Mary C. Sullivan - Pediatrics Faculty Profile

Mary C. Sullivan
Research Scientist • Associate Professor, University of Rhode Island
PhD, University of Rhode Island, 1994
401-453-7635
mcsullivan@uri.edu

Dr. Mary Sullivan’s research is focused on the developmental trajectories of preterm infants and understanding the effects of perinatal morbidity and environment. The team has been following two cohorts of almost 400 children who were born prematurely in a series of studies begun in 1985. Multiple methods have been employed in these follow-up studies to 4, 8, 12 and 17 years of age. In the Adolescent Study at age 17, they conduct comprehensive assessments in the hospital laboratory, home and school to examine specific developmental trajectories, and risk and protective processes that exacerbate or ameliorate the impact of cumulative risk on cognitive, academic, medical, neurological and socio-emotional outcomes in full term and preterm children born between 1985-89. In a second cohort identically stratified by perinatal morbidity and born ten years later (1996-2000) motor, functional performance and health outcomes are assessed at age 4. This allows the researchers to compare effects of prematurity on preschool-age outcomes between Cohorts 1 and 2 who were born a decade apart during a period of rapid change in neonatology. This will enable them to determine if preterm outcomes have changed with the decade of NICU advances and whether lowering the bar for saving more babies has increased suboptimal outcomes.

Two smaller studies include a feasibility study using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI/fMRI) to examine brain anatomy and neuroactivation in brain motor areas of preterm children. Dr. Sullivan’s team is now presenting a program to disseminate knowledge and assessment approaches on preterm infants to Family Outreach Program (FOP) nurses. The FOP is a statewide pediatric maternal visiting program that identifies mothers and infants at risk during the hospital stay. Nurses follow the mother-infant pair after discharge in home visits, averaging 25 visits per week per nurse, 50% who are preterm infants. The health-relatedness of these projects is of great practical importance for nursing and other health providers in a variety of settings as it can assist in the development of specific interventions that enhance child functioning and reduce the negative sequelae that may occur from a preterm birth.

Selected Publications
• McGrath, M.M., Sullivan, M.C., DePalma, J., Devin, J., Faraone, S., Barcelos, S. (2005). Early precursors of low attention and hyperactivity in a preterm sample at age four. Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing, 28:1-15.
• Sullivan, M.C. & Hawes, K. Brain Anatomy & Visual Motor Integration in PretermChildren. (April 2005). Paper presented at the Eastern Nursing Research Society
• Miller, R.J., Hawes, K., Sullivan, M.C. Health Status and Health Behaviors of Preterm Children at Age 12. (April 2005). Paper presented, Eastern Nursing Research Society