
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

May 12, 2024 • 1h
#208 - 🤖 Harnessing the Power of AI for Better Neonatal Outcomes (ft NeoMIND-AI founders Drs. Barry and McAdams)
Send us a textIn this exciting episode of The Incubator podcast, hosts Ben and Daphna Barbeau dive into the promising world of artificial intelligence (AI) in neonatology. They are joined by special guests Dr. James Barry, medical director of the University of Colorado Hospital NICU, and Dr. Ryan McAdams, professor and chief of the Division of Neonatology and Newborn Nursery at the University of Wisconsin. Both guests are co-chairs of the Steering Committee for NeoMind AI, a collaborative focused on advancing neonatal machine learning innovations, development, and artificial intelligence.The conversation explores the potential of AI to revolutionize neonatal care by leveraging the vast amounts of data generated in NICUs to improve outcomes, optimize care delivery, and enhance medical education. Dr. Barry and Dr. McAdams provide insights into the current state of AI in neonatology, the importance of collaboration in AI research, and the ethical considerations surrounding this technology.NeoMind AI is introduced as an inclusive learning collaborative that aims to break down silos between organizations, educate neonatologists about AI, and foster collaboration on common data platforms. The guests emphasize the importance of clinician involvement in AI development and application to ensure safe, effective, and unbiased implementation.This episode offers a fascinating look at the future of neonatology and the role AI will play in transforming the field. It serves as an invitation for listeners to join the NeoMind AI community and contribute to this exciting new frontier in neonatal 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!

May 8, 2024 • 1h 2min
#207 - 🌍 Caring for neonates in Barbados, How small changes over time create big results (ft Dr. Clyde Cave and Dr. Gillian Birchwood)
Send us a textIn this episode, Mbozu and Shelly-Ann are joined by Dr. Clyde Cave and Dr. Gillian Birchwood. The conversation explores the neonatal care in Barbados, focusing on the challenges faced and the incremental changes made to improve the care provided. Dr. Cave and Dr. Birchwood provide an overview of the NICU in Barbados, the early years of the NICU, human resource development, financial challenges and fundraising, dealing with pushbacks, and internal pushback with changing practices. The conversation highlights the importance of advocating for neonatal care and the need for continuous improvement in the face of limited resources. Episode Webpage Link: https://www.the-incubator.org/post/207-caring-for-neonates-in-barbados-how-small-changes-over-time-create-big-results-ft-dr-clAs 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!

May 5, 2024 • 1h 9min
#206 - 📑 Journal Club - The Complete Episode (May 5 2024)
Send us a textIn this episode of The Incubator Journal Club, Ben and Daphna discuss several recent neonatology papers. They review a NEJM trial on nutritional support strategies for moderate to late preterm infants, finding no effects on time to full feeds or body composition at 4 months. Next, they discuss a study on umbilical cord blood cultures for early onset sepsis, noting good concordance with neonatal blood cultures. A Japanese retrospective study found erythropoietin use was associated with increased ROP risk but decreased NEC and mortality. However, the hosts caution about limitations in EPO dosage data and variation between centers. They then discuss a trial showing breast milk enemas reduce time to meconium evacuation and full feeds compared to saline enemas in preterm infants. A paper from Nationwide Children's reports good outcomes managing BPD without routine blood gases, potentially saving costs. Lastly, a study suggests transcutaneous bilirubinometry may safely monitor rebound hyperbilirubinemia after phototherapy. Throughout the discussion, Ben and Daphna provide insightful analysis of each study's strengths, limitations, and implications for practice. They also highlight their upcoming 3-year podcast anniversary, announcing a special giveaway and listener survey. 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!

May 5, 2024 • 11min
#206 - 📌 Journal Club Shorts - Breast Milk Enema and Meconium Evacuation Among Preterm Infants
Send us a textBreast Milk Enema and Meconium Evacuation Among Preterm Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Zheng L, Gai L, Wu Y, Kong C, Sun F, Gao J, Yuan W, Liu M, Jiang H, Tuo N, Yang F.JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Apr 1;7(4):e247145. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.7145.PMID: 38648060 Free article. Clinical Trial.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!

