Neonatologists Page Archive

Perinatal Section launches strategic plan

The newly developed Section on Perinatal Pediatrics strategic plan emphasizes the Section's commitment to advocacy and value to members.  The plan identifies four new areas of focus for the Section in the next five years and proposes some initial steps.  The strategic domains and first steps include:

Education:

• Creation of the new Web site
• Reconfiguration of Section educational venues to incorporate cutting-edge technologies and integrate adult learning theory

Global Health:

• Broaden global outreach of the Section to partner with other organizations to improve perinatal health worldwide
• Provide mechanisms to link members interested in global health with opportunities
• Educational Modules for Residents and Fellows on Global and Community Health

Leadership:

• Identify new leaders in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine and foster leadership development among trainees and young neonatologists
• Offer programs aimed at strengthening the skills of existing leaders

Quality: 

• Collaborate with quality-oriented organizations to explore the possibility of creating a Council on Perinatal Quality
• Develop and make widely available tools and teaching modules on quality

Learn more about the Section Strategic Plan »
Read the Strategic Plan Progress Report, October 2008 »
Read the results of the Member Survey »

Surgeon General's Conference Outlines Agenda
to Prevent Preterm Birth

Experts convened by the National Institutes of Health for the Office of the Surgeon General met in June and released an agenda for activities in the public and private sectors to reduce the nation's rate of preterm birth. The agenda calls for a national system to better understand the occurence of preterm birth and a national education program to help women reduce their chances of giving birth prematurely. The agenda also calls for improved methods for estimating the age of the fetus, and studies to identify biomarkers which would signal the beginning of preterm labor.

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AAP Section on Breastfeeding Develops Hospital Template to Enhance Breastfeeding Success

Maternity hospital practices such as free formula, pacifiers, and poor breastfeeding counseling may undermine successful breastfeeding. The AAP Section on Breastfeeding has developed a template to help hospitals develop and implement practices designed to optimize breastfeeding success.

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NICHD Workshops Address Two Important Neonatal Issues: Hypoglycemia & Hospital-Acquired Infection

NICHD Neonatal Hypoglycemia Workshop

Recognizing the common occurrence of neonatal hypoglycemia and the potential for insufficient glucose supply to injure the developing brain, as well as a need to support research to fill the missing gaps in knowledge about neonatal hypoglycemia and its clinical implications, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) convened a workshop, held September 8-9, 2008. A diverse group of experts participated.

NICHD Neonatal Hospital-Acquired Infection Workshop

Hospital-acquired or nosocomial infection occurs at high rates in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and often leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Up to 50% of extremely low birth weight infants develop infection in the NICU. This conference, held August 7-8, 2008, reviewed the existing information with respect to antenatal, perinatal and neonatal management including short term and long term morbidity and mortality for infants with hospital acquired infections. Approximately 20 invited investigators, including international experts, assisted in exploring this important agenda.

Learn more about these NICHD workshops »