Hello friends  👋 What happens when we challenge our long-standing assumptions about phototherapy in the NICU? In this special installment of our Rethinking Phototherapy series, Ben and Daphna are joined by Dr. Deepak Manhas to examine one of the most complex questions: how should we manage hyperbilirubinemia in preterm infants? Unlike term babies, preemies face unique risks—shorter red blood cell lifespan, immature bilirubin conjugation, lower albumin binding, and increased

Hello friends  👋 In the second installment of our Rethinking Phototherapy series, Ben and Daphna welcome Dr. Daniel Rauch, Professor of Pediatrics at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and Division Chief of Pediatric Hospital Medicine and General Academic Pediatrics at Joseph Sanzari Children’s Hospital. Dr. Rauch co-authored the AAP technical report on phototherapy and brings a unique perspective on how light therapy should be understood and applied in clinical prac

Hello friends  👋 In this episode of The Incubator Podcast, Ben and Daphna sit down with Dr. Alex Kemper, Division Chief of Primary Care Pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Editor-in-Chief of Pediatrics. Dr. Kemper served as chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics subcommittee that authored the 2022 revision of the neonatal hyperbilirubinemia guidelines. Together, they explore the motivations behind revisiting the 2004 guideline, the major changes introduced,

Hello Friends 👋 This week, The Incubator is coming to you live from Denver, Colorado, where Dr. Daphna Yasova Barbeau is attending and speaking at the 2025 CHNC Symposium. Daphna will be bringing you a wave of content straight from the conference—video interviews, podcast episodes, social posts, and live updates capturing the innovation and collaboration that define CHNC. We are making this content short and easy to digest because we know that if you are not here with us, it

Hello friends  👋 The 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 educationa

Hello friends  👋 In this special episode recorded live at the NeoHeart Conference 2025 in San Diego, California, Ben and Daphna sit down with Dr. Steve Abman, the Dr. John Patrick Cleary Living with Legends Keynote Address Speaker. A true leader in pediatric medicine, Dr. Abman serves as Professor of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Co-Director of the Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Program, Director of the Pediatric Heart and Lung Center, and President of the American Pediatr

Hello friends  👋 In this episode of the Incubator Podcast, Dr. Mario Rüdiger, a prominent neonatologist from Germany, shares his journey into the field of neonatology, discussing the differences between European and American practices, the importance of flexibility in adopting new therapies, and the role of evidence in neonatal care. He emphasizes the significance of empowering parents in the NICU and advocates for a family-centered approach to care. The conversation also to

Hello friends  👋 In this episode, Ben and Daphna sit down with Cassie Carrigan and Sacha Force to share the story of Cassie’s son, Caleb, and the lessons his short life continues to teach. Cassie, a mother, mental health therapist, and NICU parent, walks us through Caleb’s complex diagnostic journey, multiple surgeries, and ultimately the genetic condition that explained his struggles. She reflects candidly on the emotional toll of repeated bad news, the challenge of decisio

Hello friends  👋 What if you could hold in your hands a roadmap to the most influential studies that have shaped modern neonatology? In this special episode of The Incubator Podcast, Ben and Daphna sit down with Dr. John Zupancic, Dr. Susanna Hay, and Dr. Roger Soll to discuss the release of their new book, 50 Studies Every Neonatologist Should Know. Together with their co-editors Dr. Barbara Schmidt and Dr. Haresh Kirpalani, the team has distilled decades of neonatal resear

Hello friends  👋 This special podcast series explores the recently published articles in Children  on the implications of preterm birth across the life course. Through conversations with authors, editors, and parents, we dive into how prematurity shapes health and well-being far beyond the NICU. Episodes highlight themes of equity, communication, family mental health, resilience, and the importance of strength-based care. By blending scientific insight with lived experience,

