Julia S. Seng PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN

Photo of Julia Seng

Professor Emerita

Contact

[email protected]
Room 3220 NURS1

University of Michigan School of Nursing
400 North Ingalls Building
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5482

Interests

  • Posttraumatic stress

  • Childbearing outcomes

  • Oxytocin

  • Childhood abuse trauma

  • Midwifery

Dr. Seng’s research focuses on the effects of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on women’s health and childbearing. Her projects approach this topic from a variety of perspectives.  She used qualitative, participatory action research to understand women's experiences and to inform intervention development.  Implementation study of a psychoeducation program for women with abuse-related PTSD, known as the “Survivor Moms’ Companion” is underway.

Current Research Grants and Programs

  • Dr. Seng is the co-founder and chief executive officer of a nonprofit organization formed to create and advance trauma-specific education programs for emerging adults, childbearing people, and their providers. Numerous implementation projects and several research projects are underway by other investigators to study the flagship program, the Survivor Moms’ Companion®

Teaching

Dr. Seng is an experienced teacher, having become a nurse after teaching French at the university and high school levels.  She is currently teaching in both the School of Nursing and the Department of Women’s Studies.  Currently, Dr. Seng is faculty in the interprofessional mini-certificate program in Trauma-Informed Practice in Schools.  She also teaches undergraduate leadership clinicals.  Although she is no longer accepting doctoral students, she mentors UMSN and other students on practicums, residencies, and internships at the Growing Forward Together nonprofit.

Affilliations/Service

  • Member, American College of Nurse Midwives

  • Member, International Society for Studies of Trauma and Dissociation

  • Member, International Marcé Society

  • Editorial Board Member, Journal of Trauma and Dissociation

  • Editorial Panel Member, Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health

Notable Awards/Honors

  • Fellow, American Academy of Nursing, 2009

  • Book of the Year, American College of Nurse Midwives, 2009

  • Visiting Professorships, University of Melbourne, Australia 2008; University of Sheffield, England 2008, University of Illinois, Chicago 2007

  • Referee of the Year, Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health 2008

  • Mae Edna Doyle Teacher of the Year, University of Michigan School of Nursing, 2014

  • Honorary Professor, University of Birmingham, England, UK, School of Health Sciences in the School of Medicine and Health, 2024-2027

Education

  • Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 2001

  • PhD, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 1999

  • MS, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 1995

  • BSN, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 1991

  • MA, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 1985

  • BA, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 1983

Publications Highlights

  • Professor Seng co-developed with Dr. Mickey Sperlich a trauma-specific intervention for women who are pregnant or in the early months of parenting.  The Survivor Moms’ Companion®. Find out more: https://growingforwardtogether.org/survivor-moms-companion

  • Seng, J. S., Li, Y., Yang, J. J., King, A. P., Kane Low, L., Sperlich, M., Rowe, H., Lee, H., Muzik, M., Ford, J.D., & Liberzon, I. (2018). Gestational and postnatal cortisol profiles of women with posttraumatic stress disorder and the dissociate subtype. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 47(1), 12-22.

  • Seng, J. S., Sperlich, M., Rowe, H., Cameron, H., Harris, A., Rauch, S. A. M., & Bell, S. A.  (2011). The Survivor Moms’ Companion:  Report of an open pilot of a posttraumatic stress psychoeducation program for pregnant survivors of childhood maltreatment and sexual trauma.  International Journal of Childbirth, 1, 111-121.

  • Sperlich, M., Seng, J. S., Rowe, H., Cameron, H., Harris, A., Rauch, S. A. M., & McCracken, A. K. (2011). The Survivor Moms’ Companion:  Report of safety, feasibility, and acceptability of a pilot posttraumatic stress psychoeducation program for pregnant survivors of childhood maltreatment and sexual trauma.  International Journal of Childbirth, 1, 122-135.

  • Seng, J. S., Lopez, W. D., Sperlich, M. I., Hamama, L., & Reed Meldrum, C.D. (2012). Marginalized identities, discrimination burden, and mental health: Empirical exploration of an exploration of an interpersonal-level approach to modeling intersectionality.  Social Science & Medicine, 75(12), 2437-45.

  • Voepel-Lewis, T., Seng, J. S., Chen, B., & Scott, E. L. (2021). A high psychological and somatic symptom profile and family health factors predict new or persistent pain during early adolescence. The Clinical Journal of Pain, 37(2), 86-93.

  • Granner, J. R., & Seng, J. S. (2021). Using Theories of Posttraumatic Stress to Inform Perinatal Care Clinician Responses to Trauma Reactions. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 66(5), 567-578.

  • Maihofer, A. X., Choi, K. W., Coleman, J. R., Daskalakis, N. P., Denckla, C. A., Ketema, E., ... & Ursano, R. J. (2022). Enhancing discovery of genetic variants for posttraumatic stress disorder through integration of quantitative phenotypes and trauma exposure information. Biological Psychiatry, 91(7), 626-636.

  • Senger-Carpenter T., Seng, J., Ploutz-Snyder, R., Scott, E., & Voepel-Lewis, T. (2023). Comorbid pain and symptom trajectories and healthcare utilization during early adolescence. The Journal of Pain, 24(4 Supp1.), 89-90.

  • Granner, J. R., Lee, S. J., Burns, J., Herrenkohl, T. I., Miller, A. L., & Seng, J.S. (2023). Childhood maltreatment history and trauma‐specific predictors of parenting stress in new fathers. Infant Mental Health Journal, 44(6), 767-780.

  • Senger-Carpenter, T., Seng, J., Herrenkohl, T. I., Marriott, D., Chen, B., & Voepel-Lewis, T. (2024). Applying life history theory to understand earlier onset of puberty: An adolescent brain cognitive development cohort analysis. Journal of Adolescent Health, 74(4), 682-688.  Honored as one of the Journal of Adolescent Health's Distinguished Dozen, 2024.

  • Nievergelt, C. M., Maihofer, A. X., Atkinson, E. G., Chen, C. Y., Choi, K. W., Coleman, J. R., Daskalakis, N. P., Duncan, L. E., Polimanti, R., Aaronson, C., Amstadter, A.B... & Koenen, K. C. (2024). Genome-wide association analyses identify 95 risk loci and provide insights into the neurobiology of post-traumatic stress disorder. Nature Genetics, 56(5), 792-808.

  • Senger-Carpenter, T., Seng, J., Marriott, D., Herrenkohl, T. I., Scott, E. L., Chen, B., & Voepel-Lewis, T. (2025). Family adversity and co-occurring pain, psychological, and somatic symptom trajectories from late childhood through early adolescence. Social Science & Medicine, 366, 117650.

  • Granner, J. R., Lee, S. J., Burns, J., Herrenkohl, T. I., Miller, A. L., Batshon, R. A., & Seng, J. S. (2025). Perinatal intervention desires of new fathers who have a history of child maltreatment: A mixed methods study. Child Maltreatment, https://doi.org/10.1177/10775595251322068.

  • Granner, J. R., Seng, J., & Lee, S. J. (2025). Families optimizing resilience via Trauma-Informed Father Involvement (FORTIFI) theory synthesis. Child Welfare, 102(6), 203-232.