Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Clinical Scientist & Researcher
Mama & Wife
EXPERIENCE
Erin Sanders is a Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Scientist in the MIT Department of Biological Engineering with the Tal Research Group and the MIT Center for Gynepathology Research. Her research is currently focused on sex differences in immune response and chronic disease presentation, specifically in Lyme Disease and Long Covid.
Since March 2020, Erin has been actively involved in research regarding SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, as well multiple projects to help address the pandemic in her community, across the United States, and throughout the globe. Erin worked as a Contact Tracer for Boston University. And in April 2021, she started a position at the Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine joining the Tal Research Group.
Prior to the pandemic, Erin was a NP at Stanford from May 2016 to August 2019. Originally working in breast oncology, she then took on the role of primary NP for the new Multidisciplinary Pelvic Health Clinic starting in September 2018.
Before Stanford, Erin worked as a NP in a private gynecology practice in Brookline, MA. She has additional experience working as a registered nurse in obstetrics/gynecology, as well as infertility. She has also supported maternal health through an international nursing program partnering with clinicians and patients in the Dominican Republic.
EDUCATION
Erin received her undergraduate degree from Boston University. She subsequently earned her masters degree in nursing (MSN) from Boston College in the William F. Connell School of Nursing. She completed a year-long internship in obstetrics and gynecology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She then earned her board certification as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP-BC).
CLINICAL & RESEARCH INTERESTS
Erin brings a passion for women’s health and multidisciplinary care. She has a particular interest in researching sexual dimorphism and sex differences in immune response and disease presentation, specifically in relation to chronic illness, Lyme disease, and Long COVID. Erin also enjoys teaching and mentoring.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE
My background at Stanford both in breast oncology and in the new pelvic health center was in synthesizing complex patients across organ systems and leading multidisciplinary teams. I learned to care for breast oncology patients (managing the plans of medical/surgical/radiation oncologists and multiple subspecialties). Metastatic breast cancer impacts every organ system. My last year at Stanford, I helped lead the brand new multidisciplinary pelvic health clinic, comprised of 7 subspecialties (urology, urogyn, gynecology, colorectal, gastroenterology, pain/anesthesia, and physical therapy). I regularly presented our most complex cases to a team of 10-12 attending surgeons.
As a Nurse Practitioner, I excel at facilitating communication and optimizing collaboration amongst disciplines & specialties, breaking down the silos of medicine, as well as flattening traditional hierarchies to advance science and healthcare forward. I am thrilled to join Dr. Michal Tal in asking probing questions and working with collaborators across disciplines to better understand complex chronic illnesses.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO SARS-CoV-2 & COVID-19
Part of what is preventing faster progress during this pandemic is the massive quantity of data, the speed of scientific discovery, and the scope of people and countries impacted by one disease that has not been seen in our lifetimes.
We have so many questions still to answer, but there is value in asking questions and synthesizing data across disciplines. There is value in connecting the silos in medicine, science, and healthcare. My hope is that COVID-19 is a catalyst for further incorporation of multidisciplinary work.
