What is Neonatology?
Neonatology is a medical specialty that deals with the care of newborn infants, especially those who require intensive medical attention. Neonatologists are trained medical professionals who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of newborns who are premature, critically ill, or have other medical conditions that require specialized care.
Neonatology is a branch of pediatrics, but it differs from general pediatrics in that it focuses exclusively on the care of newborns. Neonatologists work closely with other medical professionals, such as obstetricians, pediatric surgeons, respiratory therapists, and nurses, to provide comprehensive care for newborns.
The History of Neonatology
Neonatology has its roots in the mid-twentieth century, when advances in medicine and technology led to significant improvements in neonatal care. Prior to this, newborns who were born prematurely or with medical conditions had little hope of survival. In the 1940s and 1950s, however, the development of incubators, ventilators, and other medical equipment made it possible to provide lifesaving care to critically ill newborns.
Over time, neonatal care became more specialized, and the first neonatology unit was established in the United States in the 1960s. Since then, neonatal care has continued to evolve, with advances in medical technology and research leading to improved outcomes for newborns.
Neonatology Specialization and Training
Neonatology is a highly specialized field, and neonatologists require extensive training and education to become experts in their field. After completing medical school, aspiring neonatologists typically complete a residency in pediatrics, followed by a fellowship in neonatology.
During their fellowship, neonatologists receive specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of neonatal conditions, as well as in the use of medical equipment and technology used in neonatal care. They also learn how to work with families and other medical professionals to provide comprehensive care for newborns.
Neonatology Care Team
Neonatologists work as part of a larger neonatology care team, which includes nurses, respiratory therapists, dieticians, and other medical professionals. This team works together to provide comprehensive care for newborns, from diagnosis to treatment to follow-up care. Each member of the neonatology care team has a specific role to play in providing care for newborns. Nurses, for example, are responsible for monitoring vital signs, administering medications, and providing emotional support to families. Respiratory therapists assist with mechanical ventilation and other respiratory interventions. Dieticians help ensure that newborns receive the appropriate nutrition for their unique medical needs. Together, the neonatology care team works collaboratively to provide the best possible care for newborns.
Neonatology Conditions and Treatments
There are many conditions that neonatologists may treat, including prematurity, respiratory distress syndrome, jaundice, patent ductus arteriosus, and necrotizing enterocolitis.
Prematurity
Prematurity is one of the most common conditions treated in neonatology. Premature babies are born before 37 weeks gestation, and they may require specialized care to help them grow and develop. Neonatologists may use a variety of interventions to support the growth and development of premature babies, including incubators, mechanical ventilation, and medication.
Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a condition in which newborns have difficulty breathing due to a lack of surfactant in their lungs. Surfactant is a substance that helps keep the air sacs in the lungs open, and without it, newborns may experience breathing difficulties. Neonatologists may treat RDS with mechanical ventilation and surfactant replacement therapy.
Jaundice
Jaundice is a condition in which the skin and whites of the eyes become yellow due to high levels of bilirubin in the blood. Neonatologists may treat jaundice with phototherapy, a form of light therapy that helps break down bilirubin in the blood.
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a condition in which the ductus arteriosus, a blood vessel that connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta, fails to close after birth. Neonatologists may treat PDA with medication or surgery.
Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious condition in which a portion of the bowel dies. Neonatologists may treat NEC with antibiotics, surgery, or a combination of both.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Newborns who require specialized care are often treated in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The NICU is a specialized unit within a hospital that provides comprehensive care for newborns who are premature, critically ill, or have other medical conditions that require specialized care.
The NICU is equipped with advanced medical equipment and technology, such as incubators, ventilators, and monitors, to help ensure that newborns receive the best possible care. The NICU also has a specialized care team that includes neonatologists, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other medical professionals who work together to provide comprehensive care for newborns.
Neonatology Research and Advances
Neonatology is a field that is constantly evolving, and there are ongoing research efforts to improve the care of newborns. Some recent advances in neonatal care include the use of probiotics to prevent NEC, the use of inhaled nitric oxide to treat pulmonary hypertension, and the development of new techniques for respiratory support.
