Maria Alexandra McDonald, PhD, RN, FNP-C
Biography
In her research, family nurse practitioner Maria McDonald (PhD ’23) is investigating whether there are epigenetic risks associated with administering this synthetic hormone that may predispose moms and babies to develop depression long-term.
Oxytocin in the form of Pitocin has been used since the 1960s to induce labor in pregnant women and has become increasingly ubiquitous in the delivery room: In 1990, about one in 10 women were administered “pit” but by 2021, one in three were. Nearly 100% of women receive it in some dose to prevent postpartum hemorrhage.
For her dissertation research, McDonald examined the impact varying levels of synthetic oxytocin had on how mothers’ mood and behavior genes chemically express through DNA methylation. Using pregnant prairie voles—creatures with social-behavioral parenting and caregiving traits similar to humans’—she examined epigenetic shifts in vole moms’ and pups’ brain and blood tissue when giving them varying doses of oxytocin.
Over the next year as a post-doctoral fellow, McDonald will continue this work with human data to explore how high doses of oxytocin increase methylation of the gene associated with mood and behavior.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
MARIA MCDONALD: Hi. My name is Maria McDonald, and I'm a PhD candidate in the UVA School of Nursing. And my research interest has been focused on maternal mental health. I've had a very unique experience in the UVA School of Nursing, and that I've been collaborating also with the psychology department and studying really the biological epigenetic underpinnings of postpartum depression.
I was introduced to UVA in my master's program at another university and several of my own faculty members and mentors that had actually gone through the PhD program at UVA. And so I was introduced to it there. They spoke so highly of the program.
And my interest in maternal mental health, it was really important for me to find a mentor that had a similar research interest I could really mentor me moving forward. And so I looked online and found Dr. Jean Allhusen, who is my current mentor. And her research interests just align so well with mine.
The most enjoyable part of being at UVA, I think, has been working with my cohort members. We have very different research interests since I've learned quite a bit from each one of them. And so I've really enjoyed being a part of the School of Nursing, learning from each one of my cohort members again, and also my mentors in the School of Nursing.
Certifications
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC)
Research Focus
Trans-generational depression; psychiatric nursing and mental health; maternal child mental healthPublications
Journal Articles
McDonald, M., & Alhusen, J. (2022). A review of treatments and clinical guidelines for perinatal depression. The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing, 36(3), 233-242. https://doi.org/10.1097/jpn.0000000000000661