Trainees Page Archive

Section on Perinatal Pediatrics Presentations
from the 2011 AAP National Conference & Exhibition

Boston, MA - October 14-18, 2011

2011 NCE presentations »

TECaN website »

NCE 2011 Perinatal Section Programming »

34th Annual Trainees Seminar on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine

I was honored to be one of over 50 fellows to attend the this Seminar in Santa Fe, New Mexico hosted by the Section on Perinatal Pediatrics and Abbott Nutrition Institute.

The conference provided a unique opportunity for us to learn more about neonatal-perinatal medicine in a more cohesive way. We enjoyed didactic sessions led by esteemed faculty, and workshops to discuss career paths and the transition from trainee to junior faculty. More importantly, we were afforded the opportunity to meet and network with each other and faculty members. Overall, we all appreciated this opportunity to learn more about each other, our programs, research interests and clinical approaches and look forward to our paths crossing again in the future. (Ashwini Lakshmanan, MD)

Presentations and more »

TECaN at AAP's National Conference & Exposition (NCE) 2010

TECaN officially attended the AAP's NCE as a group for the first time this year, which was held in San Francisco, California. The weekend started off with a meeting of the TECaN Executive Council, which is led by TECaN's Chair, Christopher Young from the University of Florida. Dmitry Dukhovny, the ONTPD Representative and TECaN District I Representative, presented the structure, goals and current activities of TECaN that first day at the ONTPD Annual Meeting. For more details and photos. »

TECaN website »

NCE 2010 Presentations »

NCE 2010 Abstracts »

2011 PAS/SPR Annual Meeting - Denver, CO

Sunday, May 1st

Check out the PAS meeting website for meeting information and program information, including Neonatology Post-Fellowship: Career Planning - Preparing Yourself. This session, based on Exploring and Evaluating Practices of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, developed by the Section's Committee on Practice and John Hartline, will address the steps to career planning. Also stop by other section activities:

• NICU Follow-up Club on Saturday, April 30th at 12:30pm
• William Silverman Lecture, Sunday, May 1st at 3:15pm
• Meet the Professor Breakfast, Sunday, May 1st at 7am, with John Hartline
• Planning for a Career in NPM: Beyond Fellowship, Monday, May 2nd at 3:30 with John Hartline and DeWayne Pursley

Neonatal-Perinatal Trainee Presentations at PAS

Let us know if you have a poster or oral presentation at PAS through FaceBook or LinkedIn. Thanks!

The History of Neonatology

An excerpt from Exploring & Evaluating Practices in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine

Prior to 1880, a period perhaps best called “neo-not-ology,” newborn survival was of the fittest and perinatal concerns were focused on problems of maternal mortality. Unwanted, sick, or small infants in some places were brought to foundling nurseries, where mortality was high and infanticide known to occur.

This review’s purpose is to emphasize the evolutionary nature of neonatal medicine in the ways it has (or has not) been provided, its principle caregivers, its scope of interest, and loci for caregiving. This context, in addition to the advances in medical capabilities, provides a background as we prepare for unknown future medical advances and for changes in health care organization.

Historical Perspectives »

Exploring & Evaluating Practices in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine »

TECaN at NCE 2010

TECaN officially attended the AAP NCE as a group for the first time this year, which was held in San Francisco, California. The weekend started off with a meeting of the TECaN Executive Council, which is led by TECaN's Chair, Christopher Young from the University of florida. Dmitry Dukhovny, the ONTPD Representative and TECaN District I Representative, presented the structure, goals and current activities of TECaN that first day at the ONTPD Annual Meeting. For more details and photos. »

NCE 2010 Presentations »

Exploring & Evaluating Practices in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine

New from the Committee on Practice

Making the transition from residency and fellowship training into practice is difficult and challenging, whether the move is to the familiar realm of academia or to a world of private practice, professional corporate, or hospital-employed neonatology. The Perinatal Section's Committee on Practice has developed these materials to assist fellows in their career planning, and interviewing with, and evaluation of, practices.

Pediatricians considering the role of neonatology in their community setting may also find these discussions enlightening as they negotiate a mutually-supportive relationship. Neonatal divisions and practice groups evaluating the scope of their practices and the duties assumed by practice associates will likewise find these materials helpful, especially if expanding their scope of practice responsibilities, enlarging their patient base, or adding/replacing an associate.

Exploring & Evaluating Practices in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine »

20 Minutes with Neonatologist, David Adamkin, MD

University of Louisville neonatologist, David Adamkin, has dedicated his career to sick babies, particularly to low and very low birthweight babies, their nutritional needs, and strategies to help them grow and thrive. Kentucky ranks among the highest in the US for low birthweight babies, with about 9 percent of babies weighing less than 5 lbs 8 oz. The smaller a baby is, the greater his risk of neurodevelopmental problems. An expert in infant nutrition, Adamkin has found, through clinical experience and research, that aggressive feeding makes a difference for these babies, especially in the first 2 to 3 weeks after birth. He has outlined his feeding guidelines and strategies in the new book "Nutritional Strategies for the Very Low Birthweight Infant."

