment of HealthMultisubstance useMedical comorbiditiesOpioid useWithdrawal syndromePractice guidelinesPregnant individualsMidwifery careMental illnessMental disordersPregnant peopleInterprofessional careSubstance abuseAddiction medicineBirth during the Covid‐19 pandemic: What childbearing people in the United States needed to achieve a positive birth experience
Combellick JL, Ibrahim B, Julien T, Scharer K, Jackson K, Kennedy H. Birth during the Covid‐19 pandemic: What childbearing people in the United States needed to achieve a positive birth experience. Birth 2022, 49: 341-351. PMID: 35218067, PMCID: PMC9111370, DOI: 10.1111/birt.12616.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPositive birth experienceBirth experienceMaternity care practicesCross-sectional studyMaternity care systemCentre of careHigh-quality careCare protocolsWeb-based questionnaireSafe careCare practicesCommunity birthsQualitative dataMidwife providersCOVID pandemicCare systemBivariate statisticsCare placesDistrict of ColumbiaBirthParticipants of colorWomen's prioritiesCareCOVID-19 pandemicHigh satisfaction
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