Neonatal

A message from our division chief

While our Neonatology patients are the smallest in the Children’s Health system, they are also the most resilient. The division’s commitment matches our patients’ resolve, providing the highest-quality care during their critical first days, weeks and months of their lives.

Our Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) supports innovative programs like our Neonatal Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) program, our nationally recognized Neonatal Cardiac program and one of five NeuroNICU programs in the U.S. dedicated to improving neurological and developmental outcomes for infants with brain injuries.

Through our robust Fetus to Five program, we support newborn brain health at every stage. Our network covers 1 in 20 deliveries in Texas and 1 in 200 in the U.S. We established the first and only Fetal and Neonatal Developmental NeuroNICU in Texas, providing care collaboration across 20,000 births annually.

The Fetal Evaluation and Treatment Alliance (FETAL) Center serves families and their babies with expert care to treat even the most complex prenatal conditions. Partnering with more than 50 specialties, we offer multidisciplinary care for high-risk cases. We continue supporting our patients by providing comprehensive care through the THRIVE clinic from discharge until they reach school age.

Our collaboration with UT Southwestern Medical Center fuels ongoing research, equating to the best possible care for mothers and babies. Our division’s physician-scientists conduct NIH-funded research on preventing brain injury and have changed the paradigm of care for newborns with hypoxic-ischemic-encephalopathy (HIE), a once untreatable condition that now has a proven intervention.

We are one of a few programs in the country to receive accreditation for Neonatal Neurocritical Care subspecialty fellowship training. Our partnerships with Population Health, Bioinformatics and the O’Donnell Brain Institute enable us to train neurologists, neonatologists and neonatal neurologists to manage the unique needs of babies with brain injury, increasing the number of highly skilled specialists who serve this population.

From prenatal diagnosis to long-term follow-up, we integrate leading-edge research, clinical innovation and mission-driven care to improve outcomes for newborns so they can THRIVE to their best potential.

Lina Chalak, M.D., MSCS
William Buchanan Endowed Chair

OUTCOMES

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Innovations in neonatal care: 2024 year in review

This past year, the Neonatology department at Children’s Medical Center Dallas, part of Children’s Health, has led innovations transforming neonatal-perinatal care. In partnership with UT Southwestern, we’re proud to share these advancements – which highlight our ongoing mission to make life better for children. Through groundbreaking clinical trials, new treatments and pioneering programs – we continue to be recognized among the nation’s best children’s hospitals.

Read about our latest innovations in pediatric neonatology below:

Integrating perinatal mental health screening into fetal cardiac care

Mental health conditions are the #1 health complication for caregivers during pregnancy and early childhood. In 2023, the Fetal Heart Program at Children’s Health became one of the few places in the U.S. to offer mental health screening to all birthing persons referred to the clinic. Based on the screening, patients are connected with a social worker and resources tailored to their needs.

Podcast: Leading the way to better brain health for fragile newborns

The NeuroNICU program at Children’s Health goes above and beyond standard neonatal care to help preterm and other fragile newborns grow up with the healthiest brains and fewest limitations possible. It’s the only program of its kind in Texas and one of very few in the nation, combining expert care with innovative research and fellowship opportunities that move the field forward. The team’s dedication and expertise led to jaw-dropping outcomes, including babies born at 23 weeks meeting every developmental milestone.

Advancing research and treatments for newborns with HIE

Researchers at Children’s Health and UT Southwestern are identifying which factors put babies at risk of hypoxia-ischemia encephalopathy (HIE) at birth – and how providers can deliver lifesaving care. A new study of more than 150,000 births over a 15-year period found that 54% of HIE diagnoses occurred in males – proving for the first time that sex is a risk factor. Another study will explore whether therapeutic hypothermia treatment will improve cognitive and language outcomes in children with mild HIE.

Learn more about innovations in neonatal care at Children’s Health.