The Division of Neonatology is responsible for the care of newborn infants admitted to the Department of Pediatrics. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can accommodate as many as 47 critically ill infants. The unit is equipped with the latest equipment and staffed by highly trained nurses, nurse practitioners, and other support personnel. A laboratory within the nursery area provides around-the-clock service. Adjacent to the NICU is the Newborn Nursery for healthy newborn infants. A new 55-bed NICU will open by early 2004.

Approximately 1,400 infants are delivered each year at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Because of the referral nature of our Obstetrics service, the majority of these are high-risk deliveries. In addition, approximately 35 percent of the infants admitted to the NICU are referred from other hospitals throughout Iowa and adjacent states. Residents are assigned to work in the nurseries during each of the three years of their training, and, in addition, they may elect a clinical or research experience in Neonatology. The fellowship training program in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine is a three-year program designed to train pediatricians to qualify for sub-board certification.

Current research interests of faculty in the division include thermal physiology, energy utilization and body composition, fetal lung development, regionalization of perinatal care, erythropoiesis, development of blood pressure control, infant nutrition, and the genetic basis of birth defects.

For information on fellowship training in Neonatology, contact john-widness@uiowa.edu.

Visit the Division of Neonatology home page.

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The Neonatology Intensive Care Unit is part of the Special Care Nursuries that can accomodate up to 44 critically ill newborns.