All of us at FASD United are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Ann Streissguth, our dear friend, past member of our Scientific Advisory Board, and pioneering researcher of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). She led the way toward a greater understanding of the spectrum of FASD and the myriad ways it impacts people’s lives.
In large part, she laid the foundation on which the FASD field continues to be built, a foundation through which her deep warmth and compassion for families living with FASD always shone through.
Dr. Streissguth was an integral part of the team in 1973 whose research resulted in the first paper to identify fetal alcohol syndrome; a term coined by their research. This landmark paper, published in The Lancet is 1973, brought the issue of FASD into the public consciousness. Dr. Kenneth Lyons Jones, a lead author of that original paper, reflects that; “Ann’s legacy will include far more than her research accomplishments. Ann became a beacon in the night for children with FASD and she was a constant source of information and support for their families.”
Dr. Streissguth dedicated her life to the FASD cause, publishing over a hundred scientific papers that expanded our understanding of the long-term consequences of alcohol use during pregnancy and the broader spectrum of FASD.
Three decades after her role in that paper coining the term fetal alcohol syndrome, she led the terminology summit that in 2004 established “fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD)” as the consensus umbrella term describing the range of effects that can occur as a result of PAE.
Dr. Streissguth’s experience in the FASD field is far too extensive to describe, with her official CV running over 60 pages. Some of the highlights include:
- Chairing the first International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Workshop in 1980 through National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
- Writing the landmark books Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: A Guide for Families and Communities and The Challenge of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Overcoming Secondary Disabilities
- Performing groundbreaking research on effective ways to prevent prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and what interventions work for people living with its effects
All through her career at the forefront of the FASD profession, Ann kept the families living with FASD foremost in her heart, developing lifelong friendships and often serving as an advocate. She spoke out passionately for public policy solutions to improve the lives of people living with FASD. We can all honor that legacy by advocating for the passage of The FASD Respect Act in the United States Congress.
Her longtime colleague Dr. Edward Riley remembers Ann as “a rare soul with passion, vitality, an enduring spirit, and a kind, caring, gentle person.” As he put it, “Professionally she was an icon for the field and her scientific contributions are simply too numerous to mention here. However, what I remember most was the personal involvement with and dedication to the people impacted by prenatal alcohol exposure.”
Our own Kathleen T. Mitchell reflects that, “Ann was a strong, smart, beautiful woman that I admired deeply. In my first sit down with Ann I had shared some apprehensions with her about being so public with my family’s story. She stared straight into my eyes, grabbed both of my hands and said, “The work you are doing is so important, don’t ever doubt yourself. Yours is a story that needs to be told.” Hearing that from her changed me and I’ll never forget beautiful Ann Streissguth.”
Dr. Streissguth served for many years as a professor of medicine at the University of Washington and was the Director of the University’s Fetal Drug and Alcohol Unit. FASD United honored Dr. Streissguth with our Excellence Award in 2003 and enshrined her in our FASD Hall of Fame. We are where we are today because of Dr. Ann Streissguth’s work and the foundation she laid out for us.
While we will miss Dr. Streissguth’s friendship, we thank her for her tireless advocacy and breakthrough discoveries that have moved us closer to an FASD-informed world. We feel honored to have walked alongside her and envision her as she takes her place on the “Mount Rushmore” of FASD champions, upon which future generations will look for inspiration and strength.
Click here to hear from colleagues of Dr. Ann Streissguth reflecting on her life and legacy.
Read the In Memoriam Announcement from National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).