
The Incubator
A weekly discussion about new evidence in neonatal care and the fascinating individuals who make this progress possible. Hosted by Dr. Ben Courchia and Dr. Daphna Yasova Barbeau.
Latest episodes

Feb 9, 2025 • 10min
#279 - [Journal Club Shorts] - 📌 2 year outcomes of the HIP trial
Send us a textOutcomes 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: 39832819As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. 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!

Feb 9, 2025 • 12min
#279 - [Journal Club Shorts] - 📌 Effects of pregnancy-induced hypertension on early-onset neonatal thrombocytopenia.
Send us a textEffects 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.As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. 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!

Feb 9, 2025 • 12min
#279 - [Journal Club Shorts] - 📌 Apnea After 2-Month Vaccinations in Hospitalized preemies
Send us a textApnea 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: 39761016As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. 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!

Feb 9, 2025 • 9min
#279 - [Journal Club Shorts] - 📌 Unbound bilirubin and risk of severe neurodevelopmental impairment in preemies
Send us a textUnbound 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: 39849115As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. 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!

Feb 5, 2025 • 19min
#278 - 🚀 Empowering NICU Nurses - Education and Community Through Social Media and Online Learning
Send us a textIn 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.comUse code “Incubator20” for 20% off Amanda Williams’ Certification Course! As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. 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!

Feb 2, 2025 • 43min
#277 – Dr. Robin Steinhorn – The highs and lows of a neonatologist’s career
Send us a textIn 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! As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. 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!

Jan 29, 2025 • 31min
#276 - Rupa Fellows Friday – A fellow improving care for low- and middle-income countries (fr. Dr Amee Amin)
Send us a textWelcome to the debut episode of Rupa’s Fellows Friday, a new series on The Incubator podcast, hosted by Dr. Srirupa Gopal. This series celebrates the incredible research and passion of neonatology fellows from around the globe. Our first guest, Dr. Amee Amin, a third-year neonatology fellow at Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH), shares her inspiring journey and groundbreaking work in global health.Dr. Amin discusses her diverse background—born in Kenya, raised in Tanzania, and trained in India, the UK, and the US—and how it shaped her dedication to improving neonatal care in low-resource settings. She highlights her recent project: developing and implementing a low-cost continuous respiratory rate monitor designed for use in neonatal intensive care units in low- and middle-income countries. This innovative device, created in collaboration with Rice University, uses sensors to measure respiratory rates accurately and affordably, empowering healthcare providers with vital tools in resource-constrained settings.The conversation also delves into the challenges of conducting global health research during fellowship, the importance of mentorship, and Dr. Amin’s transformative experiences working in Malawi and presenting at the Tiny Feet Big Steps conference in Tanzania. This inspiring episode highlights the power of passion, collaboration, and innovation in neonatology. As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. 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!

Jan 26, 2025 • 1h 2min
#275 – 🗞️ Neo News – Suspicious fractures in a Virginia NICU, One year after a denied abortion, and more!
Send us a text As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. 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!

10 snips
Jan 22, 2025 • 43min
#274 - Understanding the Role of Fatty Acids in Neonatal Nutrition ft. Dr. Camilia Martin
Dr. Camilia Martin, chief of neonatology at Weill Cornell Medicine, joins to unveil pivotal insights into neonatal nutrition. She emphasizes the essential role of fatty acids in preterm infants' development and discusses the latest evidence-based strategies for individualized nutrition plans. The conversation touches on the impact of maternal diets on breast milk quality and potential innovations for infant health. Dr. Martin also offers guidance for healthcare providers navigating the complexities of neonatal nutritional needs, highlighting tailored approaches for optimal outcomes.

Jan 19, 2025 • 1h 21min
#273 - 📑 Journal Club - The Complete Episode from January 19th 2024
Send us a textIn this week’s Journal Club, Ben and Daphna discuss six impactful studies shaping neonatal care. The conversation opens with a retrospective study exploring the timeline and factors influencing liberation from respiratory support in infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), offering valuable insights for parental counseling and care planning. A survey on enteral nutrition practices in U.S. NICUs highlights variability in feeding protocols and fortification strategies, with an encouraging trend toward donor milk use.The hosts then delve into a study on anti-seizure medication protocols, showing how structured pathways can significantly reduce the number of infants discharged on these medications. A European survey on anemia of prematurity reveals wide variations in iron supplementation and erythropoietin use, emphasizing the need for standardized practices. They also review a commentary on the evolving design of NICUs, which warns against sensory deprivation and advocates for balancing protective and nurturing environments.Finally, the discussion turns to a Spanish study on bemiparin, a low molecular weight heparin for neonatal thrombosis. While safe, the treatment faces challenges in achieving full thrombus resolution, highlighting the complexities of managing neonatal clotting disorders. Packed with insights and updates, this episode is a must-listen for neonatal professionals. As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. 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!