2025 Award for Excellence Recipient, Mickey Sperlich
This award is presented to an active member of NAPSW to recognize excellence and/or outstanding accomplishment by a perinatal social worker.
The National Association of Perinatal Social Workers is proud to honor Dr. Mickey Sperlich, PhD, MSW, MA, CPM, FNAP, with the 2025 Award for Excellence, the organization’s highest distinction. A nationally recognized scholar, educator, midwife and advocate, Dr. Sperlich’s groundbreaking work has transformed trauma-informed care for pregnant and parenting individuals — especially those with histories of violence and trauma.
Currently an Associate Professor at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work (UB), Dr. Sperlich integrates clinical, research, and advocacy roles in a career defined by innovation, compassion, and commitment to social justice.
NAPSW members, EunSook Seong and Ogechi Kalu, nominated Dr. Sperlich to receive the Award of Excellence.
Ogechi Kalu said: Dr. Sperlich’s ability to integrate research, clinical care, and advocacy demonstrates her exceptional impact on the field and her alignment with the values of NAPSW.
EunSook Seong added: Dr. Sperlich’s ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams has fostered a strong, supportive network for program participants, creating lasting benefits for families.
Dr. Nancy Smyth, Professor and former Dean at UB wrote: This prestigious recognition is a tribute to her extraordinary dedication, intellect, and compassion. She has not only advanced knowledge but also inspired an international community of practitioners to center compassion and justice in their work.
Dr. Sperlich began her professional journey as a certified professional midwife, where she witnessed firsthand the deep connections between trauma and perinatal experiences. That insight led to her first major research contribution, the 2008 award-winning book Survivor Moms: Women’s Stories of Birthing, Mothering and Healing after Sexual Abuse. From there, she went on to earn a dual-title PhD in Social Work and Infant Mental Health and launched a prolific academic career focused on interrupting cycles of trauma and psychiatric vulnerability.
One of Dr. Sperlich’s most impactful innovations is the Survivor Moms’ Companion (SMC), a perinatal mental health intervention designed to support people with histories of trauma, sexual abuse, or violence. Now undergoing further evaluation through a National Institutes of Health initiative, SMC exemplifies the kind of translational research Dr. Sperlich champions — research grounded in lived experience and committed to real-world impact.
Dr. Julia Seng, a longtime collaborator, writes: I thank the National Association of Perinatal Social Workers for recognizing Dr. Sperlich’s long-standing and outstanding contributions to cycles-breaking care of women trauma survivors and their infants. She lights the way forward — not letting us off the hook for doing what we know to be the right action.
Whether developing curricula, mentoring doctoral students, or building trauma-informed virtual environments for teaching, Dr. Sperlich has earned a reputation as a creative and collaborative leader. She has published over 35 peer-reviewed articles, presented at 75+ academic conferences, and co-created tools like the Trauma-Informed Spaces virtual reality app to help students visualize healing-centered design in clinical settings.
Dr. Keith Alford, Dean of the UB School of Social Work, wrote, Dr. Sperlich is a midwife, researcher, educator and colleague who leads by example. Her contributions are making a positive difference in our Western New York community and for childbearing people and families around the country.
Dr. Sperlich’s leadership extends far beyond academia. She is cofounder and chief scientific officer of the nonprofit supporting SMC’s dissemination, has advised policy development in both the U.S. and UK, and co-authored the trauma-informed perinatal care guidelines for the UK’s National Health Service. Dr. Smyth notes: Her transformative work exemplifies how scholarship and service can be woven together to create meaningful, lasting change for families.
Throughout her career, Dr. Sperlich has remained deeply committed to teaching and mentorship. She has guided the development of new clinical and research professionals, created national guidelines for teaching infant mental health in schools of social work. This year Dr. Sperlich will direct the UB School of Social Work's doctoral program.
NAPSW members appreciated the session that Dr. Sperlich presented alongside EunSook Seong and Ogechi Kalu at our 2024 conference in Seattle. Dr. Seong reflects: She’s been a mentor to countless midwives, interns, and students. Her intelligence, warmth, and unwavering commitment have enriched our field. Dr. Smythe adds: Her work embodies the highest standards of the social work profession and perinatal social work as articulated in the NAPSW Code of Ethics — upholding client self-determination, safeguarding rights and promoting family-centered care.
This celebration would not be complete without acknowledging the personal strength and passion that have carried Dr. Sperlich through each chapter of her journey. Her husband, Scott Sperlich, offers a heartfelt tribute that speaks to the quiet determination behind her public achievements: As her husband, I have witnessed the incredible effort and unparalleled attitude of service Mickey has put into her work throughout her entire career, from her days as a midwife and then as a research assistant, to her time as a professor in the field of social work. Hers has been a career inspired by tremendous passion and caring.
The National Association of Perinatal Social Workers Award for Excellence honors Dr. Mickey Sperlich’s lifetime of contributions — advancing trauma-informed practice, shaping national discourse, and creating compassionate care systems for the most vulnerable families. We are thrilled Mickey will serve on the NAPSW Board of Directors, 2025–2027. Congratulations, Dr. Sperlich, on this extraordinary and richly deserved honor. Your vision, scholarship, and leadership continue to inspire and transform the future of perinatal social work.