My philosophy of teaching is that learning is life long for both faculty and students and mentorship is an important role for graduate faculty.
Education
MSN, University of Tennessee, 1980
PHD, University of Illinois, 1975
Interdisciplinary and Emerging Signature Programs
Allergy, Immunology & Infectious Disease
Research Interests
Research on biobehavioral phenomena and mechanisms, focusing on reproductive age women and infants. Currently funded with two NIH R0-1s. Leads a large interdisciplinary team of scientists, students, post docs, and staff.
Awards/Honors
editorial board member, 2016-present (Biological research for Nursing, - 2016)
Member (NIH NRCS study section, - 2013)
distinguished Alumnae award (University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Nursing, - 2013)
Memberships
candidate for VP (ISRHML, 2020 - Present)
member (APS, 2018 - Present)
fellow (AAN, 2009 - Present)
Fellow (SBM, 2005 - Present)
member (Sigma Theta Tau, 1980 - Present)
Recent Publications
Groer M, Louis-Jacques A, Szalacha L, Redwine L, Dracxler R, Keefe D. Relationship of Anxiety, Inflammation, and Telomere Length in Postpartum Women: A Pilot Study.Biological research for nursing. : 1099800419890424, 2019.
Duffy AR, O''Connell JR, Pavlovich M, Ryan KA, Lowry CA, Daue M, Raheja UK, Brenner LA, Markon AO, Punzalan CM, Dagdag A, Hill DE, Pollin TI, Seyfang A, Groer MW, Mitchell BD, Postolache TT. Serointensity and Seropositivity: Heritability and Household-Related Associations in the Old Order Amish.International journal of environmental research and public health. 16(19) , 2019.
D''Agata AL, Wu J, Welandawe MKV, Dutra SVO, Kane B, Groer MW. Effects of early life NICU stress on the developing gut microbiome.Developmental psychobiology. 61(5) : 650-660, 2019.
Gonzalez VJ, Beckstead J, Groer M, McMillan S, Ortiz D, Marrero S, Saligan LN. Exploring the Relationship between Diarrhea and Fatigue that can occur during Cancer Treatment: Using Structural Equation Modeling.Puerto Rico health sciences journal. 38(2) : 81-86, 2019.
D''Agata AL, Roberts MB, Ashmeade T, Dutra SVO, Kane B, Groer MW. Novel method of measuring chronic stress for preterm infants: Skin cortisol.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 102: 204-211, 2019.
Kimonis ER, Fleming GE, Wilbur RR, Groer MW, Granger DA. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its ratio to cortisol moderate associations between maltreatment and psychopathology in male juvenile offenders.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 101: 263-271, 2019.
Corona CC, Zhang M, Wadhawan A, Daue ML, Groer MW, Dagdag A, Lowry CA, Hoisington AJ, Ryan KA, Stiller JW, Fuchs D, Mitchell BD, Postolache TT. IgG associations with sleep-wake problems, sleep duration and timing.Pteridines. 30(1) : 1-9, 2019.
Ho TTB, Groer MW, Kane B, Yee AL, Torres BA, Gilbert JA, Maheshwari A. Enteric dysbiosis and fecal calprotectin expression in premature infants.Pediatric research. 85(3) : 361-368, 2019.
Lengacher CA, Reich RR, Paterson CL, Shelton M, Shivers S, Ramesar S, Pleasant ML, Budhrani-Shani P, Groer M, Post-White J, Johnson-Mallard V, Kane B, Cousin L, Moscoso MS, Romershausen TA, Park JY. A Large Randomized Trial: Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Breast Cancer (BC) Survivors on Salivary Cortisol and IL-6.Biological research for nursing. 21(1) : 39-49, 2019.
Peng X, Brenner LA, Mathai AJ, Cook TB, Fuchs D, Postolache N, Groer MW, Pandey JP, Mohyuddin F, Giegling I, Wadhawan A, Hartmann AM, Konte B, Brundin L, Friedl M, Stiller JW, Lowry CA, Rujescu D, Postolache TT. Moderation of the relationship between Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and trait impulsivity in younger men by the phenylalanine-tyrosine ratio.Psychiatry research. 270: 992-1000, 2018.
Groer M, Maguire D, Taylor K. Supporting breastfeeding for infants born to opioid dependent mothers June 18, 2018.Nursing outlook. 66(5) : 496-498, 2018.
Ho TTB, Groer MW, Kane B, Yee AL, Torres BA, Gilbert JA, Maheshwari A. Dichotomous development of the gut microbiome in preterm infants.Microbiome. 6(1) : 157, 2018.
