The Incubator

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Join Ben and Daphna live from the NEO Conference as they welcome the 2026 Legends in Neonatology Award recipient, Dr. Waldemar "Wally" Carlo. In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Carlo discusses the driving forces behind his enduring passion for clinical care and the critical need for robust bedside research. They explore how full-time clinicians can actively shape the research agenda by turning everyday diagnostic uncertainties into innovative trials. Dr. Carlo also offers a preview of his highly anticipated lecture on neonatal oxygen targets, revealing why it remains one of the most rigorously studied—yet complex—areas in modern medicine.

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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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Does our fear of necrotizing enterocolitis do more harm than good? In this live episode from the Neo conference, Ben and Daphna sit down with Dr. Ariel Salas to challenge the "culture of fear" surrounding neonatal nutrition. Dr. Salas argues that while we obsess over ill-defined NEC risks, we may be sacrificing the proven benefits of early feeding on sepsis reduction. From the emotional weight of "wasted" breast milk to the "illusion of control" provided by strict protocols, this conversation urges neonatologists to move toward a family-centered, evidence-based approach that prioritizes human milk over clinical hesitation.

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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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Live from the Neo Conference in Las Vegas, Ben and Daphna sit down with Dr. Zach Anderson from Winnie Palmer Hospital to demystify the integration of Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in the NICU. Moving beyond the intimidation of complex cardiac scans, Zach explains why starting with "pinch points" like vascular access or bladder volume can revolutionize bedside decision-making. From the SAFER protocol to managing the agitated infant on ECMO, this episode explores how POCUS serves as a powerful problem-solving tool that bridges the gap between clinical mystery and immediate intervention.

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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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In this live episode from the Neo Conference in Las Vegas, we welcome back Dr. Souvik Mitra to unpack the evolving landscape of PDA management in extremely preterm infants. We dive into the recent AAP guidelines recommending against early medical treatment and explore potential unintended consequences, including rising transcatheter closure rates and delayed intervention. Dr. Mitra shares his institution's approach using the SMART-PDA criteria, highlighting the importance of treatment timing and proper patient selection. Join us for a nuanced discussion balancing large pragmatic trial data with bedside clinical judgment for our most vulnerable babies.

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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

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In this live episode from the Neo Conference in Las Vegas, we welcome back Dr. Souvik Mitra to unpack the evolving landscape of PDA management in extremely preterm infants. We dive into the recent AAP guidelines recommending against early medical treatment and explore potential unintended consequences, including rising transcatheter closure rates and delayed intervention. Dr. Mitra shares his institution's approach using the SMART-PDA criteria, highlighting the importance of treatment timing and proper patient selection. Join us for a nuanced discussion balancing large pragmatic trial data with bedside clinical judgment for our most vulnerable babies.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

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In this week’s journal club episodes, we review several interesting and important studies in neonatal medicine. Ben and Daphna start with a provocative echocardiography study out of Edmonton showing that standard chest compressions in newborns likely target the right heart and great vessels, not the left ventricle. A small sample size, but a finding that anyone who ultrasounds hearts all day will instantly recognize.

Daphna presents a retrospective multicenter study from Nationwide Children’s on antibiotic duration for Gram-negative bloodstream infections in the NICU. Short course (≤8 days) showed no treatment failures, while 14% of infants in the long duration group developed a multi-drug resistant organism infection. Eight days versus ten: does the difference matter? The data says yes.

Ben reviews a randomized controlled trial from UAB on early vitamin D supplementation in extremely preterm infants fed human milk. Eight hundred units daily for the first two weeks appears safe and effective at achieving vitamin D sufficiency, but did it move the needle on BPD? And is that even the right question to ask?

Daphna brings a QI paper from Levine Children’s on universal social determinants of health screening across nine pediatric divisions, achieving 92% compliance and connecting thousands of families to resources through findhelp.org. A reminder that the tools are already there – we just have to use them.

The episode wraps with Ben, Daphna, and Eli discussing Colorado’s landmark paid NICU leave law – the first in the nation to require employers to provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave for parents with a baby in the NICU. What does the evidence say, and how do we advocate for this in our own states?
 Science, equity, and advocacy – all in one episode.

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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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In this episode of Neo News, we break down Colorado’s groundbreaking legislation mandating 12 weeks of paid leave for NICU parents—a potential blueprint for national change. We explore the critical intersection of policy, economics, and infant health, discussing why supporting families at the bedside isn't just morally right but economically smart. We also highlight new research from economists like Maya Rossin-Slater and Mariam Khan linking paid leave to reduced neonatal mortality. Plus, find out how you can turn these policy shifts into advocacy tools for your own state. Join us for a concise, high-impact update on the future of NICU care.

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Boese, L. (2024, December 18).Why Colorado’s paid NICU leave law could spark nationwide trend. HR Executive. **https://hrexecutive.com/why-colorados-paid-nicu-leave-law-could-spark-nationwide-trend/**

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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Ben and Daphna conclude Journal Club with a quality improvement study from Pediatrics titled "Improving Health-Related Social Needs Screening and Support Across a Pediatric Health Care System". The hosts discuss the successful implementation of universal social determinants of health (SDOH) screening across nine pediatric divisions at Levine Children's. They highlight the impressive results—screening compliance reaching 92%—and the practical impact of connecting families to resources like FindHelp.org, which led to a 56% resolution rate in food insecurity for positive screens. Daphna makes a personal commitment to improve resource accessibility in her own unit.

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Improving Health-Related Social Needs Screening and Support Across a Pediatric Health Care System. Laroia R, Minor W, Carr A, Buitrago Mogollon T, White BB, Mabus S, Stilwell L, Ahmed A, Mehta S, Obita T, Reed S, Senturias Y, Mittal S, Horstmann S, Demmer L, Dantuluri K, Chadha A, Noonan L, Courtlandt C.Pediatrics. 2026 Feb 5:e2024070035. doi: 10.1542/peds.2024-070035. Online ahead of print.PMID: 41638605

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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

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Ben and Daphna review a randomized controlled trial published in The Journal of Pediatrics by Dr. Ariel Salas and colleagues at UAB. The study investigates whether early high-dose vitamin D supplementation (800 IU/day starting day 1) in extremely preterm infants reduces the incidence of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) compared to standard care (starting day 14). The hosts discuss the physiologic rationale linking vitamin D to lung development, the use of impulse oscillometry to measure lung mechanics, and the secondary findings regarding metabolic bone disease. They explore why the "physiologic rationale" doesn't always translate to clinical significance.

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Early Vitamin D Supplementation in Infants Born Extremely Preterm and Fed Human Milk: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Salas AA, Argent T, Jeffcoat S, Tucker M, Ashraf AP, Travers CP.J Pediatr. 2025 Dec;287:114754. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2025.114754. Epub 2025 Jul 24.PMID: 40714046 Clinical Trial.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

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In this episode of Journal Club, Ben and Daphna review a retrospective cohort study from Pediatrics examining antibiotic duration for uncomplicated Gram-negative bloodstream infections in the NICU. The study, a collaboration between Nationwide Children’s Hospital and UT Health San Antonio, compares outcomes between short course (≤8 days) and long course (≥9 days) therapy. The hosts discuss the startling finding that while recurrence rates were similar, the long-duration group had a 14% rate of developing multi-drug resistant (MDR) infections within 90 days, compared to 0% in the short-duration group.

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Duration of Antibiotic Therapy for Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infections in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Djordjevich CJ, Magers J, Cantey JB, Prusakov P, Sánchez PJ.J Pediatr. 2026 Jan 17:114993. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2026.114993. Online ahead of print.PMID: 41554433 Free article.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!