| |
Discoveries, innovations, studies and other news are appearing constantly on the neonatology horizon. The NICUniversity News and Views section will bring all this data together for you to stay on top of the essential information coming to light in our field.
That process involves you, also. We welcome your submissions and suggestions about current findings or any other newsworthy items you feel would be of interest to our audience. The Steering Committee will review all submissions and publish those chosen on a monthly basis. Please send ideas to: ideas@nicuniversity.org
NEW - The Fellows' Hall
The Fellows’ Hall of NICUniversity.org is an online resource designed to complement the education of neonatal and perinatal medicine fellows.
Because recently expanded subspecialty training requirements of the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) have included a more robust research curriculum and the Resident Review Committee (RRC) of the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) updated content requirements in Pediatrics and its subspecialties in 2007, the goal of the NICUniversity.org Fellows’ Hall is to supplement fellowship programs by providing the fellow with an additional source of easily accessible education. At the Fellows’ Hall of NICUniversity.org you will find informative topics presented by prominent faculty, relevant to your field of study and intended to help you meet these more rigorous requirements. Be sure to visit the Fellow's Hall
HOT TOPIC - NANN Announces New Nurse Practioner Division
Glenview, Ill. — The National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) announced a new division, the National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (NANNP). Its purpose is to improve care to newborns, infants, and their families by providing a forum for neonatal nurse practitioners. The new division also provides a joint communicative body with the perinatal section of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on neonatal issues and improve the collaboration between neonatologists and neonatal nurse practitioners. Members of the NANNP advocate for clinical and professional practice, collaboration, health policy, NNP education, and research to promote high-quality, cost-effective health care. For more information, please visit: www.nann.org
Welcome New Faculty!
We are very excited to have two new faculty members join NICUniversity.org who will be heading up the new Fellows' Hall! Please welcome Judy Aschner, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Director of Neonatology, and Peter H. Grubb, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Neonatology, both from Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.
 |
Dr. Judy Aschner joined the Vanderbilt faculty in the summer of 2004 to assume the role of Division Director of Neonatology. She was recruited from Wake Forest University where she served on the pediatric faculty for 10 years, most recently as Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine training program. Dr. Aschner completed her medical training, including pediatric residency and neonatology fellowship, at the University of Rochester School of Medicine in Rochester, N. Y. Her laboratory research focus is the regulation of the neonatal pulmonary circulation and the factors contributing to pulmonary hypertension in infants with lung and heart disease. Her clinical research interests include optimizing ventilator management of infants to prevent chronic lung disease, treatment of infants with pulmonary hypertension, and the nutritional management of premature infants. Dr. Aschner has a long-standing interest in fellowship education, serving on several national level committees, and in international teaching and sharing of medical knowledge in developing countries. As Division Director, she has the overall responsibility for its patient care, research, and educational mission.
Dr. Aschner will be overseeing content development for the Fellows' Hall at NICUniversity.org, including hot topics of discussion and new and upcoming lectures. The information provided in the Fellows' Hall will assist participating Fellows in obtaining information necessary to the successful completion of their neonatology fellowships. |
 |
Dr. Peter H. Grubb is an assistant professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Neonatology at the Monroe Carell, Jr., Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. He received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University in College Station, Tex. Dr. Grubb earned his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md. He completed an internship and residency in Pediatrics at the Keesler USAF Medical Center in Biloxi, Miss., and a fellowship in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio, Tex. Dr. Grubb’s research interests are in exhaled nitric oxide in prematurity and early bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and he has clinical expertise in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and high-frequency ventilation.
Dr. Grubb will be working closely with Dr. Aschner to assist in developing the Fellows' Hall and making this a great learning opportunity for Fellows!
