Message from Drs. Helena Hansen, Suma Jacob, Joseph O’Neill, Benjamin Schneider, and Tara Peris
In Memoriam: Mary J. O’Connor, PhD, ABPP
It is with great sadness that the Child and Adolescent Division and Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences announce the death of Mary J. O’Connor, Professor Emerita of Psychiatry, on Sunday, July 5, after a brief illness. A world-renowned researcher and clinician, committed educator, and cherished colleague, she will be deeply missed.
Dr. O’Connor earned her BA with Distinction, Honors in Psychology, Phi Beta Kappa, and Magna Cum Laude at Wake Forest University. She conducted research at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) before moving to Los Angeles for graduate school. She completed a PhD in Developmental Psychology in the Department of Psychology at UCLA, an NIMH Postdoctoral Fellowship in Neuroscience at the Brain Research Institute and Department of Pediatrics, and an NIHM University Affiliated Program Postdoctoral Fellowship at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute (now Semel Institute). UCLA remained her academic home throughout her career.
Dr. O’Connor led the field in early research focused on identifying the neurobehavioral and neurocognitive correlates of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) in young children, long before there was any awareness of PAE as a major public health concern. She served as Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator on multiple federally-funded grants from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She was a recognized expert on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) and a primary author of the DSM 5 diagnostic guidelines for Neurobehavioral Disorder Associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure. She conducted research on the prevention of alcohol consumption in pregnant women, intervention for children with PAE, and medical and allied health education on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Her work transformed the way medical and mental health providers ask women about prenatal alcohol use in a non-stigmatizing way, opening the door to prevention and early diagnosis, and enhanced access to evidence-based treatments for children and families impacted by PAE. Her intensive work on collaborative national initiatives resulted in the development of best practice models for prevention and intervention that have been adopted nationally and internationally. She served on multiple national task forces and expert panels focusing on the topic of PAE. Dr. O’Connor’s work in the field earned her a place in the NOFAS Tom and Linda Daschle FASD Hall of Fame and the Henry Rosett Award for outstanding long-term contributions to the study and treatment of FASDs. At the heart of Dr. O’Connor’s research was her advocacy and passionate dedication to improving the lives of children, parents, and families impacted by PAE, and her work had myriad ripple effects. Dr. O’Connor’s ability to raise awareness about the effects of PAE and provide front line providers with concrete tools to prevent, screen for, and/or treat FASDs paved the way for more compassionate and evidence-based care in numerous public health agencies, community organizations, and training institutions.
In addition to her research contributions, Dr. O’Connor was an exemplary clinician, educator, and colleague. She consistently sought to enhance the training opportunities available to students, interns, and fellows. She was the founder and program director of both the UCLA Infant and Preschool Service and the UCLA Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Clinic. Along with Bhavik Shah, MD, she led the child inpatient service (5W) and spearheaded its transition to the ABC partial hospital program (ABC PHP) as its inaugural Program Director. She directed the joint UCLA-Lanterman Center Developmental Disabilities Predoctoral Training Program and served as the training director for the Tarjan Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and associate training director for the Clinical Internship in Psychology. She taught countless psychiatry fellows and psychology interns about child development and mentored many early career clinicians and academics.
Dr. O’Connor transitioned to the role of Professor Emerita in 2013, while continuing an active involvement in research and teaching. Throughout her career, she was exceptionally generous with her time and her support for trainees, junior faculty, and colleagues. She combined a fierce dedication to pursuing scientific inquiry with an unwavering respect for the children and families who were impacted by her work. She was a stellar role model who produced an exceptionally influential body of work while consistently demonstrating humility, kindness, and an immensely collaborative spirit. In addition to her professional generosity, Dr. O’Connor exuded warmth, a wonderful sense of humor, and evident joy in bringing people together. She regularly hosted yearly holiday gatherings for trainees, staff, and faculty, ensuring that everyone felt welcomed into her beautiful home.
Dr. O’Connor is survived by two sons, William and Joseph, their spouses Terren and Claire, respectively, seven grandchildren, two brothers, many in-laws, nieces and nephews, and much extended family as well as countless friends. She was preceded in death by her husband William O’Connor. A memorial service will be held at 10 AM on Friday, August 7, 2026,https://www.paperlesspost.com/go/jkGMjYxcV5YRpkTAA8JV2 at St. Mark Catholic Church in Venice, followed by a reception at Mary’s house 936 Harding Avenue, Venice. Interested members of the UCLA Community are invited. We will share plans for a Departmental memorial at a later date. For additional information, please contact Reema Prasad, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Helena Hansen, MD, PhD
Professor and Interim Chair
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences
Interim Director, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Interim Physician-in-Chief, Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital
Suma Jacob, MD, PhD
Director of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Co-Director, T32 Postdoctoral Research Training Program
Associate Director of UCLA Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center
Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior
Joseph O’Neill, PhD, MS
Adjunct Professor, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences