March of Dimes Award

Originally Released: November 20, 2000
Contact: Ellen Beth Levitt, eblevitt@umm.edu, 410-328-8919

MARCH OF DIMES HONORS DR. LILLIAN BLACKMON WITH DISTINGUISHED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AWARD

The Central Maryland Chapter of the March of Dimes today honored Lillian R. Blackmon, M.D., of the University of Maryland Hospital for Children with this year's Distinguished Health Professional Award. The prestigious award is given to medical professionals who have dedicated their lives to improving the health of infants. The award, presented to Dr. Blackmon by Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Mally during the Star Chef's of Baltimore Gourmet Fete on November 20, 2000, is given in memory of Dr. Jonas Salk, the discoverer of the polio vaccine.

"I am honored by this award and grateful to the March of Dimes for their work in promoting research, improving prenatal care and the treatment of birth defects. By honoring individuals, this award emphasizes the important work the March of Dimes does for the community," says Dr. Blackmon, a neonatologist at the University of Maryland Hospital for Children and associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Dr. Blackmon joined the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1981. She has held a variety of positions including director of the fellowship program for Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. Today, Dr. Blackmon serves as an attending physician in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units at University of Maryland Hospital for Children and at Mercy Medical Center, where she provides care for high risk and critically ill newborns.

In 1981, Dr. Blackmon became part of a team of health care professionals who saved the life of an infant born weighing only one pound and one ounce. The baby girl became the first of many children born at this very low weight to survive at the University of Maryland Hospital for Children. Nineteen years later, Dr. Blackmon still remains in contact with the young girl, who recently graduated from high school.

In addition to caring for infants, Dr. Blackmon has served on numerous committees and advisory groups that have developed standards for perinatal health care in Maryland and across the U.S. From 1992 to 1994, she served as president of the Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Dr. Blackmon helped develop policy and guidelines for perinatal care and neonatal intensive care as a member of the AAP National Committee for Fetus and Newborn. She also served on the committee that developed the fourth and fifth editions of the Guidelines for Prenatal Care published by the AAP and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Among Dr. Blackmon's most significant achievements is her work with the National Center for Health Statistics. As a member of the Panel to Evaluate U.S. Standard Certificates, Dr. Blackmon participated in the development of national standards for the type of information recorded on birth and death certificates. The new guidelines will be used as a model for states to follow to help gather uniform and accurate perinatal health information. Dr. Blackmon received the Director's Award for outstanding performance for her work on the panel.

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