Read the full interview with David Adamkin, MD »

Career Development and Recruiting

On request from the ONTPD, the Section's Committee on Practice has developed several ongoing resources directed at career development and recruiting. Understanding a Practice Venue (JPerinatol 2001;22:supl 1 - April 2002) gives understanding to the professional responsibilities within the range of neonatal practices, from academic to private. Seminars on career development are included at the NCE, the District VIII perinatal meeting, and other venues as requested. And soon to be available...new materials and articles, including a personal inventory of career interests and a detailed workbook for use in evaluating potential practices. Check back here for updates on Exploring & Evaluating Practices in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine.

National Association of Neonatal Nurses Issues Statement
on Human Milk and Breastfeeding

Mother's milk and breastfeeding are important aspects of optimal care of newborns, especially those who are born preterm or with other serious conditions. The unique nutritional and immunological benefits of human milk make it an integral component of care of infants in the newborn intensive care unit. NANN has issued a statement strongly supporting human milk and breastfeeding.

View the NANN statement»

32nd Annual Trainees Seminar on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine

The American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Perinatal Pediatrics, with the support of a medical education grant from Abbott Nutrition, held its 32nd Annual Seminar at the Bishop's Lodge in Santa Fe, New Mexico from May 30 - June 2, 2009.

Presentations, photos and more! »

AAP Section on Breastfeeding Develops a Curriculum for Trainees and Program Directors

A free online resource, developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, helps residents develop confidence and skills in breastfeeding care and includes: presentations on breastfeeding management, clinical cases and evaluation and tracking tools.

Breastfeeding Residency Curriculum for residents and program directors »

State of the Art in Conventional Mechanical Ventilation

Despite a shift to noninvasive respiratory support, mechanical ventilation remains an essential tool in the care of critically ill neonates. This review examines the special challenges of ventilating the extremvely low birth weight infants that now constitute an increasing proportion of ventilated infants, attempts to provide a simple functional classification of ventilator modes, and addresses the key aspects of synchronized ventilation modes.

Review by Martin Keszler, MD »

Medical Progress: The Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

This superb review by Hannah C. Kinney, MD and Bradley T. Thach, MD in the New England Journal of Medicine highlights the major advances in our understanding of SIDS. Of great concern to neonatologists, it gives us a lesson in understanding key concepts in the control of breathing in infancy. We also recommend visiting the CDC's MMWR site for an update on PRAMS and smoking before, during and after pregnancy as we have a long way to go to improve pregnancy outcomes, including the risk for SIDS, in this regard.

Full text of article »
Update on PRAMS from the CDC »

Understanding Intestinal Vulnerability to Perforation in the
Extremely Low Birth Weight Infant

Our feature article this month is a recent review by Phillip Gordon published in Pediatric Research (Pediatr Res 65:138-144, February 2009) that provides a thorough overview of the perinatal risk factors and pathobiology of spontaneous intestinal perforation in ELBW infants. An excellent introduction to this vexing clinical entity, this review article raises many areas ripe for future clinical and laboratory-based research.

Full text of article »

PDAs in Infants: To Close or Not to Close?

In preterm neonates with a patient ductus arteriosus (PDA), the standard of care has been to attempt to close the defect. Yet some experts have asked whether we need to treat PDA in most preemies. If we are to resolve the condition, there are various methods and protocols for treatment and even prevention; how do outcomes for PDA closure vary by treament strategy? Dr. Darshak Sanghavi, chief of pediatric cardiology and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, lays out the important points of discussion on PDA closure with host, Dr. Jennifer Shu.

Listen to podcast »

New AAP Immunization Web Site

The AAP is pleased to announce the creation of a new, comprehensive online resource for pediatricians and families that addresses the topic of immunizations. This new site replaces the Childhood Immunization Support Program Web site and contains information about vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine safety information, and tools and resources to help pediatricians effectively and efficiently administer immunizations in their offices.

Access through the AAP Web site »

Fellows' Preconference Opened NCE 2008

Today's trainees are the future of Neonatal-Perinatal medicine and Section members are thoroughly committed to fostering the education and career development of trainees and young neonatologists. In an effort to evaluate how the Section can better meet the needs of trainees and young neonatologists and to begin to tailor Section educational venues to meet the needs of individuals in early career, the Section sponsored a fellows' preconference on October 10, 2008, just prior to the keynote address and poster session.

Learn more about the NCE fellows' preconference »

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.

Learn more »

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 »

Strategic Plan Launch!

The 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 5 years and proposes some initial steps. The strategic domains include: education, global health, leadership and quality. Click below to learn more about the initiation of this plan and the first steps underway.

Learn more about the Section Strategic Plan »

Read the Strategic Plan Progress Report, October 2008 »

Read the results of the Member Survey »