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A doctor in the pediatrics department speaking with a group

Division of Neonatology

Overview

The Division of Neonatology operates the premiere academic neonatal ICU in the greater New Jersey area and is the only training program for neonatology fellows in the state. Currently, research projects are ongoing in developmental immunology, environmental toxins in NICU, inflammatory and oxidative tissue injury, anti-inflammatory lipids, tissue perfusion and oxygenation, SIDS, bilirubin toxicity, the epidemiology of prematurity, nitric oxide in prematurity, nitric oxide, and nitro-lipid biology, and many other areas of immediate importance to the health of newborns.

Clinical Care Services

The Division of Neonatology is an integral part of the Department of Pediatrics, with the medical and academic resources of the medical school available on-site. The division runs an active transport service for neonates born at regional Level II centers. Other programs include the High-Risk Infant Follow-Up Program, which tracks the outcomes of NICU graduates, the Infant Apnea Program, the SIDS Center of New Jersey, and the Neonatology Laboratory. In collaboration with Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists, neonatologists participate in the prenatal management, delivery, and perinatal care of high-risk infants with a wide variety of genetic, developmental, and prematurity-related issues.

A mother reaches for a baby in a crib
    • Surgery
    • Neurosurgery
    • Anesthesia
    • Orthopedic surgery
    • Urology,
    • Ophthalmology
    • Otorhinolaryngology
    • Cardiology
    • Neurology
    • Radiology
    • Endocrinology
    • Nephrology
    • Infectious diseases
    • Gastroenterology
    • Hematology-oncology
    • Rheumatology
    • Pathology

Education

The fundamental purpose of the postgraduate training program in NPM is to prepare trainees for a career in neonatology. The graduate medical education program in NPM furthers the missions of providing the highest quality medical care to patients and educating future generations of physicians to serve our community and the State of New Jersey.

The program consists of a structured curriculum, providing extensive opportunities to learn perinatal physiology, clinical neonatology, and research methodology. Physicians in training will develop personal, clinical, and professional competence under the guidance and careful supervision of our faculty and staff.

The program offers safe, appropriate, and humane care of patients and the progression of resident physician responsibility consistent with each trainee's demonstrated clinical experience, knowledge, and skill. The completion of a research project, under the guidance of an experienced faculty member, fulfills the ACGME requirement for training and provides an opportunity for the trainee to have an academic career.

After completion of the training program, qualified graduates are eligible for certification by the American Board of Pediatrics Sub-board of Neonatal Perinatal Medicine.

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and the Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (NPM) residency program is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Nurses examine a patient in the NICU

Faculty

Explore the list of accomplished faculty comprising the Division of Neonatology.

View the Faculty Listing

Our Facilities

The primary NICU for the Division of Neonatology is at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital, where a new 19,000-square-foot facility was opened in 2005. The new NICU is a regional perinatal referral center, with computerized state-of-the-art equipment, including both high-frequency jet and oscillatory ventilation, novel modes of invasive and non-invasive conventional ventilation, and inhaled nitric oxide.

In January 2009, the NICU initiated the first head-cooling program in New Jersey for infants with perinatal asphyxia, using CoolCap technology for local hypothermia. The NICU is family-friendly, with breastfeeding facilities and overnight rooms for families.

Patient outcomes consistently exceed national benchmarks. Faculty also provide neonatology services at other regional sites, including Somerset Medical Center.

Facade of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital

Community Outreach

Below are examples of presentations our Division have given in the past:

