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In this episode of the Global Neonatal Podcast, Dr. Om Krishna Pathak shares his journey into neonatology, his experiences at Bharatpur Hospital in Nepal, and the various initiatives he has implemented to improve neonatal care. He discusses the challenges faced in developing a NICU, the importance of empowering nursing staff, and the significance of quality improvement projects. Dr. Pathak also highlights the role of mentorship in his career, the implementation of POCUS in neonatal care, and the ongoing efforts to train more healthcare providers in Nepal.

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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 Journal Club, Ben and Daphna are back in the studio for a lively discussion on the latest neonatal research. They start by highlighting upcoming conferences, including the BPD Collaborative meeting, before diving into a mix of clinical and policy-driven studies shaping neonatal care.

They explore a JAMA Pediatrics study on the risk of apnea following two-month vaccinations in preterm infants, discussing how these findings impact vaccine counseling in the NICU. Next, they examine research on the link between pregnancy-induced hypertension and neonatal thrombocytopenia, offering insights into how maternal conditions affect early lab values and bleeding risks.

The episode also features an EBNEO segment with Dr. Srishti Jayakumar and Dr. Sarah DeMauro, covering a Brazilian randomized trial on parent-guided developmental interventions for very low birth weight infants. The findings reveal significant improvements in motor and language outcomes, reinforcing the power of early parental involvement.

Finally, they tackle the debate on NICU volume and outcomes, analyzing data that suggests higher-volume centers may improve mortality and morbidity rates—but with important caveats.

Packed with critical analysis, debate, and practical insights, this Journal Club episode is one you won’t want to miss!

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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Unbound bilirubin and risk of severe neurodevelopmental impairment in extremely low birthweight newborns. 

Arnold CC, Maric I, Wong RJ, Tyson JE, Stevenson DK.Pediatr Res. 2025 Jan 23. doi: 10.1038/s41390-025-03872-x. Online ahead of print.PMID: 39849115

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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The Impact of Hospital Delivery Volumes of Newborns Born Very Preterm on Mortality and Morbidity. 

Phibbs CS, Passarella M, Schmitt SK, Martin A, Lorch SA.J Pediatr. 2025 Jan;276:114323. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114323. Epub 2024 Sep 18.PMID: 39304118

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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EBNEO Commentary: Parent-Guided Developmental Intervention for Infants With Very Low Birth Weight. 

Jayakumar S, Burris H, Duncan A, DeMauro SB.Acta Paediatr. 2025 Jan 30. doi: 10.1111/apa.17608. Online ahead of print.PMID: 39887768 No abstract available.

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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Outcomes of extremely preterm infants who participated in a randomised trial of dopamine for treatment of hypotension (the HIP trial) at 2 years corrected age. 

Marlow N, Barrington KJ, ODonnell CPF, Miletin J, Naulaers G, Cheung PY, Corcoran JD, Khuffash E, Boylan GB, Livingstone V, Pons G, Straňák Z, Van Laere D, Macko J, Wiedermannova H, Dempsey EM; HIP consortium.Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2025 Jan 19:fetalneonatal-2024-327894. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2024-327894. Online ahead of print.PMID: 39832819

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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Effects of pregnancy-induced hypertension on early-onset neonatal thrombocytopenia. 

Ye M, Zhou C, Li L, Wang L, Zhang M.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2025 Jan 24;25(1):67. doi: 10.1186/s12884-025-07193-z.PMID: 39856602 Free PMC 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.

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Apnea After 2-Month Vaccinations in Hospitalized Preterm Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial. 

Greenberg RG, Rountree W, Staat MA, Schlaudecker EP, Poindexter B, Trembath A, Laughon M, Poniewierski MS, Spreng RL, Broder KR, Wodi AP, Museru O, Anyalechi EG, Marquez PL, Randolph EA, Aleem S, Kilpatrick R, Walter EB.JAMA Pediatr. 2025 Jan 6. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.5311. Online ahead of print.PMID: 39761016

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 special Tech Tuesday episode of The Incubator Podcast, Ben and Daphna sit down with Amanda Williams, a clinical nurse specialist and the creator of Amanda’s NICU Ed, an educational platform designed to support NICU nurses through social media and online courses. Amanda shares her journey from bedside nursing to becoming a key educator in the NICU space, highlighting how Instagram and other platforms have revolutionized the way neonatal professionals learn and connect.

Amanda discusses her approach to distilling complex neonatal topics into engaging, easy-to-understand content, including her certification review course and mini-courses aimed at improving nursing education. She emphasizes the critical role that well-informed NICU nurses play in patient care, from early identification of clinical concerns to helping families navigate the NICU journey.

The conversation also touches on the growing challenge of diminishing hospital-based educator roles and the need for independent educational resources. Amanda shares insights into her creative process, the time investment required to produce high-quality content, and her passion for building a collaborative learning community.

Tune in to learn more about Amanda’s work, her educational philosophy, and how to access her valuable resources for NICU professionals.

Listen now and explore more at amandasnicued.com

Use code “Incubator20” for 20% off Amanda Williams’ Certification Course!

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 special episode of The Incubator Podcast, done in collaboration with the California Association of Neonatologists for the upcoming Cool Topics in Neonatology conference, Ben and Daphna welcome Dr. Robin Steinhorn, a leader in neonatal medicine, alongside Dr. Denise Suttner. Dr. Steinhorn, the keynote speaker for Cool Topics 2025, shares insights from her storied career, reflecting on the highs, lows, and lessons that have shaped her journey. From groundbreaking research in nitric oxide therapy to leadership in neonatology, she offers a candid discussion on navigating challenges, fostering collaboration, and embracing opportunities beyond predefined career paths.

The conversation also delves into pressing issues in pediatrics, including workforce shortages in subspecialties, gender disparities in medicine, and innovative workplace policies supporting women and families in healthcare. Dr. Steinhorn’s wisdom extends to mentorship, career adaptability, and the future of neonatal care.

Additionally, Dr. Suttner provides an exciting preview of Cool Topics 2025, highlighting discussions on neonatal legal challenges, probiotic use, and emerging fentanyl-related neonatal conditions.

Listeners can register for Cool Topics (March 5-7, 2025, in San Diego) using code INCUBATOR for a $50 discount. Tune in for an inspiring episode packed with leadership, innovation, and the future of neonatology!

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!