Duffy AR, Schminkey DL, Groer MW, Shelton M, Dutra S. Comparison of Hair Cortisol Levels and Perceived Stress in Mothers Who Deliver at Preterm and Term.Biological research for nursing. 20(3) : 292-299, 2018.
Groer M, Fuchs D, Duffy A, Louis-Jacques A, D''Agata A, Postolache TT. Associations Among Obesity, Inflammation, and Tryptophan Catabolism in Pregnancy.Biological research for nursing. 20(3) : 284-291, 2018.
Schminkey DL, Groer M. Imitating a stress response: A new hypothesis about the innate immune system''s role in pregnancy.Medical hypotheses. 82(6) : 721-9, 2014.
Gross R, Groer M, Thomas SP. Relationship of trait anger and anger expression to C-reactive protein in postmenopausal women.Health care for women international. 35(5) : 580-95, 2014.
Yang LQ, Bauer J, Johnson RE, Groer MW, Salomon K. Physiological mechanisms that underlie the effects of interactional unfairness on deviant behavior: the role of cortisol activity.The Journal of applied psychology. 99(2) : 310-21, 2014.
Hsu PC, Groer M, Beckie T. New findings: Depression, suicide, and Toxoplasma gondii infection.Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. , 2014.
Mefford L, Thomas SP, Callen B, Groer M. Religiousness/Spirituality and anger management in community-dwelling older persons.Issues in mental health nursing. 35(4) : 283-91, 2014.
Groer M, Duffy A, Morse S, Kane B, Zaritt J, Roberts S, Ashmeade T. Cytokines, Chemokines, and Growth Factors in Banked Human Donor Milk for Preterm Infants.Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association. , 2014.
Warren KR, Postolache TT, Groer ME, Pinjari O, Kelly DL, Reynolds MA. Role of chronic stress and depression in periodontal diseases.Periodontology 2000. 64(1) : 127-38, 2014.
Okusaga O, Muravitskaja O, Fuchs D, Ashraf A, Hinman S, Giegling I, Hartmann AM, Konte B, Friedl M, Schiffman J, Hong E, Reeves G, Groer M, Dantzer R, Rujescu D, Postolache TT. Elevated levels of plasma phenylalanine in schizophrenia: a guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase-1 metabolic pathway abnormality?PloS one. 9(1) : e85945, 2014.
Wilson RE, Salihu HM, Groer MW, Dagne G, O''Rourke K, Mbah AK. Impact of maternal thyroperoxidase status on fetal body and brain size.Journal of thyroid research. 2014: 872410, 2014.
Okusaga O, Yolken RH, Langenberg P, Sleemi A, Kelly DL, Vaswani D, Giegling I, Hartmann AM, Konte B, Friedl M, Mohyuddin F, Groer MW, Rujescu D, Postolache TT. Elevated gliadin antibody levels in individuals with schizophrenia.The world journal of biological psychiatry : the official journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry. 14(7) : 509-15, 2013.
Groer MW, El-Badri N, Djeu J, Williams SN, Kane B, Szekeres K. Suppression of Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxicity in Postpartum Women: Time Course and Potential Mechanisms.Biological research for nursing. , 2013.
Reeves GM, Mazaheri S, Snitker S, Langenberg P, Giegling I, Hartmann AM, Konte B, Friedl M, Okusaga O, Groer MW, Mangge H, Weghuber D, Allison DB, Rujescu D, Postolache TT. A Positive Association between T. gondii Seropositivity and Obesity.Frontiers in public health. 1: 73, 2013.
El-Badri NS, Groer M. Gender differences in stem cell population are induced by pregnancy.Medical hypotheses. 79(4) : 481-3, 2012.
Groer MW, McEwen BS. Nursing research in stress, psychoneuroimmunology, and allostasis.Biological research for nursing. 14(4) : 309-10, 2012.
Lengacher CA, Kip KE, Barta M, Post-White J, Jacobsen PB, Groer M, Lehman B, Moscoso MS, Kadel R, Le N, Loftus L, Stevens CA, Malafa MP, Shelton MM. A pilot study evaluating the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction on psychological status, physical status, salivary cortisol, and interleukin-6 among advanced-stage cancer patients and their caregivers.Journal of holistic nursing : official journal of the American Holistic Nurses'' Association. 30(3) : 170-85, 2012.
Jevitt CM, Groer MW, Crist NF, Gonzalez L, Wagner VD. Postpartum stressors: a content analysis.Issues in mental health nursing. 33(5) : 309-18, 2012.