Stay tuned during the next few months for more updates on the development of the Fellows' Hall! |
Transcutaneous monitoring: back to the future - An important adjunct to care during high frequency oscillatory ventilation
- Posted: July 17th, 2008
Reprinted with permission from bloodgas.org
Authored By Sherry E. Courtney, MD MS -
 |
Sherry E. Courtney, MD MS
Department of Pediatrics
Division of Neonatology
Stony Brook University Medical Center
Stony Brook, NY
Email: sherry.courtney@stonybrook.edu
Dr. Courtney received her MD degree from the University of Kansas in 1973. She completed her pediatric residency and neonatal fellowship at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri in 1979. Throughout the 1980’s she practiced at Children’s Medical Center, Dayton, Ohio, where she was Director of Newborn Medicine from 1982-1990. She received her Masters of Science from the University of Michigan in 1991, in clinical research design and statistical analysis. Throughout most of the 1990’s Dr. Courtney practiced at Cooper Hospital in Camden, New Jersey, where she was Director of Clinical Research for the Department of Pediatrics, and Professor of Pediatrics at Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine. Dr. Courtney joined the Department of Pediatrics at Schneider Children’s Hospital on Long Island in 2002, and moved to Stony Brook University Medical Center in 2007 to direct the clinical research and the neonatal fellowship programs there.
Dr. Courtney has been active in clinical research throughout her career. She has published extensively in the area of neonatal pulmonology, and is especially interested in high frequency ventilation and non-invasive forms of ventilatory support. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the Society for Pediatric Research and the American Thoracic Society. She is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences on ventilatory support of neonates. |
The Changing Landscape of Neonatology
- Posted: April 5th, 2008
Authored By Mark C. Mammel, MD -
 |
Mark C. Mammel, MD
Professor of Pediatrics, Co-director Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship
University of Minnesota
Director, Infant Diagnostic & Research Center
Children's Hospital - St. Paul, MN
Email: mamme001@tc.umn.edu
Mark Mammel, MD is Professor of Pediatrics and Co-director of the
Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship at the University of Minnesota, and Director
of the Infant Diagnostic & Research Center at Children's Hospital - St.
Paul. He trained at the University of Minnesota, joining the Children's
staff as a neonatologist in 1982. He has never left, in spite of the
sometimes miserable weather. Dr. Mammel's professional interests center
on the interaction of the patient and the mechanical ventilator. He has
published both laboratory and clinical studies focusing on neonatal
respiratory care. He is a past member of the Perinatal Executive Committee for
the American Academy of Pediatrics. Whenever possible, he seeks out a golf
course for reinforcement of his vocational choice. |
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection and the “Mildly” Preterm Infant
- Posted: October 30th, 2007
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most important cause of viral lower respiratory tract illness in infants and children worldwide and is responsible for over 125 000 annual hospitalizations in infants in the US alone. Bronchiolitis, pneumonia, apnea, respiratory failure, and death are well known manifestations of severe acute RSV disease. Infant populations at high risk for severe RSV infections include patients with hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease, chronic lung disease, neuromuscular disease, congenital airway abnormalities, and premature birth (especially <35 weeks GA). Currently, mildly preterm infants (32 to <36 week GA) are believed to have better outcomes following RSV infection than infants <32 weeks GA. Since RSV prophylaxis is costly, guidelines do not support prophylaxis in mildly preterm infants. However, published data suggest that current beliefs should be challenged and guidelines changed to include RSV prophylaxis for mildly preterm infants.
Not for CE/CME credit.
Authored By Dr. Howard Panitch -
 |
Howard Panitch, MD
Dr. Howard Panitch has long had an interest in the care of children with complex respiratory problems and those requiring technology assistance. He is the clinical director of the Division of Pulmonary Medicine, the director of the Pediatric Pulmonary Fellowship Training Program and the medical director of the Technology Dependence Center. His research has focused on airway smooth muscle, dynamic airway collapsibility, RSV bronchiolitis pathogenesis and prevention and barriers to transitioning technology dependent children to adult care.
He is the 2002 recipient of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Dean's Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching at an Affiliated Hospital.
|
Acute Bilirubin Encephalopathy: Does Intervention Influence Outcome?
- Posted: October 30th, 2007
Infants born in the United States and discharged healthy from their birth hospital, continue to de at increased risk for development of severe hyperbilirubinemia and acute bilirubin encephalopathy (ABE). Recognition and identification of subtle neurologic signs in any infant with severe jaundice and/or hyperbilirubinemia are crucial to a successful outcome, with a “crash cart” approach to manage ABE. Current evidence suggests that, in its early and intermediate phases, ABE is reversible with timely, rapid, and effective bilirubin reduction strategies.
