Hello friends  👋 In this episode, we speak with neonatal nurse scientists Dr. Marliese Nist and Dr. Kathy Dudding to explore the evolving understanding of neonatal pain and stress in the NICU. Together, we look at how outdated assumptions about infant pain still influence clinical care, and what providers can do to better recognize and respond to the signs of stress in fragile newborns. Our guests discuss how even routine care can be a source of stress for preterm infants, a

Hello friends  👋 In this special “advocacy roundup” episode, Dr. Shetal Shah and Stephanie Glier return to break down the latest developments in federal healthcare policy and their real-world consequences for neonatologists and the families they serve. With sweeping budget legislation threatening to cut Medicaid funding by nearly 10%, they explain how these changes could destabilize the financial foundations of neonatal care, reduce access to critical services, and deepen ex

Hello friends  👋 In this week’s Journal Club, Ben and Daphna sit down with Michelle Kelly, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Associate Professor at Villanova University. Michelle is a leading voice in recognizing the lasting impact of preterm birth on long-term health. She shares insights from her co-authored article, Addressing Preterm Birth History with Clinical Practice Recommendations Across the Life Course , which outlines how a history of prematurity should inform lifel

Hello friends  👋 In this inspiring and deeply informative episode of The Incubator Podcast , Dr. Audrey Miller, neonatologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and newly appointed Medical Director of their BPD Service, joins the hosts to unpack the intricacies of chronic lung disease care and her rapid career ascent. Miller outlines the five key principles guiding her team’s nationally recognized approach to BPD: ventilator strategies tailored to BPD physiology, aggressive i

Hello friends  👋 In this episode of The Incubator, Ben and Daphna speak with Dr. Scott Duncan, Division Chief at the University of Louisville, about the critical importance of medical billing and coding in neonatology. The discussion explores how accurate documentation and thoughtful use of codes can impact everything from individual reimbursement to hospital funding and staffing. Dr. Duncan explains the key differences between critical care and intensive care coding, highli

Hello Friends 👋 Delirium in the NICU is an under-recognized and under-assessed challenge. In this episode of The Incubator Podcast, Ben and Daphna sit down with Dr. Karishma Rao and clinical pharmacist Alex Oschman from Children’s Mercy Hospital to explore the complexities of neonatal delirium. Drawing on their collaborative work and recent publication in Frontiers in Pharmacology , they unpack the nuances of distinguishing delirium from pain, agitation, withdrawal, and seda

Hello Friends 👋 In this week’s episode, Daphna hosts a powerful roundtable featuring Drs. Kerri Machut, Milenka Cuevas-Guaman, Emily Miller, Christine Bishop, and Christiane Dammann—leaders of a national effort to improve neonatology staffing. Together, they share insights from their recently developed recommendations, created through a Delphi consensus process and supported by a strategic grant from the AAP Section on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. These evidence-informed gui

Hello Friends 👋 In this special episode of The Incubator Podcast , Ben and Daphna welcome Dr. Malathi Balasundaram and Morgan Kowalski, key members of the Family-Centered Care (FCC) Task Force, to discuss the growing movement towards integrating families as active partners in neonatal care. Dr. Balasundaram, a neonatologist and chair of the FCC Task Force, explains that family-centered care goes beyond simple parental involvement—it requires caregivers to be equal members of

Hello friends  👋 In part two of our conversation with Dr. Phyllis Dennery, Ben and Daphna dive into the themes of leadership and gratitude. Dr. Dennery shares her journey from growing up in a hospital environment to becoming a leader in neonatology, reflecting on how mentorship, self-awareness, and courage shaped her path. She discusses the importance of saying “no” when necessary, embracing leadership roles, and advocating for diversity and equity in medicine. Dr. Dennery o

Hello friends 👋 In 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

Hello friends 👋 In this episode of The Incubator Podcast , hosts Ben and Daphna welcome Dr. Cami Martin , a renowned expert in neonatal nutrition. Dr. Martin shares her insights on the evolving landscape of neonatal nutritional care, highlighting the critical role of early nutrition in shaping long-term outcomes for preterm infants. With a wealth of experience in clinical research and bedside practice, Dr. Martin delves into the latest evidence-based strategies to optimize g