Benefits and Challenges of Neonatology
Neonatology has many benefits, including the ability to save the lives of newborns who would not have survived in the past. However, there are also challenges associated with neonatology, including the potential for long-term health problems in premature infants and the emotional toll that caring for critically ill newborns can have on families and healthcare providers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, neonatology is a specialized field of medicine that focuses on the care of newborns, particularly those who are premature, critically ill, or have other medical conditions that require specialized care. Neonatology involves a multidisciplinary approach to care, with a team of healthcare providers working together to provide comprehensive care for newborns. While neonatology has many benefits, including the ability to save the lives of newborns who would not have survived in the past, it also has challenges, including the potential for long-term health problems in premature infants and the emotional toll that caring for critically ill newborns can have on families and healthcare providers.
Top Neonatologist In Jacksonville, FL
1. Dr. Jennifer A. Boothe, Neonatologist, Nemours Children's Specialty Care, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207
2. Dr. Richard M. Seff, Neonatologist, Wolfson Children's Hospital, 800 Prudential Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32207
3. Dr. Jessica A. Kilby, Neonatologist, University of Florida Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
4. Dr. Zenaide M. Quezado, Neonatologist, Mayo Clinic Florida, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224
5. Dr. Nancy L. Young, Neonatologist, UF Health Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
6. Dr. Stephen J. Corrigan, Neonatologist, UF Health Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
7. Dr. David M. Mason, Neonatologist, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
8. Dr. Charles E. Hess, Neonatologist, Nemours Children's Specialty Care, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207
9. Dr. M. Elizabeth A. Sheehan, Neonatologist, Wolfson Children's Hospital, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
10. Dr. Charles R. Weisman, Neonatologist, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
11. Dr. David M. Smith, Neonatologist, UF Health Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
12. Dr. Kenneth R. Blankenship, Neonatologist, Nemours Children's Specialty Care, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207
13. Dr. Michael J. Grosso, Neonatologist, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
14. Dr. Shonna L. Lyle, Neonatologist, UF Health Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
15. Dr. Robert A. Graziano, Neonatologist, Wolfson Children's Hospital, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
16. Dr. Susan L. Smith, Neonatologist, Mayo Clinic Florida, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224
17. Dr. M. John Gill, Neonatologist, Wolfson Children's Hospital, 800 Prudential Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32207
18. Dr. Robert M. Cohen, Neonatologist, Nemours Children's Specialty Care, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207
19. Dr. Bruce M. Levy, Neonatologist, University of Florida Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
20. Dr. John J. Bove, Neonatologist, UF Health Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
21. Dr. J. Stephen Peters, Neonatologist, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
22. Dr. Robert L. Prentice, Neonatologist, Nemours Children's Specialty Care, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207
23. Dr. Vincent R. Cianciolo, Neonatologist, Wolfson Children's Hospital, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
24. Dr. Deborah A. Davis, Neonatologist, UF Health Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
25. Dr. Carolyn J. Koehn, Neonatologist, Mayo Clinic Florida, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224
26. Dr. Steven M. Geier, Neonatologist, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
27. Dr. Jeffrey D. Homan, Neonatologist, Nemours Children's Specialty Care, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207
28. Dr. Robert M. Wendel, Neonatologist, Wolfson Children's Hospital, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
29. Dr. Michael T. McRae, Neonatologist, University of Florida Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
30. Dr. Jeffrey A. Sullivan, Neonatologist, UF Health Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
31. Dr. Gregory A. Seybold, Neonatologist, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
32. Dr. Richard L. Gibson, Neonatologist, Nemours Children's Specialty Care, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207
33. Dr. William A. Lane, Neonatologist, Wolfson Children's Hospital, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
34. Dr. Mary J. Gallagher, Neonatologist, Mayo Clinic Florida, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224
35. Dr. Michael J. Seidel, Neonatologist, UF Health Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
36. Dr. Michael S. Riley, Neonatologist, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
37. Dr. Robert A. Greenberg, Neonatologist, Nemours Children's Specialty Care, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207
38. Dr. Stephen D. Colby, Neonatologist, Wolfson Children's Hospital, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
39. Dr. Laura A. Johnson, Neonatologist, University of Florida Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
40. Dr. Michael C. Purdy, Neonatologist, UF Health Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
41. Dr. Jeffrey A. Pessin, Neonatologist, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
42. Dr. David A. Petite, Neonatologist, Nemours Children's Specialty Care, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207
43. Dr. Stuart W. Korschun, Neonatologist, Wolfson Children's Hospital, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
44. Dr. Robert S. Sander, Neonatologist, Mayo Clinic Florida, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224
