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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About
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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
- All Institutions
- Yale Center for Asylum Medicine
- Yale Medicine
- Yale New Haven Health System
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
Ilan Harpaz-Rotem, PhD, ABPP
Janene Batten, EdD, MLS
33Publications
1,513Citations
Publications
2026
Associations Between Mental Health Conditions and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Among Active‐Duty Servicewomen
Manzo L, Hall C, Combellick J, Harpaz‐Rotem I, Phillips A, Burrell M, Kiang C, Womack J. Associations Between Mental Health Conditions and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Among Active‐Duty Servicewomen. Paediatric And Perinatal Epidemiology 2026 PMID: 41878886, DOI: 10.1111/ppe.70139.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMental health conditionsMental health diagnosesAdverse pregnancy outcomesHealth conditionsActive-duty servicewomenAssociation of mental health diagnosesHealth diagnosisPregnancy outcomesRisk ratioConfidence intervalsPoisson regression modelsRisk of preterm birthLive-birth pregnanciesMilitary populationDemographic characteristicsActive-dutyCivilian womenGestational diabetesPregnancy complicationsRegression modelsPreterm birthHigh riskComorbid diagnosesOutcomesRiskPerinatal mental health conditions among U.S. active component service women, 2016-2022.
Manzo L, Hall C, Harpaz-Rotem I, Phillips A, Womack J, Combellick J. Perinatal mental health conditions among U.S. active component service women, 2016-2022. MSMR Medical Surveillance Monthly Report 2026, 32: 36-43. PMID: 41687061, PMCID: PMC12965757.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsActive duty service womenMental health conditionsPerinatal mental health conditionsPrevalence of mental health conditionsHealth conditionsYear postpartumService womenInternational ClassificationYear prior to pregnancyNon-Hispanic blacksClinical Modification diagnosis codesInternational Classification of DiseasesStressor-related disordersClassification of diseasesSuicidal ideationDepressive disorderMaternal mortalityLive-born deliveriesDiagnosis codesPostpartum periodActive component service womenPregnancy startPanic disorderPostpartumMilitary rank
2025
Maternal Racial Differences and Socioeconomic Status in Preterm Infant Neurodevelopment, Feeding, and Growth
Zhao T, Li A, Wu W, Chen J, Combellick J, Chen M, Cong X. Maternal Racial Differences and Socioeconomic Status in Preterm Infant Neurodevelopment, Feeding, and Growth. Nursing Research 2025, 75: 88-95. PMID: 41460749, DOI: 10.1097/nnr.0000000000000878.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsNeonatal intensive care unitPreterm infantsNeurodevelopmental outcomesGestational ageSNAPPE-IIBirth weightBayley ScalesHigher risk of preterm birthRisk of preterm birthHigh riskBayley Scales of InfantInfant vulnerabilityBirth gestational ageNeonatal neurobehavioral scalePreterm infant neurodevelopmentSNAPPE-II scoreVulnerable preterm populationNeonatal Acute PhysiologyShort birth lengthScore of Neonatal Acute PhysiologyLow birth weightInfant feedingWhite mothersIntensive care unitInfant health outcomesBuilding Effective and Equitable Global Midwifery Collaborations: Research, Education, and Clinical Learning
Telfer M, Zaslow R, Ojara S, Combellick J, Mbalinda S. Building Effective and Equitable Global Midwifery Collaborations: Research, Education, and Clinical Learning. Journal Of Midwifery & Women's Health 2025 PMID: 41165531, DOI: 10.1111/jmwh.70039.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMakerere University CollegeMidwifery modelMidwifery models of careLocal health care systemModels of careSchools of nursingHealth care systemMidwifery educationYale SchoolBirth centersLearning CollaborativeCare systemCommunity integrationClinical rotationsClinical trainingHighest burdenPerinatal mortalityHealth ideasResearch partnershipsMidwiferyEducational supportSustained changesCapacity buildingProgram designPartnershipEvery 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 study
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