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Overview
The Division of Neonatology at Shands & UF is dedicated to providing outstanding patient care, teaching the next generation of physicians and scientists, discovery of disease mechanisms, treatments and outcomes, and in advocacy for our patients and our profession. Founded in 1963 by Donald V. Eitzman, MD, Distinguished Service Professor, the Division has always been a leader and resource for Florida’s most vulnerable citizens.
Clinical
Members of the division provide quaternary care to neonates throughout North Central Florida, the Florida Panhandle, and surrounding areas of Georgia. The unit serves as a referral base throughout Florida for specialized surgical services and complex congenital heart disease, and is a member of the State of Florida Regional Perinatal Intensive Care Centers. In addition, the unit serves as a national referral center for infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The level III/IV NICU was expanded and totally renovated in January 2005 to it’s current 22 bed capacity and has 97% occupancy rate. The Level II NICU, located adjacent to the Newborn nursery and Labor and Delivery, has 30 beds and a 96% occupancy rate.
The Division of Neonatology also provides clinical coverage for two 10 bed intermediate units located at Shands & AGH and North Florida Medical Center, and a 5 bed intermediate unit located at the Ocala Regional Medical Center. Consult services are also provided for the Newborn Nurseries located in the four hospitals.
Education
The Division promotes a culture of teaching, with an outstanding reputation both within the Department of Pediatrics and beyond. Each year, the Division ranks as one of the most enthusiastic divisions in support of resident education. In addition, faculty are extremely active in National and International conferences related to clinical neonatology and neonatology research. The Division is a co-sponsor of "NEO: The Conference for Neonatology" held annually in Orlando.
Research
The Division has a strong commitment to research with laboratory space located in the Academic Research Building, Human Development Building, Brain Institute, and the Dental Sciences Building. Divisional Faculty are involved in research areas related to enteral nutrition, effects of cocaine on brain development, neonatal hematology, hypoxia ischemic encephalopathy and stem cell treatment, outcome statistics, lung maturation, and clinical trials. The divisional research program is supported by grants and contracts from a variety of agencies including the National Institutes of Health, American Heart Association, National Science Foundation, March of Dimes and private industry.
Advocacy
The Division serves on numerous State and National leadership positions, all with the common goal of improving the health outcomes of children. These include key positions within the American Academy of Pediatrics on Government Relations, the Organization for Neonatology Program Directors, the Committee for Substance Abuse, the Perinatal Section Executive Committee and the Committee on Informatics and Technology. In addition, several faculty serve on NIH and American Heart Association study sections, editorial boards, and regional research committees.
