The Incubator

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Seven-day versus 14-day antibiotic course for culture-proven neonatal sepsis: a multicentre randomised non-inferiority trial in a low and middle-income country.

Dutta S, Nangia S, Jajoo M, Sundaram M, Kumar M, Shivanna N, Gathwala G, Nesargi S, Jain S, Kumar P, Saili A, Karthik A, Tripathi S, Bandiya P, Dalal P, Ray P, Randhawa VS, Saigal K, Radhakrishnan D, Venkatesh V, Jagannatha B, Sharma M, Nagaraj S, Malik M, Dogra S, Mittal S, Saini A, Makkar N, Dhir M, Chandramohan A, Pragati RA, Srivastava T, Mukundan L, Benakappa N, Shukla A, Rasaily R.Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2025 Apr 25:fetalneonatal-2024-328232. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2024-328232. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40280737

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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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Furosemide Safety in Preterm Infants at Risk for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Greenberg RG, Lang J, Smith PB, Shekhawat P, Courtney SE, Hudak ML, Moya F, Iyengar A, Eldemerdash A, Bloom B, Go M, Hanna M, Rhein L, Aliaga S, Lewis T, Febre A, Kiefer AS, Bhatt-Mehta V, Khoury JA, Selewski D, Anand R, Martz K, Payne EH, Zimmerman KO, Benjamin DK Jr, Laughon M; Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act – Pediatric Trials Network Steering Committee.J Pediatr. 2025 Apr 28:114629. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2025.114629. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40306549

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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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This week on Tech Tuesday, we sit down with Dr. Theodor Uzamere, a graduating neonatology fellow from Texas Children’s Hospital, to explore an inspiring project that brings creativity and compassion to the NICU bedside. Theodor introduces us to the Consult Cards — a thoughtful, low-tech innovation designed to support families navigating the overwhelming world of neonatal intensive care.

Rooted in his love for consults and desire to improve communication during high-stress conversations, Theodor created a deck of color-coded, parent-friendly flashcards that cover essential NICU topics: diseases, respiratory support, nutrition, imaging, and vocabulary. Drawing from his own study strategies and guided by feedback from NICU family focus groups, these cards aim to reduce anxiety, improve understanding, and foster meaningful engagement between families and the medical team.

We discuss the process of developing, evaluating, and iterating on the cards, and how Theodor hopes to expand their reach. More than just an educational tool, the Consult Cards empower families to participate actively in their baby’s care. If you’re passionate about patient-centered communication and innovation in neonatology, this conversation will move and motivate you. 

For collaboration opportunities, Theodor’s contact details are: [email protected]

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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 inspiring and deeply informative episode of The Incubator Podcast, Dr. Audrey Miller, neonatologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and newly appointed Medical Director of their BPD Service, joins the hosts to unpack the intricacies of chronic lung disease care and her rapid career ascent. Miller outlines the five key principles guiding her team’s nationally recognized approach to BPD: ventilator strategies tailored to BPD physiology, aggressive infection prevention, proactive pulmonary hypertension screening, prioritization of linear growth, and uncompromising developmental care.

She shares the rationale behind “slow lung” ventilation, the importance of recharacterizing infants as they evolve from micro-preemies to complex chronic patients, and how individualized, patient-driven care often begins by doing less, not more. Beyond technical insights, Miller reflects on the professional mentorship and collaborative culture that propelled her into leadership just two years post-fellowship.

She offers candid advice on tackling imposter syndrome, embracing delegation, and building confidence in administration—while remaining anchored in purpose. Whether you’re a fellow exploring BPD, a clinician curious about slow lung strategies, or an early-career neonatologist navigating your next move, Miller’s perspective is both practical and empowering. This is a must-listen for anyone thinking seriously about the future of chronic care in neonatology.