Hello friends  👋 In this episode of The Incubator Podcast, Ben and Daphna sit down with Dr. Dena Hubbard, neonatologist and Director of Quality at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital’s NICU. Dr. Hubbard is widely recognized for her leadership in trauma-informed care, physician well-being, and advocacy work within the American Academy of Pediatrics. She shares her journey from private practice to becoming a national voice for trauma-informed approaches in neonatal care. Dr. Hubbar

Hello Friends 👋 In this episode of The Incubator Podcast, Dr. Guilherme Sant’Anna, Professor of Pediatrics at McGill University, joins Ben and Daphna to discuss his team’s work on implementing an early bubble CPAP protocol in the delivery room. Although CPAP has long been considered standard practice for preterm infants, Dr. Sant’Anna explains why intubation rates remain high in the most immature babies and how his group sought to change this pattern. The conversation review

Hello friends  👋 In this episode of The Incubator Podcast, we welcome Dr. Cindy McEvoy, Professor of Pediatrics and Director of Neonatal Research at OHSU, to discuss her work on the use of extended CPAP in preterm infants. CPAP has long been a cornerstone of neonatal care, but how long should stable infants remain on support? Dr. McEvoy shares findings from two randomized controlled trials that explored whether an additional two weeks of CPAP could promote lung growth and im

Hello friends  👋 In this episode of The Incubator Podcast, we sit down with Dr. David Askenazi, Dr. Heidi Steflik, and Dr. Kimmy Vuong to explore the latest research and practice shifts in neonatal nephrology. The discussion begins with the often-overlooked role of the kidney in the NICU and why kidney health has direct implications for outcomes far beyond discharge. The group reviews three recent high-impact papers. The first, a secondary analysis of the PENUT trial, examin

Hello friends  👋 Picture this: You’re caring for a 22-week infant, uncertain whether survival is even possible—and yet you remember that someone like Dr. Ed Bell has been quietly tracking cases just like this for decades. In this episode of The Incubator Podcast , we welcome Dr. Edward Bell, Professor of Pediatrics and Associate Vice Chair for Faculty Development in Neonatology at the University of Iowa. A leader in the care of extremely preterm infants, Dr. Bell shares the

Hello friends  👋 In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Garabet Yeretssian, PhD, Senior Program Manager at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), to discuss how collaborative infrastructure and emerging technologies are reshaping research into necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Garabet shares how his background in GI inflammation and rare diseases led him to focus on cross-disciplinary research support, including CZI’s Rare As One Network and its emphasis on patient-led science.

Hello friends  👋 In this special collaboration with the NEC Society, Dr. Mark Underwood joins the podcast to discuss the evolving science and clinical approach to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). A long-time leader in neonatal nutrition and NEC prevention, Dr. Underwood shares his perspective on why prevention remains the most effective lever in tackling this devastating disease — from the irreplaceable role of maternal milk to the complex regulatory barriers around probioti

Hello friends  👋 In this episode of The Incubator Podcast, Daphna is joined by Dr. Pia Wintermark and Dr. Eleanor Molloy for a deep dive into the most impactful neonatal neurology studies of the past year. The discussion begins with a critical look at therapeutic hypothermia for mild hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and preterm infants, highlighting recent pilot trials that challenge the practice of expanding cooling beyond established guidelines. They dissect key findi

Hello friends  👋 In this episode of The Incubator Podcast , Ben and Daphna are joined by Fabiana Bacchini, Dr. Tiffany Gladdis, and Bianka Gallina to discuss the development and launch of Neopedia , a free, multilingual online platform designed to support families navigating the NICU and beyond. The team explains how Neopedia was created by an international group of parent advocates and medical experts to bridge the information gap many families face during and after neonata

Hello friends  👋 In this episode of The Incubator Podcast , Ben and Daphna sit down with certified birth doula and lactation counselor LaToya Southwell for a wide-ranging conversation about the role doulas play in supporting families before, during, and after birth. LaToya shares her personal and professional path into birth work, and how her experiences shaped a culturally sensitive, trauma-informed approach to supporting laboring people—particularly those from historically