Posted on March 11, 2002 at 11:45 a.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Dr. Ona Faye-Petersen, associate professor of pathology and obstetrics and gynecology, has received the Special Distinguished Colleague Award from the Society for Pediatric Pathology at its annual meeting in Chicago. The award is given on occasion of merit for outstanding contribution to the society and promotion of the scholarly and quality practice of pediatric pathology.

Faye-Petersen, who is head of the UAB Microdissection Laboratory, spearheaded the development of a series of specialized, multidisciplinary, annual professional meetings of pathologists, neonatologists and maternal/fetal medicine specialists, addressing special topics in perinatal pathology. Perinatal pathology deals with placental and developmental fetal/neonatal pathology.

“The placenta has been called the diary of pregnancy, so study of the placenta and its development and function gives insights into the causes and mechanisms resulting in poor fetal growth and development, and poor pregnancy and neonatal outcome,” says Faye-Petersen.

The symposia organized by Faye-Petersen assist perinatal pathologists, along with obstetric specialists and neonatologists, to further understand complications of pregnancy, providing opportunity for treatment and prevention of those complications.

The Society for Pediatric Pathology, founded in 1965, is the leading international association of pediatric pathologists.