    • Teitler, J., Martinson, M., Reichman, N. “Cohort Variability in Immigrant Health from 1970 to 2009.” Paper to be presented at the 2011 Fall Research Conference of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, Washington, D.C., November 3-5, 2011.
    • Reichman, N. Invited presentation as lead speaker at Penn State University’s 19th annual Symposium on Family Issues entitled “Families and Child Health,” State College, PA, Oct. 4-5,
    • Teitler, J., Martinson, M., Reichman, N. “Cohort Variability in Immigrant Health from 1970 to 2009.” Paper to be presented at the 2011 Annual Research Data Center Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 15, 2011.
    • Corman, H., Dave, D., Reichman, N., Das, D. “Women and Drug Crime: The Role of Welfare Reform.” Paper presented at the 8th World Congress on Health Economics of the International Health Economics Association, Toronto, Ontario, July 10-13, 2011.
    • Corman, H., Curtis, M., Noonan, K., Reichman, N. “Effects of Child Health on Parents’ Living Arrangements.” Paper presented at the 8th World Congress on Health Economics of the International Health Economics Association, Toronto, Ontario, July 10-13, 2011.
    • Curtis, M., Corman, H., Noonan, K., Reichman, N. “Life Shocks and Homelessness.” Paper presented at the National Bureau of Economic Research Health Economics Program Spring Meeting, Cambridge, MA, May 6, 2011.
    • Reichman, N. Invited discussant on “Overview of Childhood Disabilities in the U.S.” by Neal Halfon, Amy Houtrow, Kandyce Larson, and Paul Newacheck. Future of Children Conference on Child Disability, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, April 14-15, 2011.
    • Teitler, J., Reichman, N., Hutto, N. “Birthweight Among Children of Immigrants by Duration in the U.S.” Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of American, Washington DC., March 31-April 2, 2011.
    • Curtis, M., Corman, H., Noonan, K., Reichman, N. “Effects of Child Health on Housing.” Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of American, Washington DC., March 31-April 2, 2011.
    • Corman, H. Dave, D., Reichman, N., Das, D. “Women and Drug Crime: The Role of Welfare Reform.” Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Washington DC., March 31-April 2, 2011.
    • Curtis, M., Corman, H., Noonan, K., Reichman, N. “Life Shocks and Homelessness.” Invited presentation at the University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. March 15, 2011.
    • Corman, H. Dave, D., Reichman, N. “Effects of Welfare Reform on Women’s Illicit Drug Use.” Invited presentation at the University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. March 15, 2011
    • Reichman, N. “Child Health Disparities: A Vicious Cycle.” Pediatric Grand Rounds presentation. Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Jan. 13, 2011.
    • Corman, H. Dave, D., Reichman, N. “Women and Drug Crime: The Role of Welfare Reform.” Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Economic Association, Denver, CO, Jan. 7–9, 2011.
    • Curtis, M., Corman, H., Noonan, K., Reichman, N. “Effects of Child Health on Housing.” Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Economic Association, Denver, CO, Jan. 7–9, 2011.
    • Platform presentions at the Eastern Society for Pediatric Research, Philadelphia PA, March 26-27, 2011: 
    • Suganya Kathiravan, MD1, Faith E Archer, BS1, Anna M Vetrano, PhD1, Daniel S Hirsch, MD1, Barry I Weinberger, MD1 and Thomas Hegyi, MD1 . Effects of Bilirubin on Neutrophil Inflammatory Responses in Newborn Infants.
    • Poster presentations at the Pediatric Academic Societies, April 30-May 3, 2011, Denver, CO:
    • Barbara M Ostfeld, Linda Esposito, Harold Perl, Thomas Hegyi. Risk Factors in Latino Cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): A Population-Based Study.
    • Gowda, S, Archer, FE, Fawal, T, Gow, A, Laskin, DL, Weinberger, B, Vetrano, A. The Role of Nitrated Fatty Acids in Modulating Inflammation in Neonates.
    • Suganya Kathiravan, Faith E Archer, Anna M Vetrano, Daniel S Hirsch, Barry I Weinberger, Thomas Hegyi. Effects of Bilirubin on Neutrophil Inflammatory Responses in Newborn Infants
    • Petrova A, Mehta R.  Does Very Preterm Delivery Influence the Non-Specific Immunity of Breast Milk in the First Month of Lactation?
    • Avinash Purohit, Rajeev Mehta, Anna Petrova.  Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Tracheal Aspirates for Preterm Infants:  Effect of Surfactant Therapy.
    • Anna Vetrano, co-authored a poster entitled "Regulation of Bisphenol A-induced Apoptosis in Human Embryonic Kidney Cells" presented at the 49th Annual Society of ToxicologyMeeting in Salt Lake City, UT on March 9, 2010
    • Anna Vetrano co-authored a poster entitled " The Vesicant 2-Chloroethyl Ethyl Sulfide (CEES) Induces Expression of Proliferative Markers in a Full-Thickness Human Skin Equivalent" presented at the 49th Annual Society of ToxicologyMeeting in Salt Lake City, UT on March 8, 2010.
    • Curtis, M., Corman, H., Noonan, K., Reichman, N. “ Effects of Child Health on Housing.” Paper presented at the Association for Public Policy and Management Fall Research Conference, Boston, MA, Nov. 4-6, 2010.