May 5, 2024 • 8min
#206 - 📌 Journal Club Shorts - Nutritional Support for Moderate-to-Late-Preterm Infants
Send us a textNutritional Support for Moderate-to-Late-Preterm Infants - A Randomized Trial. Alexander T, Asadi S, Meyer M, Harding JE, Jiang Y, Alsweiler JM, Muelbert M, Bloomfield FH; DIAMOND Trial Group.N Engl J Med. 2024 Apr 25;390(16):1493-1504. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2313942.PMID: 38657245 Clinical Trial. 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!

May 5, 2024 • 17min
#206 - 📌 Journal Club Shorts - EBNEO commentary: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)-To treat early or not with ibuprofen?
Send us a textEBNEO commentary: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)-To treat early or not with ibuprofen? Javed R, Gowda H.Acta Paediatr. 2024 Apr 30. doi: 10.1111/apa.17259. Online ahead of print.PMID: 38687140 No abstract available.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!

May 3, 2024 • 49min
#205 - 👶 Beyond The Beeps - You are your baby’s Voice
Send us a textIn this intimate chat with Leah, Isabella shares her experience of her baby Lily being born prematurely at 27 weeks and being admitted to the NICU. She talks about the initial shock and the unexpected journey of having a baby in the NICU. Isabella shares her daughter Lily's journey in the NICU, from surgery to feeding challenges and extended hospital stays. She emphasizes the importance of trusting your instincts as a parent. Isabella expresses gratitude for the medical staff and the lessons she learned about patience and acceptance. She shares her hope for other NICU families and offers words of wisdom for those currently 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!

Apr 28, 2024 • 56min
#204 - 🔬 At The Bench - Understanding Neonatal Brain Injury with Dr. Donna Ferriero
Send us a textIn this episode of “At the Bench” in the Incubator podcast family, Dr. Donna Ferrero discusses her work on therapeutic hypothermia and neonatal brain injuries. She explains the development and implementation of therapeutic hypothermia as a treatment for brain injuries in newborns. Dr. Ferrero also explores the signaling pathways and early markers that can help identify patients who will respond well to hypothermia. She discusses the use of erythropoietin (EPO) and the results of the HEAL trial. Additionally, Dr. Ferrero highlights the importance of genetic variants and sex-specific differences in understanding and treating brain injuries. She also emphasizes the need for a multi-omics approach to better comprehend the complexity of brain injuries and develop personalized interventions. We also delve into the future of care for hypoxia ischemia and the importance of collaboration and career development for physician scientists. The value of collaboration with international researchers and the benefits of visiting other institutions and labs are highlighted. Tips for effective collaboration and overcoming challenges in career development are provided, along with insights into the role of leadership in advancing the field.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!

Apr 21, 2024 • 51min
#203 - The Giants of Neonatology - Fighting for Air (Pr. Ola Didrik Saugstad)
Send us a textIn this episode of The Incubator podcast, hosts Ben Courchia and Daphna Yasova Barbeau interview Professor Ola Didrik Saugstad, a pioneer in neonatology research from Norway. Professor Saugstad shares his journey of discovering hypoxanthine as a biochemical marker of asphyxia in newborns and his groundbreaking work on resuscitating babies with room air instead of 100% oxygen. He explains how his research challenged the long-standing dogma of using pure oxygen for resuscitation, despite initial skepticism from the medical community. Through his perseverance and collaboration with international researchers, Professor Saugstad's findings eventually led to a paradigm shift in neonatal resuscitation guidelines worldwide. He emphasizes the importance of being open to new ideas, conducting rigorous studies, and fostering teamwork in research. The conversation also touches on the challenges of conducting clinical trials in an era of increasing complexity and the need for ongoing international collaboration to address unanswered questions in neonatology, particularly regarding optimal oxygen use in preterm infants. Professor Saugstad's inspiring story highlights the impact that dedicated researchers can have on improving care for the most vulnerable 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!

Apr 17, 2024 • 60min
#202 - 🌍 Global Neo Pod - Starting a Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship in Rwanda
Send us a textIn this episode, Dr. Nkuranga and Dr. Hadfield discuss their journey into neonatology and their current roles in Rwanda's healthcare system. They also discuss the development of the Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship Program in Rwanda and the collaborations and stakeholder involvement that were required to establish the program. They also share their experiences of living and working in Rwanda, as well as the challenges of balancing work and family. The conversations concludes with advice for individuals in leadership positions and an invitation for collaborationEpisode address: https://www.the-incubator.org/post/202-Global-Neo-Pod-Starting-a-Neonatal-Perinatal-Medicine-Fellowship-in-RwandaAs 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!