Okusaga O, Langenberg P, Sleemi A, Vaswani D, Giegling I, Hartmann AM, Konte B, Friedl M, Groer MW, Yolken RH, Rujescu D, Postolache TT. Toxoplasma gondii antibody titers and history of suicide attempts in patients with schizophrenia.Schizophrenia research. 133(1-3) : 150-5, 2011.
Groër MW, Manion M, Szekeres C, El-Badri NS. Fetal microchimerism and women''s health: a new paradigm.Biological research for nursing. 13(4) : 346-50, 2011.
Callen BL, Mefford L, Groër M, Thomas SP. Relationships among stress, infectious illness, and religiousness/spirituality in community-dwelling older adults.Research in gerontological nursing. 4(3) : 195-206, 2011.
Groer MW, Beckstead JW. Multidimensional scaling of multiplex data: human milk cytokines.Biological research for nursing. 13(3) : 289-96, 2011.
Beckie TM, Beckstead JW, Groer MW. The association between variants on chromosome 9p21 and inflammatory biomarkers in ethnically diverse women with coronary heart disease: a pilot study.Biological research for nursing. 13(3) : 306-19, 2011.
Beckie TM, Groër MW, Beckstead JW. The relationship between polymorphisms on chromosome 9p21 and age of onset of coronary heart disease in black and white women.Genetic testing and molecular biomarkers. 15(6) : 435-42, 2011.
Groër MW, Yolken RH, Xiao JC, Beckstead JW, Fuchs D, Mohapatra SS, Seyfang A, Postolache TT. Prenatal depression and anxiety in Toxoplasma gondii-positive women.American journal of obstetrics and gynecology. 204(5) : 433.e1-7, 2011.
Rodriguez NA, Meier PP, Groer MW, Zeller JM, Engstrom JL, Fogg L. A pilot study to determine the safety and feasibility of oropharyngeal administration of own mother''s colostrum to extremely low-birth-weight infants.Advances in neonatal care : official journal of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses. 10(4) : 206-12, 2010.
Groer M, Murphy R, Bunnell W, Salomon K, Van Eepoel J, Rankin B, White K, Bykowski C. Salivary measures of stress and immunity in police officers engaged in simulated critical incident scenarios.Journal of occupational and environmental medicine / American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 52(6) : 595-602, 2010.
Groer M, El-Badri N, Djeu J, Harrington M, Van Eepoel J. Suppression of natural killer cell cytotoxicity in postpartum women.American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989). 63(3) : 209-13, 2010.
Rodriguez NA, Meier PP, Groer MW, Zeller JM. Oropharyngeal administration of colostrum to extremely low birth weight infants: theoretical perspectives.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association. 29(1) : 1-7, 2009.
El-Badri NS, Groer M. The Effect of Pregnancy on Production of Maternal Endogenous Hematopoietic Stem Cells.Bioscience hypotheses. 1(2) : 100-102, 2008.
Groer MW, Morgan K. Immune, health and endocrine characteristics of depressed postpartum mothers.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 32(2) : 133-9, 2007.
Groër MW, Burns C. Stress response in female veterans: an allostatic perspective.Rehabilitation nursing : the official journal of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses. 34(3) : 96-104
Groer MW, Vaughan JH. Positive thyroid peroxidase antibody titer is associated with dysphoric moods during pregnancy and postpartum.Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN / NAACOG. 42(1) : E26-32
Beckie TM, Beckstead JW, Groer MW. The influence of cardiac rehabilitation on inflammation and metabolic syndrome in women with coronary heart disease.The Journal of cardiovascular nursing. 25(1) : 52-60
Jevitt C, Hernandez I, Groër M. Lactation complicated by overweight and obesity: supporting the mother and newborn.Journal of midwifery & women''s health. 52(6) : 606-13
Groër MW, Shelton MM. Exercise is associated with elevated proinflammatory cytokines in human milk.Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN / NAACOG. 38(1) : 35-41
Gordon JM, Proschold K, Harville C, Dutra S, Groer M. A Replicable Model of Recruitment for Longitudinal Research of Preterm Infants.Nursing research. 68(5) : 413-419
Yee AL, Miller E, Dishaw LJ, Gordon JM, Ji M, Dutra S, Ho TTB, Gilbert JA, Groer M. Longitudinal Microbiome Composition and Stability Correlate with Increased Weight and Length of Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants.mSystems. 4(1)
Athilingam P, Moynihan J, Chen L, D''Aoust R, Groer M, Kip K. Elevated levels of interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein associated with cognitive impairment in heart failure.Congestive heart failure (Greenwich, Conn.). 19(2) : 92-8