    • Averett, S., Corman, H. Reichman, N. “ Effects of Overweight on Risky Sexual Behavior of Adolescent Girls.” Invited presentation at City University of New York Graduate Center, New York, NY, November 2, 2010.
    • Reichman, N. “ Child Health Disparities: A Vicious Cycle.” Invited presentation at the Child Health and Well-Being Conference of the Institute for Research on Poverty, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, Oct. 11-12, 2010.
    • Corman, H., Noonan, K., Reichman, N., Schultz, J. “ Effects of Financial Insecurity on Social Interactions.” Invited presentation at the University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland, September 13, 2010.
    • Corman, H., Noonan, K., Reichman, N., Schultz, J. “ Effects of Financial Insecurity on Social Interactions.” Paper presented at the third Social Capital and Health Global Workshop, Oslo, Norway, September 10-11, 2010.
    • Averett, S., Corman, H. Reichman, N. “ Effects of Overweight on Risky Sexual Behavior of Adolescent Girls.” Paper presented at the Social Capital and Health Global Workshop III, Oslo, Norway, September 10-11, 2010.
    • Martinson, M., Teitler, J., Reichman, N. " Health Across the Life Span in the United States and England." Poster presented at the European Population Conference 2010, Vienna, Austria, September 1-4, 2010.
    • Martinson, M., Teitler, J., Reichman, N. " Health Across the Life Span in the United States and England." Paper presented at the 43rd Annual Society for Epidemiologic Research meeting, Seattle, WA, June 23-26, 2010.
    • Averett, S., Corman, H. Reichman, N. “ Effects of Overweight on Risky Sexual Behavior of Adolescent Girls.” Paper presented at the Third Biennial American Society of Health Economists Conference, Cornell University, June 19-23, 2010.
    • Reichman, N., Corman, H., Noonan, K., Schwartz-Soicher, O. “ Effects of Prenatal Care on Maternal Postpartum Behaviors.” Paper presented at the Third Biennial American Society of Health Economists Conference, Cornell University, June 19-23, 2010.
    • Corman, H. Dave, D., Reichman, N. “Effects of Welfare Reform on Women’s Illicit Drug Use.” Paper presented at the Third Biennial American Society of Health Economists Conference, Cornell University, June 19-23, 2010.
    • Hamilton, E., Teitler, J., Reichman, N. “ (Why) Do Mexican American Children Outgrow the Epidemiologic Paradox?” Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Dallas, TX, April 15-17, 2010.
    • Martinson, M., Teitler, J., Reichman, N. “ Health Across the Life Span in the United States and England.” Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Dallas, TX, April 15-17, 2010.
    • Corman, H. Dave, D., Reichman, N. “ Effects of Welfare Reform on Women’s Illicit Drug Use.” Paper presented at the Fourth Annual Conference of the International Society for the Study of Drug Policy held at RAND, Santa Monica, CA, March 15-16, 2010.
    • Kathiravan, S., Archer, F.E., Laskin, D.L., Hirsch, D., Hegyi, T., Weinberger, B., Vetrano, A.M. "Anti-inflammatory activity of bilirubin in neonatal neutrophils". (Presented at the 32nd Greater New York Conference on Perinatal Research, Tarrytown NY, Nov. 3, 2010).
    • Gowda, S, Archer, FE, Fawal, T, Gow, A, Laskin, DL, Weinberger, B, Vetrano, AM.  "The Role of Nitrated Fatty Acids in Modulating Inflammation in Neonates".  (Presented at the 32nd Greater New York Conference on Perinatal Research, Tarrytown NY, Nov. 3, 2010).
    • Platform presentions at the Eastern Society for Pediatric Research, Philadelphia PA, March 28, 2010: 
    • Bhatt, M., Mehta, R. “Comparison of Mesenteric Tissue Oxygenation during Indomethacin and Ibuprofen Therapy for Patient Ductus Arteriousus in Preterm Infants” (also presented at NeoForum 2010, June 11, Basking Ridge, NJ).
    • Mody, K. Sirtuin L, “ Tracheal Aspirate Leucocytes: Possible Role in the Development of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Premature Infants”.
    • Vetrano, AM, Archer, FE, Weinberger, B.  "Inflammatory Responses to Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA) in Neonatal Neutrophils". 
    • Poster presentations at the Pediatric Academic Societies, May 1-4, Vancouver, BC:
    • Bhatt, M., Mehta, R. “Comparison of Mesenteric Tissue Oxygenation during Indomethacin and Ibuprofen Therapy for Patient Ductus Arteriousus in Preterm Infants” (also presented at NeoForum 2010, June 11, Basking Ridge, NJ). Dr. Bhatt received PAS Young Investigator Travel Award.
    • Mody, K. Sirtuin L, “Tracheal Aspirate Leucocytes: Possible Role in the Development of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Premature Infants”.
    • Ostfeld, B.M., Esposito, L., Hegyi, T. “The Profile of Risk Factors in SIDS Cases in Two Eras”.
    • Vetrano, AM, Archer, FE, Weinberger, B.  "Inflammatory Responses to Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA)

Contact Us

Division of Neonatology
1 Robert Wood Johnson Place
Medical Education Building, 396
New Brunswick, NJ 08903
Phone: 732-235-5699
Fax: 732-235-6609/5668