Not for CE/CME credit.
Authored By Dr. Vinod K. Bhutani -
 |
Vinod K. Bhutani, MD, PhD
Dr. Vinod K. Bhutani is a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine. His research interests are Neonatology; newborn jaundice, bilirubin biology and kernicterus prevention; pulmonary physiology, pulmonary functions and neonatal ventilation. |
Evidence-Based Medicine and Clinical Research —An Uneasy Partnership
- Posted: May 22nd, 2007
Evidence-based medicine is an exciting concept, but there is a risk of it being interpreted with too narrow a focus on clinical trial synthesis and systematic review of published clinical trial information. Often, the research studies needed to answer the question posed have simply not been done, or the research has failed to demonstrate a strong conclusion. This will continue to be the case; both as new treatments emerge, and is especially true in the specialty of neonatology. In order to optimally treat patients in a situation where no evidence-based answer exists we need to find a way to practice “non-evidence-based medicine. The challenges faced by potential researchers, both in obtaining training and funding underscore the need to avoid depending entirely on evidence-based medicine for clinical decision making.
Not for CE/CME credit.
Authored By Dr. Malcolm Chiswick -
 |
Malcolm Chiswick, MD, FRCP [Lond], FRCPCH, DCH
Malcolm Chiswick graduated in medicine at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1965 and was trained in pediatrics in London and Manchester. In 1975, he was appointed Consultant Pediatrician at St. Mary's Hospital for Women and Children, Manchester, where he developed the Neonatal Medical Unit as a referral center for the care of critically ill newborn infants.
In 1992, he was made Professor of Child Health and Pediatrics at the University of Manchester. He has published widely on the influence of perinatal events on neurodevelopmental outcome. From 1987 to 1999 he was Editor of Archives of Disease in Childhood.
In 2002, Professor Chiswick became Medical Director of Central Manchester and Manchester University Children's Hospitals NHS Trust. He is currently President of the British Association of Perinatal Medicine.
|
Neonatal Hypothermia - What are we waiting for? - Posted: August 2nd, 2006
With the publication of three randomized controlled trials demonstrating modest beneficial effects of hypothermia for treatment of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in the term or near-term neonate in 2005, neonatal clinicians must confront several questions: Does hypothermia "work"? Should our NICU use hypothermia, or refer potentially eligible infants to a center that offers hypothermia? How should they be cooled? Is cooling safe? Who should be cooled, or not cooled? This commentary addresses each of those questions in a way that may help practitioners to make an informed judgment.
Not for CE/CME credit.
Authored By Dr. John Barks -
 |
John Barks M.D. is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University
of Michigan, where he has been on the faculty of the Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine of
C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital since 1990. He is a graduate of Queen’s University
in Kingston, Canada, and did his Pediatric Residency at the I.W. Killam Hospital for Children in
Halifax and at the Hospital for Sick Children, in Toronto. His fellowship training was at
the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto and at the University of Michigan. Dr. Barks was a site
co-investigator in the Cool Cap randomized trial and has participated in the Cool Cap continued
access protocol since December 2003. In his laboratory research he has investigated mechanisms
of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and strategies for enhancing recovery from neonatal brain injury.
|
The Physician as a Defendant in Malpractice Lawsuits: Do's and Don'ts - Posted: November 10th
Physicians who are faced with their first malpractice suit are poorly prepared for the confrontational nature of the litigation process. The emotional impact of the allegations can be devastating and the insurance company frequently is more concerned about minimizing the cost than protecting the reputation of the defendant. The three most important aspects of malpractice litigation are preparation, preparation and preparation.
Not for CE/CME credit.
The Cause and Prevention of Human Birth Defects: How are we doing? - Posted: December 9th
In 1910, 4% of infants who died in the first year of life died of congenital malformations. In the year 2000, 25% of infant deaths were due to congenital malformations which are due to both genetic diseases and environmental agents. But the largest category is still labeled as unknown. However, we are making progress in increasing our ability to make etiologic diagnoses. The advances of the last 50 years in this field are astounding and will be discussed.
|
|
