Assistant Professor Tyan Parker Dominguez of the USC School of Social Work has been named the Maternal and Child Health Young Professional of the Year by the Maternal and Child Health Section of the American Public Health Association.

The award annually recognizes a health professional who has made significant contributions to the field of maternal and child health and has demonstrated a potential for continuing impact.

"Dr. Parker Dominguez's work has already advanced our understanding of the causes of racial-ethnic disparities in birth outcomes, and this award represents an increasing national recognition of the importance of her research," said Michael Lu, associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and public health at UCLA and former winner of the award, who nominated Parker Dominguez.

Parker Dominguez' research focuses on persistent racial/ethnic disparities in infant mortality, pre-term delivery and low birthweight, particularly the role that racism-related stressors might play in perpetuating such differences. Her work emphasizes the psychosocial and biological impact of stress on African-American pregnancy and community-based approaches for promoting healthy birth outcomes in the most vulnerable populations.

"I am very confident in Tyan's ability to make a significant impact on the state of racial disparities in adverse birth outcomes in our country. She possesses the passion and intellect, and the social, communication and leadership skills that are required to make change in our society," said Jack Turman, director of the USC Center for Premature Infant Health and Development, who also nominated Parker Dominguez, having known her capabilities through her leadership of the center's social science research and outreach.

"Tyan is an innovative thinker in the area of women's health, and I feel fortunate to call her a colleague and member of our executive leadership," he added.

Currently, Parker Dominguez is spearheading a study of the pregnancy and mothering experiences of immigrant versus U.S.-born black mothers, an examination of hormonal and cardiovascular pathways that may link racism to birth outcomes and the development of a faith-based stress and pregnancy intervention for African-American churches.

"Given her superb intellect, strong training and a deep-seated passion for social justice, I believe she is poised to make very important contributions to our field," said Lu.

Parker Dominguez has presented her research at symposia hosted by the New York Academy of Medicine, Society for Maternal/Fetal Medicine, American Public Health Association and Society for Behavioral Medicine. She also has been an invited speaker for the March of Dimes, Black Infant Health Project and the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Federal Advisory Committee on Infant Mortality, in addition to participating as a panelist at the National Leadership Summit on Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health.

Her affiliations include faculty associate with the USC Center for Premature Infant Health and Development, co-chair of the Improving Pregnancy Outcomes Committee of the Maternal and Child Health section of the American Public Health Association, chair of the board of the California Black Women's Health Project and member of the board of directors of the Drew Child Development Corporation.

Parker Dominguez accepted the award at the 135th Meeting and Exposition of the American Public Health Association in Washington, D.C. in November. Additionally, her honor will be featured in The Nation's Health, the official newspaper of the American Public Health Association.