The Incubator

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Dr. Sheri Fink, Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent for The New York Times and author of Five Days at Memorial, joins us for a compelling discussion on the ethics of survival. Dr. Fink, an MD-PhD, discusses her recent article "Noah is Still Here," which chronicles one family's journey with Trisomy 18—a condition once universally deemed incompatible with life. She and Eli explore the shifting paradigms of care, the tension between medical prognosis and parental hope, and the "two truths" clinicians must hold when counseling families in the grey zone. A must-listen for anyone navigating complex bioethics in the NICU.
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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.
Enjoy!

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In this premiere episode of On with Von, The Incubator launches an exciting new collaboration with the Vermont Oxford Network (VON). Hosts Dr. Ben Courchia and Dr. Daphna Yasova Barbeau sit down with Dr. Roger Soll, President of VON, and Dr. Bob White, a pioneer in NICU design, to explore the critical "Evidence to Practice" gap in the NICU environment. Moving beyond simple neuroprotection, the conversation dives into neuropromotion, examining the impact of light, sound, and sensory inputs on the developing brain. From debunking misconceptions about retinopathy to optimizing design for family integration, this discussion offers actionable insights for every bedside clinician.
Support the show
As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.
Enjoy!

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How much oxygen is enough when resuscitating extremely preterm infants? This week on The Incubator Podcast, Ben and Daphna explore the TORPIDO 30/60 trial comparing 60% versus 30% FiO2 at birth. While primary outcomes were similar, babies in the 60% group needed fewer chest compressions and less epinephrine—a signal worth discussing.
They examine an Indian non-inferiority study on surfactant thresholds (40% vs 30% FiO2), where waiting until 40% meant significantly fewer intubations and shorter respiratory support for the youngest babies. Ben presents compelling Melbourne data showing growth-restricted preterm infants face six-fold higher NEC risk—even with identical feeding protocols—and discusses how critical birth history gets "lost" as babies grow.
Daphna tackles therapeutic hypothermia in late preterm infants, reviewing Toronto's retrospective analysis showing 34-35 weekers experience higher mortality and more brain injury compared to 36-37 weekers. As units rewrite cooling protocols, are we moving too fast on limited evidence?
The episode concludes with Ben, Daphna, and Eli discussing the repeal of "sensitive locations" protections for immigration enforcement. Through the story of a mother detained while visiting her NICU baby in Chicago, they explore how these policies impact family-centered care and highlight advocacy opportunities through the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act.
Current research meets real-world NICU challenges—all in one episode.
Support the show
As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.
Enjoy!

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In this episode of Neo News, the team examines the intersection of immigration policy and neonatal care. We review a recent op-ed discussing the "chilling effect" of immigration enforcement on families seeking care in "sensitive locations" like hospitals. The discussion highlights a harrowing report from The 19th about a family detained by ICE while en route to the NICU, sparking a conversation on how fear impacts parental presence and follow-up adherence. The hosts explore the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act and the critical role neonatologists play in advocating for safe access to healthcare for all families.
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Vernon, L., Swenson, S., & Miller, E. (2025, October). Immigration policies are creating impossible choices for NICU families. Cleveland.com.  https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2025/10/immigration-policies-are-creating-impossible-choices-for-nicu-families-lelis-vernon-sarah-swenson-and-emily-miller.html
Barclay, M. L. (2025, December). Postpartum immigrant detention by ICE. The 19th. https://19thnews.org/2025/12/postpartum-immigrant-detention-ice/
Support the show
As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.
Enjoy!

Send a text
In this segment, Ben and Daphna review a retrospective study from the Hospital for Sick Children comparing outcomes of therapeutic hypothermia in late preterm (34-35 weeks) versus early term (36-37 weeks) infants. They discuss the significantly higher rates of mortality, hemodynamic instability, and hypoglycemia found in the younger cohort, known as "Group 1". The hosts explore the implications of using MRI scoring systems like the Weeke score for preterm brains and debate the ethical challenges of conducting future randomized trials as clinical practice shifts away from cooling younger babies based on emerging retrospective data.
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Whole-body hypothermia in late preterm and early term infants: a retrospective analysis from a neurocritical care unit. Martinez A, Cikman G, Al Kalaf H, Wilson D, Banh B, Abdelmageed W, Beamonte Arango I, Christensen R, Branson HM, Cizmeci MN.Pediatr Res. 2026 Jan 7. doi: 10.1038/s41390-025-04701-x. Online ahead of print.PMID: 41501407
Support the show
As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.
Enjoy!