45. Dr. Richard D. Humes, Neonatologist, UF Health Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
46. Dr. Kenneth V. Sheppard, Neonatologist, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
47. Dr. John A. Scholefield, Neonatologist, Nemours Children's Specialty Care, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207
48. Dr. Gary D. Hodges, Neonatologist, Wolfson Children's Hospital, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
49. Dr. Thomas J. Walsh, Neonatologist, University of Florida Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
50. Dr. Gregory R. Rubenstein, Neonatologist, UF Health Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
51. Dr. Anthony J. Piccione, Neonatologist, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
52. Dr. Richard K. Neely, Neonatologist, Nemours Children's Specialty Care, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207
53. Dr. David B. Zucker, Neonatologist, Wolfson Children's Hospital, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
54. Dr. David A. Fellows, Neonatologist, Mayo Clinic Florida, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224
55. Dr. Robert C. Stoddard, Neonatologist, UF Health Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
56. Dr. Gregg A. Natale, Neonatologist, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
57. Dr. Barbara J. Bockman, Neonatologist, Nemours Children's Specialty Care, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207
58. Dr. Robert M. White, Neonatologist, Wolfson Children's Hospital, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
59. Dr. David A. Bercu, Neonatologist, University of Florida Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
60. Dr. Michael J. Friedman, Neonatologist, UF Health Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
61. Dr. Robert C. White, Neonatologist, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
62. Dr. Daniel J. Weiner, Neonatologist, Nemours Children's Specialty Care, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207
63. Dr. Stephen P. Blasius, Neonatologist, Wolfson Children's Hospital, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
64. Dr. Mary C. Burrows, Neonatologist, Mayo Clinic Florida, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224
65. Dr. Bruce H. Lerner, Neonatologist, UF Health Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
66. Dr. Richard J. Nieves, Neonatologist, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
67. Dr. Robert E. Krell, Neonatologist, Nemours Children's Specialty Care, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207
68. Dr. Edward J. Doherty, Neonatologist, Wolfson Children's Hospital, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
69. Dr. Joseph E. Lasky, Neonatologist, University of Florida Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
70. Dr. Edward C. White, Neonatologist, UF Health Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
71. Dr. David A. May, Neonatologist, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
72. Dr. Terry L. Thomas, Neonatologist, Nemours Children's Specialty Care, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207
73. Dr. David S. Jaffe, Neonatologist, Wolfson Children's Hospital, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
74. Dr. Michael E. Feltz, Neonatologist, Mayo Clinic Florida, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224
75. Dr. Richard A. Kampf, Neonatologist, UF Health Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
76. Dr. David L. Isaacson, Neonatologist, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
77. Dr. Jeffrey A. Cohen, Neonatologist, Nemours Children's Specialty Care, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207
78. Dr. Eric S. Wiener, Neonatologist, Wolfson Children's Hospital, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
79. Dr. Barry M. Gerson, Neonatologist, University of Florida Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
80. Dr. John A. Lomax, Neonatologist, UF Health Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
81. Dr. Paul S. Thomas, Neonatologist, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
82. Dr. Kenneth B. Spillman, Neonatologist, Nemours Children's Specialty Care, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207
83. Dr. Gary L. Miller, Neonatologist, Wolfson Children's Hospital, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
84. Dr. David A. Benitz, Neonatologist, Mayo Clinic Florida, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224
85. Dr. John C. Harris, Neonatologist, UF Health Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
86. Dr. Robert J. Guillory, Neonatologist, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
87. Dr. Thomas K. Miller, Neonatologist, Nemours Children's Specialty Care, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207
88. Dr. Michael S. Smith, Neonatologist, Wolfson Children's Hospital, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
89. Dr. Charles L. Holman, Neonatologist, University of Florida Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
90. Dr. Evan S. Silverman, Neonatologist, UF Health Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
91. Dr. Charles D. Hipp, Neonatologist, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
92. Dr. David G. Berger, Neonatologist, Nemours Children's Specialty Care, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207
93. Dr. Alan D. Schwartz, Neonatologist, Wolfson Children's Hospital, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
94. Dr. Scott M. Glazer, Neonatologist, Mayo Clinic Florida, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224
95. Dr. Cynthia A. Gray, Neonatologist, UF Health Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
96. Dr. William E. Harrington, Neonatologist, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
97. Dr. Ronald E. Barger, Neonatologist, Nemours Children's Specialty Care, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207
98. Dr. Charles J. Vogel, Neonatologist, Wolfson Children's Hospital, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
99. Dr. Richard M. Miller, Neonatologist, University of Florida Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209
100. Dr. Michael B. Schulman, Neonatologist, UF Health Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209