Dr. Hemingway, PhD, received her B.S. in Biology, her M.S. in Radiology and Physiology, and her Ph.D. in Epidemiology. She is a member of the American Association of Public Health and the Research Society on Alcoholism and is a Research Affiliate at the Center on Human Development and Disability at the University of Washington.
Dr. Hemingway is the Director of the WA State Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnostic & Prevention Network (FAS DPN). The mission of the FAS DPN is prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) through screening, diagnosis, intervention, education, public health policy, and research. Core to this mission has been the establishment of the world’s largest, most comprehensive clinical/research database on over 2,700 patients diagnosed with FASD over the past 21 years.
Dr. Hemingway has conducted laboratory, clinical, and public health research in the field of FASD since 1981. Current work has been in the development and implementation of FASD diagnostic, screening, surveillance, and prevention tools and programs. This work includes the development of the FASD 4-Digit Diagnostic Code and FAS Facial Photographic Analysis Software; establishment of the WA State FAS Diagnostic and Prevention Network of clinics and Foster Care FAS Screening Program, and establishment of the FASD diagnostic training program and Online Course. The FASDPN has trained over 150 interdisciplinary FASD diagnostic teams worldwide. Core publications include: 1) Diagnosing FASD; 2) Validation of the FASD 4-Digit Code; 3) Clinical profiles of 1,400 patients with prenatal alcohol exposure; 4) The value of a FASD diagnosis; 4) a comprehensive study of the diagnostic utility of MRI, MR-spectroscopy and functional MRI for FASD; and 6) Washington State’s success in preventing FAS through reduction of maternal alcohol use during pregnancy.
Dr. Hemingway has received funding from NIAAA, CDC, SAMHSA, the National March of Dimes, the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, the Royalty Research Foundation, Chavez Memorial Fund, and the WA State Legislature.