WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., OCTOBER 27, 2008 – A doctor who is internationally recognized for her work in maternal-fetal nutrition, and specifically for research on DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, has received the March of Dimes Agnes Higgins Award for outstanding achievement in the field of maternal-fetal nutrition.
Susan E. Carlson, PhD, was among the first to report that infants receiving breast milk had higher DHA (dietary docosahexaenoic acid) levels than formula-fed infants and the first to recognize and study the potential implications of this observation. Subsequently, her group was the first to report, in 1989, that formula-fed preterm infants had higher visual acuity when fed a formula containing DHA. DHA plays a crucial role in the growth and development of the central nervous system as well as visual functioning in infants and supports healthy brain development, especially in young children. Dr Carlson and her collaborators continue to actively study the role of DHA during fetal and neonatal development.
Dr. Carlson, the A.J. Rice Professor of Nutrition in the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition and a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Kansas Medical Center, and Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, was presented with the $3,000 award this evening at the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association (APHA) in San Diego, Calif.. The ceremony took place during a joint session of the APHA’s Food and Nutrition and Maternal-Child Health sections.
In 2002, Dr. Carlson was awarded honorary membership in the American Dietetic Association for her pioneering work leading to the recognition that DHA was an essential nutrient for infants. Since that time, she has taken an active role in the education of pediatricians, obstetricians, nurses and dieticians about the roles of DHA in maternal and infant health. She also has been involved nationally and internationally in evaluating the quality of education and establishing best practice guidelines for the intake of DHA by infants and pregnant women.
Dr. Carlson is an author of numerous peer-reviewed articles and textbook chapters. She reviews widely for journals devoted to publishing research in pediatrics, lipids and nutrition. She is a member of the American Society for Nutrition and the American Pediatric Society.
The March of Dimes is the leading organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies®, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit
marchofdimes.com or
nacersano.org.
