Marlene J. Egger

Marlene J. Egger, PhD

Languages spoken: English

Academic Information

Departments Emeritus - Family & Preventive Medicine

Divisions: Public Health

Research Interests

  • Biostatistics
  • Mixed Methods
  • Pelvic Floor Disorders
  • Women's Health
  • Maternal and Child Health Public Health

I am a PhD credentialed biostatistician with additional training in clinical quality improvement, health services research, and qualitative and mixed methods (QUAL/QUAN) research. Accomplishments as Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine, include 40+ years’ experience in curriculum development, faculty mentorship, and statistical collaboration. I direct the interdepartmental, interdisciplinary MSTAT/Biostatistics track and have served 4 terms as the overall MSTAT program director. I am a Fellow of the American Statistical Association.

Statistical collaboration roles have included service as biostatistician for the Cooperative Systematic Studies of Rheumatic Diseases for nearly two decades and service on the FDA Arthritis Advisory Committee. I directed the DFPM Biostatistics Laboratory, the Biostatistics Core of two PPGs, and the Statistics Center of a multi-center study.

In the mid-1990’s, I developed additional expertise in health services research including coursework in health policy, health economics, medical sociology, clinical quality improvement (CQI), and qualitative and quantitative methodologies; with continuing education in mixed methods (QUAL/QUAN) research.

Grants successfully completed as PI include two HRSA grants in the early 2000s, to develop culturally competent maternal and child health (MCH) workforce enhancement resources and distance learning products such as videos and other electronic media. This included a webcourse on cultural competence in MCH. I also served as evaluator for an MCH leadership grant. I served as a co-PI (focused ethnography project) and a Biostatistics Core Director on a recent P01.

Current research roles are as co-investigator in an NIH-funded study of coaching group methods for training new investigators in grant-writing, and as departmental Biostatistics Support Core Director. Current interests are centered on women’s pelvic floor disorders, mentorship interventions,and health services innovations.

Research Statement

Topics: Women's pelvic floor disorders; health of our aging population; chronic disease; health care access and quality, health services innovations

Methodologies: biostatistics, causal methods, qualitative research methods, mixed and multiple methods (QUAL/QUAN).

Education History

Fellowship University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics
 Fellow
Doctoral Training Stanford University
 PhD
Graduate Training Stanford University
 MS
Undergraduate Knox College
 BA

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Egger MJ, Sanchez-Birkhead AC, Clark L, Curiel R, Garcia G, Fernandez C, Nygaard IE (2022). Pelvic Floor Sensations After the First Vaginal Delivery: A Qualitative Study. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg, 27(1), e234-e246. (Read full article)
  2. Nygaard IE, Wolpern A, Bardsley T, Egger MJ, Shaw JM (2020). Early postpartum physical activity and pelvic floor support and symptoms 1 year postpartum. Am J Obstet Gynecol. (Read full article)
  3. Najmabadi S, Schliep KC, Simonsen SE, Porucznik CA, Egger MJ, Stanford JB (2020). Menstrual bleeding, cycle length, and follicular and luteal phase lengths in women without known subfertility: A pooled analysis of three cohorts. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol, 34(3), 318-327. (Read full article)
  4. Nicola L, Yang J, Egger MJ, Nygaard IE (2020). Effects of Oxytocin for Induction and Augmentation of Labor on Pelvic Floor Symptoms and Support in the Postpartum Period. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. (Read full article)
  5. Wu J, Einerson B, Shaw JM, Nygaard IE, Sheng X, Wolpern A, Egger MJ (2019). Association between sleep quality and physical activity in postpartum women. Sleep Health, 5(6), 598-605. (Read full article)