Catherine Spong, M.D, ’91, recognized by her peers as one of the most influential women in obstetrics and gynecology today, has been selected as the UMKC Alumni Association’s 2012 Alumna of the Year.
The University will recognize Spong and the other 2012 Alumni Award recipients at the Alumni Awards Celebration on April 26, 2012, at the Westin Crown Center.
The Alumnus of the Year Award recognizes a university-wide alumnus who has achieved eminence in his or her professional field, made contributions to education, science, the arts or human welfare of national or international significance, or rendered outstanding service to the community.
Spong has been the chief of pregnancy and perinatology at the National Institutes of Health since 2001. She oversees nearly $100 million in research grants related to maternal fetal medicine, neonatology and obstetrics. She also serves as the program scientist leading a network of 14 sites across the United States in clinical trials related to high risk pregnancies. Under her direction, the network has made a major breakthrough in reducing the risk of preterm births.
The UMKC Alumnus of the Year Award is the University’s highest alumni award and given to honor excellence in one’s professional field and outstanding service to society.
Past School of Medicine alumni to receive the award include 2008 recipient Robert Arnold, M.D., ’83, and 1991 recipient David Hayes, M.D., ’76.
