The Incubator

Send us a textBen and Daphna speak with Dr. Mehul Raval, Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at Lurie Children’s Hospital, about his work on enhancing neonatal surgical recovery. Dr. Raval shares insights from his presentation on implementing enhanced recovery protocols, emphasizing a holistic approach to surgery—covering preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases. From minimizing opioid use to involving parents in care, he outlines evidence-based practices aimed at reducing complications and improving outcomes. Join this conversation for a closer look at optimizing surgical recovery for neonatal patients.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!

Send us a textBen and Daphna speak with Dr. Rachel Rochelle Gomes and Dr. Alyssa Blumenfeld, who share their work in neurodevelopmental outcomes for NICU graduates. Dr. Rochelle Gomes discusses her passion for supporting families with special needs children, while Dr. Blumenfeld outlines her QI project to lower the age of autism diagnosis in NICU follow-up clinics. Together, they emphasize the importance of early detection, family-centered support, and empowering NICU parents with the knowledge to navigate long-term challenges. Join this insightful discussion on enhancing neurodevelopmental care from the NICU and beyond.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!

Send us a textBen and Daphna speak with Dr. Melissa House, Chavis Patterson, and Kathleen Stanton about creating a “psychologically-minded” NICU, where mental health support is essential for families, staff, and patients alike. They discuss the upcoming CHNC workshop, "Combating Distress, Dissatisfaction, and Discord," which introduces trauma-informed care, caregiver support, and the impact of chronic stress on NICU staff and families. Listen in as they share insights on fostering empathy, self-awareness, and a supportive NICU culture, helping caregivers bring their best selves to the bedside.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!

Send us a textBen and Daphna talk with Dr. Suzanne Withbourne and her son, Cameron Jobson, about their innovative project, NICUrounds.com, designed to streamline NICU guideline management. Together, they’ve created a customizable website that helps NICU teams track patient-specific interventions based on gestational age and other factors. They share insights on reducing guideline lapses, the process of building this resource, and its impact on multidisciplinary care. Tune in to learn how this mother-son duo is making a difference in neonatal care with technology.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!

Send us a textBen and Daphna are joined by Dr. Sarah Swenson, Lisa Boyars, and Elizabeth Fisher, who share insights on addressing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) in the NICU. They discuss their CHNC workshop, "Nuts and Bolts of Screening and Brief Intervention for PMADs," which guides NICUs in implementing effective screening and intervention programs. Learn about the essential role of mental health support for NICU families, how screening can be adapted to any NICU setting, and the resources available to assist parents navigating PMADs.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!

Send us a textBen and Daphna welcome back Dr. LeeAnn Pavlek, joined by Dr. Ulana Pogribna, to discuss the impactful work of the Small Baby Focus Group. From establishing dedicated small baby units to creating guidelines for extremely preterm infants, they share insights into developing a cohesive care team for these fragile patients. They explore essential components like family-centered care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the importance of a living, adaptable guideline process. Tune in for a deep dive into the strategies improving outcomes for the tiniest patients in the NICU.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!

Send us a textBen and Daphna speak with Dr. Aaron Hamvas from Lurie Children’s Hospital about his research on bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and its potential genetic factors. Dr. Hamvas discusses the complexities of BPD, including the role genetics might play in predisposing infants to the condition. He introduces the “Leopard Project,” a new NIH-funded study using AI and novel genomics techniques to explore long-term respiratory outcomes in preterm infants. Join the conversation for insights into how genetics and advanced data analysis could redefine our understanding of BPD and its lifelong impacts.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!

Send us a textBen and Daphna chat with Dr. Monti Sharma from Children’s Nebraska, who shares his expertise on neonatal interventional bronchoscopy and the evolving role of pulmonology in the NICU. Dr. Sharma explains how advances in portable, flexible bronchoscopy equipment are allowing safer, bedside airway evaluations, potentially reducing the need for tracheostomies in certain infants with BPD. Highlighting the dynamic assessments this technology provides, he offers a glimpse into the future of neonatal airway management. Tune in to explore the groundbreaking ways neonatology and pulmonology are converging to enhance respiratory care.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!

Send us a textBen and Daphna welcome Dr. Briana Bertoni to discuss the CIQI Fellowship, a unique program for advancing quality improvement in neonatal care. Dr. Bertoni explains how the fellowship equips participants with hands-on experience in project development and implementation across diverse NICUs. From defining project metrics to learning the intricacies of nationwide QI initiatives, Dr. Bertoni shares insights into the mentorship and collaboration that make this fellowship a standout experience. Listen to learn more about the critical role of CIQI in neonatal quality improvement and how fellows contribute to transformative care.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!

Send us a textIn this episode, Ben and Daphna welcome the CHNC team—Anthony Piazza, Eugenia Pallotto, and Beverly Brozanski—to discuss quality improvement (QI) priorities in neonatal care. They delve into how QI initiatives at CHNC set project priorities and leverage data to support patient outcomes across diverse NICUs. From the challenges of Project Home, aimed at increasing breastfeeding at discharge, to exploring social determinants of health, this episode highlights the power of collaborative QI in addressing real-life challenges for NICU families and standardizing care practices nationwide.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!