Hello Friends 👋 In this episode of The Incubator Podcast , renowned neonatologist and researcher Dr. Keith Barrington discusses his career, his influential blog ( Neonatal Research ), and his contributions to evidence-based neonatology. Dr. Barrington explains how his blog originated from sharing recent research insights with trainees and grew into a platform that educates professionals and promotes consistent, evidence-based practices in neonatology. He emphasizes the impor

Hello friends 👋 In this episode of The Incubator Podcast ’s “Giants of Neonatology” series, hosts Ben Courchia and Daphna Barbeau welcome the renowned Professor Lex Doyle. With a career spanning over 40 years, Professor Doyle shares his journey through the transformative eras of neonatal care. He reflects on the evolution of neonatal practices, his pioneering role in the Victorian Infant Collaborative Study, and the critical importance of long-term follow-up research for pre

Hello friends 👋 In this episode of The Incubator Podcast , Ben and Daphna host Fabiana Bacchini, Executive Director of the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation (CPBF) and author of From Surviving to Thriving: A Mother's Journey Through Infertility, Loss, and Miracles . Fabiana shares her deeply personal journey of becoming an advocate for premature babies and their families after spending five months in the NICU with her son, Gabriel. Her transformative experience with famil

Hello Friends 👋 In this special episode of The Incubator Podcast, Ben sits down with Dr. Jay Greenspan, Dr. Kevin Dysart, and Yari Payne, key organizers of the upcoming Hot Topics in Neonatology Conference. This celebrated conference, renowned for over 40 years, will take place from December 9–11 at the Gaylord National in National Harbor, Maryland . Attendees can look forward to exploring groundbreaking research and innovations in neonatology, with sessions covering topics

Hello friends 👋 In this episode of The Incubator , hosts Ben and Daphna are joined by Dr. Shetal Shah and Stephanie Glier, Director of Federal Advocacy for the American Academy of Pediatrics, to discuss the critical issue of continuous Medicaid coverage for children. The conversation dives deep into how Medicaid and CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) support approximately 50% of all U.S. children, with particular emphasis on how these programs benefit children with c

Hello friends 👋 In this latest episode of The Incubator Podcast , hosts Ben and Daphna delve into the world of extremely preterm infants with a special focus on the Tiny Baby Collaborative. They are joined by an expert panel featuring Dr. Leeann Pavlek, a neonatologist from Nationwide Children's Hospital, Matt Rysavy, director of Learning Healthcare at UT Health Houston, and Courtney Vier, a mother with firsthand experience raising extremely preterm infants. The discussion e

Hello Friends 👋 In this special episode of The Incubator podcast, Ben and Daphna wrap up the 2024 Delphi Neonatal Innovation Conference, sharing their favorite moments and highlights. This episode features the exclusive audio from four captivating Delphi talks. Dr. Suresh Gautham, Chair of Pediatrics at Nemours Children's Hospital, opens with an intriguing talk on "What Neonatologists Can Learn from Sherlock Holmes," drawing parallels between neonatal practice and detective

Hello Friends 👋 In this episode of The Incubator Podcast, hosts Ben Courchia and Daphna Barbeau interview Dr. Lily Lou, a neonatologist making history as the first from her specialty to run for president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Dr. Lou discusses the significance of her candidacy, emphasizing the importance of subspecialist representation within the AAP. She shares insights from her unique perspective, drawing from experiences in both subspecialty and gen

Hello Friends 👋 Exciting news for neonatal professionals worldwide! Registration for virtual attendance is now open for the groundbreaking Delphi Neonatal Innovation Conference, set to take Fort Lauderdale by storm from September 23-25. Whether you're joining in person or tuning in remotely, prepare for an unparalleled experience in advancing neonatal care. Hosted by Ben Courchia and Daphna Yasova Barbeau from the Incubator podcast, this conference promises a unique blend of