Dr. Catherine Spong is a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the UT-Southwestern Medical Center. Her career has been dedicated to advancing public health for women, children and their families. Through an over two-decade career at the National Institutes of Health and now in her role at UT-Southwestern she has been at the forefront of advancing research and evidence for clinical practice. Among her areas of expertise are maternal-child health, emphasizing prematurity, fetal complications, and improving child outcomes. She is a passionate advocate for inclusion in research for underrepresented groups. She developed and facilitated research to advance understanding of stillbirth, fetal surgery for myelomeningocele, zika in pregnancy, and the Human Placenta Project. Dr. Spong is board-certified in maternal-fetal medicine and obstetrics and gynecology. She is an Editor of William’s Obstetrics, Management and Protocols of High Risk Pregnancy, and Stillbirth: Prediction, Prevention and Management. She has received numerous awards, including the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Achievement, the UMKC Alumnus of the Year, NIH Director’s Awards, and a Surgeon General’s Certificate of Appreciation. She has published more than 270 peer-reviewed papers and featured on national television and radio, including The Early Show, Diane Rehm Show, NPR, CNN, and Voice of America.