The Incubator

Send us a textIn this CHNC 2025 conversation, Daphna speaks with Dr. Beverley Brozanski (St. Louis Children’s) and Dr. Anthony Piazza (Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta) about the evolution of quality improvement within the Children’s Hospitals Neonatal Consortium (CHNC). They trace the journey from the first collaborative—reducing central line infections—to today’s data-driven, multicenter initiatives powered by the Children’s Hospitals Neonatal Database (CHND). Reflecting on lessons learned, they emphasize data over time, inclusion of data abstractors as core collaborators, and mentorship that nurtures the next generation of QI leaders, illustrating how sustained collaboration continues to advance neonatal outcomes nationwideSupport the showAs 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 from the CHNC 2025 Symposium, The Incubator welcomes Dr. Briana Bertoni and Dr. Gene Pallotto to discuss the Children’s Hospitals Neonatal Consortium’s (CHNC) CIQI program and its ongoing quality improvement initiatives. They share results from Project Home, a multicenter effort to increase human milk use at discharge—highlighting how transport teams, unified family education, and cultural awareness helped drive progress. The next phase takes a flexible “choose-your-own-adventure” approach, empowering NICUs to target unplanned extubations, nosocomial infections, or oral feeding readiness. With benchmarking, data support, and shared learning, CHNC continues to help diverse teams improve outcomes and shorten NICU stays across the networkSupport the showAs 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 CHNC 2025 episode, The Incubator speaks with Dr. Sandy Johng (Seattle Children’s) and Dr. Kelsey Montgomery (Riley Children’s Hospital) about the collaborative work of the CDH Focus Group within the consortium. They discuss a national effort to evaluate bivalirudin versus heparin for ECMO anticoagulation in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia—a shift driven by promising anecdotal evidence but lacking robust data. Through shared cases, systematic review, and consensus guideline development, the group aims to unify practice and elevate research quality. The conversation highlights how real-time collaboration accelerates learning, improves care consistency, and fosters innovation across Level IV NICUs nationwide.Support the showAs 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 textLive from the Children’s Hospitals Neonatal Consortium (CHNC) 2025 Symposium in Denver, The Incubator host Dr. Daphna Yasova Barbeau sits down with Dr. Diana Montoya Williams, neonatologist and researcher, to explore how in-person collaboration shapes the future of neonatal medicine. They discuss CHNC’s role in connecting clinicians across Level IV NICUs through data sharing, quality improvement, and meaningful dialogue. The conversation highlights how conferences like CHNC rekindle professional motivation, strengthen care networks, and translate shared learning into improved outcomes for high-risk infants—reminding neonatal providers why gathering, reflecting, and innovating together still matters in an increasingly digital world.Support the showAs 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 textJoin Dr. Daphna Yasova Barbeau as she kicks off The Incubator’s live coverage from the Children’s Hospitals Neonatal Consortium (CHNC) 2025 Symposium in Denver. This opening episode sets the stage for two days of conversations focused on improving care for high-risk infants through data sharing, collaboration, and quality improvement across Level IV NICUs. Daphna introduces the mission behind CHNC and its powerful Children’s Hospitals Neonatal Database (CHND)—a resource driving benchmarking and innovation nationwide. Tune in for context, purpose, and the energy that fuels this year’s meeting before diving into interviews with CHNC leaders and attendeesSupport the showAs 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, Dr. Ruth Grace Babirekoba discusses the transformative efforts in newborn care in Uganda, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among healthcare professionals. She shares insights on the National Surfactant Administration Protocol and her personal journey in maternal and newborn health, highlighting the significance of mentorship and self-care for future leaders in healthcare.Support the showAs 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 textThe Incubator Podcast welcomes Dr. Henry Lee, Associate Editor of the Textbook of Neonatal Resuscitation, to discuss the ninth edition of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP). They review major updates released October 22, 2025, including the extended 60 second delayed cord clamping, new guidance on cord milking, refined oxygen targets, ventilation parameters, and updates to airway management and corrective steps. They also highlight three new educational modules, NRP Cardiac, Resuscitation in the NICU, and Neonatal Education for Prehospital Professionals, emphasizing how these changes support evidence based and effective neonatal care worldwide.Support the showAs 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 of Beyond the Beeps, Leah interviews Jennifer Bernardo, a passionate advocate and author of 'Week 26', who shares her journey through the NICU with her twins, Luke and Layla. Jennifer discusses the challenges of having premature babies, the healing power of writing, and the importance of community support. She emphasizes the role of presence in NICU care, the significance of involving siblings, and her advocacy efforts to raise awareness about the NICU experience. The conversation highlights the resilience of NICU parents and the hope that guides them through difficult times.Support the showAs 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 textWhat’s new in neonatal innovation and research this week?Join Ben and Daphna for a lively Journal Club episode of The Incubator Podcast, recorded after a long NICU day but packed with energy and insight. They begin with an update on the newly released NRP 9th Edition, preview their excitement for the upcoming Delphi Neonatal Innovation Conference, and then dive into five remarkable studies shaping neonatal care.From the use of CARPEDIEM for renal replacement therapy in the tiniest infants to a meta-analysis on high-dose vitamin D supplementation, the hosts explore how evolving evidence can transform bedside care. They examine a novel trial of nebulized nitroglycerin for PPHN, the role of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) in optimizing PEEP for infants with severe BPD, and new insights into NEC risk factors even among exclusively human-milk-fed babies.With their trademark mix of curiosity, humor, and critical reflection, Ben and Daphna make complex studies both understandable and relevant for everyday NICU practice.Stay informed and inspired—listen now, and explore more neonatal research and conference updates at www.the-incubator.org. Support the showAs 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 textInfant Renal Replacement Therapy Using Carpediem™: A Multicenter Observational Cohort Study from the ICONIIC Learning Network.Slagle CL, Vuong KT, Krallman KA, Casey L, Gist KM, Jetton JG, Joseph C, Luckritz K, Martin SD, Morgan J, Merrill KA, Plomaritas K, Ramirez D, Tran CL, Shin HS, Snyder AN, Van Wyk B, Yalon L, Goldstein SL, Menon S.J Pediatr. 2025 Sep 26:114838. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2025.114838. Online ahead of print.PMID: 41016463 Free article.Support the showAs 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!