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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 the Incubator, David McCulley and Misty Good talk with Dr. Satyan Lakshminrusimha, a leading figure in neonatology and physician-scientist who discusses his journey from clinician to researcher, the significance of large animal studies in neonatal care, and the impact of research on clinical guidelines. They explore the importance of mentorship, the challenges of conducting neonatology physician-scientist research, and the leadership roles in the field of neonatology. Dr. Lakshminrusimha discusses his journey in neonatology, emphasizing the importance of the mentorship he received, the inspiration he finds in mentoring others, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the evolving role of AI in healthcare. He reflects on the significance of nurturing future leaders in medicine and the need for fairness and transparency in departments of pediatrics. The discussion also touches on the intersection of art and science, showcasing how creativity can enhance medical education and communication.

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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 week’s episode of NeoNews, the team takes a deep dive into global fertility trends and the complex forces shaping the future of parenthood. The conversation starts with a discussion on worldwide declines in fertility rates, highlighting the economic pressures and societal shifts that are making the decision to have children more difficult across the globe. The hosts reflect on how financial instability, the high cost of living, and long-term uncertainty are reshaping family planning choices — even in countries with strong social support systems.

The discussion moves into the emerging markets around fertility treatments, shedding light on the ethical complexities of the global egg donation industry. Later, the team explores the rising challenges in pediatric and neonatology workforce training, offering insights into the evolving demands of the medical field. Finally, the group reviews new research on the microbiome, developmental care in the NICU, and how income mobility impacts child health outcomes.

Throughout the episode, the hosts share honest, thoughtful reflections on the heavy pressures families and healthcare providers face today. It’s a conversation about hope, hardship, and the small ways we can support the next generation, even amid a changing world.

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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In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr Kelsey Kirkman who is now a third year Neonatology fellow at Texas Children’s Hospital. Kelsey shared with us her primary fellow project on creating a debrief tool for residents following critical events in the NICU. She describes in depth about how she came up with this idea and how she found her mentor to help support and navigate her medical education interest.  We talked about medical education theories and how to perform a thematic analysis. We talk about her challenges in implementing her project and how she tackled them. We also discussed how she took her medical education research to the next level by pursuing a Masters in Medical education through UT Houston. She shared insights on how she balanced fellowship training with her masters. Kelsey also shared her lessons learnt from her experience and provided some of the resources that helped her understand medical education better. Kelsey hopes to have a medical career in a leadership role, leading a training program, and applying her knowledge in medical education in improving neonatology subspeciality training. 

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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Leah and Shakeema Smiley discuss the challenges and triumphs of navigating life with a child in the NICU, particularly focusing on the experience of having a tracheostomy. Shakeema shares her personal journey with her daughter Lori, who was born prematurely and required extensive medical care. The conversation highlights the emotional and practical aspects of caring for a child with special needs, the importance of advocacy, and the power of hope and community support.

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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In this Journal Club episode, Ben and Daphna review several impactful studies shaping neonatal care. They begin with a secondary analysis of the ETTNO trial, which examined whether liberal transfusion thresholds reduce intermittent hypoxemia or improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in extremely low birth weight infants. Despite prior concerns, the study found no benefit to liberal thresholds, supporting current restrictive practices. A JAMA Network Open study follows, revealing that late preterm infants are least likely to receive mother’s own milk at 12 weeks, underscoring an overlooked group in breastfeeding support efforts. Dr. David Rube joins the show to discuss a two-year follow-up of the IN-RECSURE trial, which investigated whether lung recruitment before surfactant administration leads to improved long-term outcomes—ultimately showing no difference in death or disability. The hosts also explore a meta-analysis on umbilical cord blood therapy for children with cerebral palsy, highlighting benefits in motor function for younger children with milder CP when treated at higher doses. Additional topics include the association between funisitis and cerebral palsy in extremely preterm infants and the AZTEC trial’s conclusion that azithromycin does not reduce BPD. The episode concludes with a review of best practices for discussing autopsy with families in the NICU setting.

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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Advancing neonatal autopsy by strengthening physician belief and fostering effective family communication.

Kratimenos P, Simonti G, Kinney HC.Pediatr Res. 2025 Mar 31. doi: 10.1038/s41390-025-04031-y. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40164873

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!