The nationally recognized Division of Neonatology is committed to providing innovative, comprehensive, high-quality care from our team of physicians, advanced practice nurses, RNs and other health care professionals that results in the best outcomes for infants cared for in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
Each year, approximately 900 babies receive a range of neonatal services in the 88-bed NICU, Iowa’s only Level IV NICU that has been consistently ranked among the top NICUs in the country for over 10 years.
As the division continues to grow and excel, exciting new opportunities are developing for expansion of preeminent clinical services, cutting-edge basic and translational research, innovative educational programs and excellence in quality improvement. Members of the Division of Neonatology are committed to patients receiving a consistent, safe and excellence standard of care through the course of illness. This includes extensive involvement in shaping local, state and national policy, serving on editorial and research review committees and leading statewide and national efforts to improve neonatal care.
Education
The Division of Neonatology’s mission includes educating future generations of neonatologists as well as teaching pediatric residents, medical students and nurses.
The division is home to the Iowa Statewide Perinatal Care Program, funded through the Iowa Department of Public Health, whose goal is to provide development of standards/guidelines of care, consultation to regional and primary providers and evaluation of the quality of care delivered to reduce the mortality and morbidity of mothers and infants.
Fellowship Programs
Our division offers two outstanding neonatal fellowships:
- The Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship is a three-year, ACGME-accredited program first established in 1975. Graduates of our Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship Training Program have become leaders in neonatal clinical care, research and education.
- The Neonatal Hemodynamics Fellowship (1-2 years) provides advanced training in Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography, further contributing to our mission in developing leaders in academic medicine and driving transformative change in neonatology.
A Faculty-focused Academic Medical Center
UI Health Care faculty enjoy defined academic time, plus benefits like doubling your retirement contribution. With a short commute and low cost of home ownership, it's no surprise we attract the best academically trained providers.
Research
The Division of Neonatology's commitment to excellent clinic care includes involvement in basic science and clinical investigative research with a focus on translating new discoveries into better ways to deliver care, treat life-threatening neonatal illnesses and improve outcomes.
As one of only 18 members of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) sponsored Neonatal Research Network, NICU physicians conduct cutting edge, multi-center clinical trials aimed at reducing infant morbidity and mortality while promoting health outcomes.
Other research, funded by the NIH, the March of Dimes, the Gates Foundation, and the Thrasher Foundation is focused on the genetics of prematurity, cardiovascular mechanisms of disease and treatments, neonatal nutrition, gastrointestinal diseases and understanding the long term health risks for preterm and growth-restricted infants. The establishment of the Savvy Ferentz endowed fund to promote neonatal research is a pivotal step in promoting innovative and practice changing research for extremely preterm infants. This work will help shape the way physicians provide care for infants around the world.
Division Investigators and Labs
Labs
Investigators
- Edward Bell, MD: Research to improve decisions about transfusing anemic preterm infants, reducing the need for transfusion, and identifying safer transfusion techniques. Researching hospital differences in outcome and approaches to care of extremely preterm infants. Creator of the Tiniest Babies Registry of infants who survived to discharge after being born with birth weight below 400 grams.
- Jennifer Bermick, MD: In the Bermick Lab, studies how the neonatal immune system develops under normal and inflammatory conditions.
- Timothy Boly, DO: Studies neonatal immunology, the effect of early life inflammation on neonatal outcomes, and neonatal hyperinflammatory disorders. His translational research involves neonatal capillary leak syndrome, with interests in underlying immunologic mechanisms, targeted therapies, and long-term outcomes. Part of the Inflammation Program
- Tarah Colaizy, MD, MPH: Conducting a randomized clinical trial on the neurodevelopmental outcomes of extremely preterm infants fed donor milk or preterm infant formula.
- John Dagle, MD, PhD: Studies optimization of nutrition in the late preterm infant, understanding the synergistic roles of probiotics and breast milk in the newborn, and promoting public health initiatives to improve the outcomes of all infants across Iowa.
- Heidi Harmon, MD, MS: Studies developmental outcomes after extreme prematurity and neuroimaging; as well as developmental outcomes of high risk neonates, auditory environment of the NICU, and developmental consequences of maternal stress.
- Amy Hobson, MD: Interested in predictive analytics and is working with the hemodynamics team to develop a predictive algorithm of the PDA trajectory in preterm infants, with the goal to improve practice guidelines and overall outcomes while remaining close to the patient bedside.
- Patrick J. McNamara, MB, BCH, BAO, DCH, MSc (Paeds), MRCP, MRCPCH
- Allison M. Momany, PhD: In the Momany Lab, examines biologic and physiologic variation in preterm infants, and the extent to which these factors confer risk for neurodevelopmental impairment. Operates the Neonatal Biorepository, which aims to serve as a centralized resource for physicians and researchers to understand and treat conditions and diseases affecting today's neonates with intertwined developmental, genetic, and environmental risk factors.
- Danielle R. Rios, MD, MS: Studies real-time predictive analytics, and neonatal hemodynamics.
- Robert Roghair, MD: The Roghair lab investigates the developmental origins of adult cardiometabolic disease. This work originated with the realization that an adverse perinatal environment increases the risk of adult hypertension and obesity.
Recent Division Publications
Our research supports the rapid translation of laboratory discoveries into new treatments.
Clinical Care
The scope and expertise of divisional neonatologists and pediatric colleagues is such that they are resourced to provide a level of care and services unavailable in most NICUs, including Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. The program is globally recognized for clinical excellence in the provision of highly specialized management, including years of experience in the use of high-frequency ventilation, of infants born as early as 22 weeks gestation.
The Hemodynamic program offers state-of-the-art cardiovascular assessment using advanced echocardiography methods and is regarded not only as a leader within the state and country, but is internationally regarded through its leadership role in the Pan-American Hemodynamic Collaborative.
The commitment to family-focused care starts before the birth of the baby through partnership with the Maternal/Fetal Medicine Program in the multidisciplinary Perinatal Care Clinic, offering specialized care to mothers carrying fetuses with known birth defects. This dedication extends to operation of the Neonatal High-Risk Follow-up Program, which monitors the physical and cognitive development of high-risk patients, providing information, education and support for families.
Services we offer include, but are not limited to:
- Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
- Extreme prematurity
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
- Patent ductus arteriosus
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Surgical problems such as trachesophageal fistula, gastroschisis and/or omphalocele
- Vein of Galen malformation
Latest Division News
Tiniest preemie in U.S. goes home after life-saving care at UI Health Care
Patrick J. McNamara, MB, BCH, BAO, DCH, MSc (Paeds), MRCP, MRCPCH
Division Contact Information
University of Iowa Stead Family Department of Pediatrics
Division of Neonatology
8803 John Pappajohn Pavilion
200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone: (319) 467-7435
Email: Patrick-mcnamara@uiowa.edu
Division Support Staff
Jill Kinnaird
Administrative Coordinator, Division of Neonatology
Phone: (319) 384-5258
Email: jill-kinnaird@uiowa.edu
Support our Neonatal Research and Programming
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