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UIC - University of Illinois at ChicagoCollege of Nursing
 
   
   
 

Barbara L. McFarlin, PhD, CNM, RDMS, FACNM

Associate Professor and
Department Head
Department of Women, Children and Family Health Science

NURS 858
UIC College of Nursing
845 South Damen Avenue (MC 802)
Chicago, IL 60612-7350

Phone: 312.996.0516
FAX: 312.996.8871
Email: bmcfar1@uic.edu

Research / Discovery
Dr. McFarlin has been developing and testing a new ultrasound technology to predict cervical ripening. She has been collaborating with Drs. O'Brien, Oelze, and Zachary at the Bioacoustics Research Laboratory at The Beckman Institute of Advanced Science and Technology at the Urbana campus. Her dissertation research was supported by The National Institute of Nursing Research, the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, and the March of Dimes. Her follow-up pilot study is being funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research, Center for Reducing Risks in Vulnerable Populations. It is anticipated that this research will impact the care of pregnant women at risk for preterm birth. Additionally, Dr. McFarlin has researched and published on a wide range of topics related to maternal child health.

Recent Publications

Labyed Y, Bigelow TA, McFarlin BL. Estimate of the attenuation coefficient using a clinical array transducer for the detection of cervical ripening in human pregnancy. Ultrasonics. 2010. [Epub ahead of print].

McFarlin BL, Bigelow TA, Labyed Y, O'Brien WD, Oelze ML, Abramowicz JS. Ultrasonic attenuation estimation of the pregnant cervix: A preliminary report. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2010;36(2):218-225.

Ulrey M, Carter L, McFarlin BL, Giurgescu C. Pregnancy-associated breast cancer: Significance of early detection. Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health. 2009;54(5):357-363.

McFarlin BL. Solving the puzzle of prematurity. The American Journal of Nursing. 2009;109(1):60-63. PMCID: PMC2637081 (PDF)

Boucher D, Bennett C, McFarlin B, Freeze M. Staying home to give birth: Why women in the United States choose home birth. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health. 2009;54(2):119-126.

White-Traut RC, Schwertz D, McFarlin BL, Kogan J. Salivary cortisol and behavioral state responses of healthy newborn infants to tactile-only and multisensory stimulation. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing. 2009;38:22-34.

Bigelow TA, McFarlin BL, O'Brien WD, Oelze ML. In Vivo ultrasonic attenuation slope estimates for detecting cervical ripening in rats: Preliminary results. The Journal of the Acoustical Society. 2008;123(3):1794-1800. PMCID: PMC2637349 (PDF)

Bell A, McFarlin BL. Maternal and fetal stress responses during birth: Adaptive or maladaptive? Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health. 2006;51(5):319-320.

McFarlin BL. Ultrasound Assessment of the Endometrium for Irregular Vaginal Bleeding. Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health. 2006;51(6):440-449.

McFarlin BL, O'Brien WD Jr, Oelze ML, Zachary JM, White-Traut RC. Quantitative ultrasound assessment of the rat cervix. Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine. 2006;25:1031-1040. PMCID: PMC2654570 (PDF)

McFarlin BL, O'Brien WD Jr, Oelze ML, Zachary JF, White-Traut RC. Quantitative ultrasound predicts cervical ripening in the rat (abstract). American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2005;193(6)(supp1):S153.

McFarlin BL. Elective cesarean birth: Issues and ethics of an informed decision. Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health. 2004;49:421-29.

Teaching / Learning
Dr. McFarlin has 22 years of experience teaching midwifery, women's health care, and ultrasound to nursing, midwifery, medical students, and residents. Presently, Dr. McFarlin lectures in the midwifery program at UIC and teaches the Master's research project. The Master's research project encourages students to evaluate the evidence via a literature review of a clinical problem that they will encounter being advanced practice nurses.

Service / Practice
Dr. McFarlin has been a nurse since 1974, a certified nurse midwife and an obstetric and gynecologic sonographer since 1984. Dr. McFarlin has worked as a midwife and sonographer in a private practice and tertiary university setting. She is a fellow in the American College of Nurse Midwives and is active on the research and continuing education committees. Dr. McFarlin practices midwifery and ultrasound part-time in a community hospital.

Personal
Dr. McFarlin practiced 8 years in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Italy. She loves to travel internationally. Dr. McFarlin grew up in The Netherlands, speaks Dutch and enjoys keeping up with childhood friends in Holland. Although she does not have any children, she delivered her many Godchildren and really enjoys being active in their lives. Dr. McFarlin enjoys knitting, reading (especially about Italy), and gourmet cooking.

Current Research Projects: