The Incubator

• #377 - 💡 Rethinking Phototherapy – Phototherapy as Pharmacotherapy with Dr. Daniel Rauch

  Send us a textIn the second installment of our Rethinking Phototherapy series, Ben and Daphna welcome Dr. Daniel Rauch, Professor of Pediatrics at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and Division Chief of Pediatric Hospital Medicine and General Academic Pediatrics at Joseph Sanzari Children’s Hospital. Dr. Rauch co-authored the AAP technical report on phototherapy and brings a unique perspective on how light therapy should be understood and applied in clinical practice.This conversation reframes phototherapy as a true pharmacotherapy—an intervention that must be delivered in precise doses with attention to wavelength, irradiance, body surface exposure, and treatment duration. Dr. Rauch explains why more light is not always better, how technology has evolved from “easy-bake oven” style lamps to modern LED systems, and why maximizing body surface exposure often matters more than piling on extra light banks. The discussion also touches on cycling strategies, the value and limitations of transcutaneous monitoring, and the potential of home phototherapy to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations while supporting family bonding.Listeners will gain practical insights into the art and science of phototherapy: how to optimize treatment, minimize harm, and communicate clearly with families navigating jaundice management.Support the showAs 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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• #376 - 💡 Rethinking Phototherapy – Drafting the New AAP Guidelines with Dr. Alex Kemper

  Send us a textIn this episode of The Incubator Podcast, Ben and Daphna sit down with Dr. Alex Kemper, Division Chief of Primary Care Pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Editor-in-Chief of Pediatrics. Dr. Kemper served as chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics subcommittee that authored the 2022 revision of the neonatal hyperbilirubinemia guidelines.Together, they explore the motivations behind revisiting the 2004 guideline, the major changes introduced, and how these revisions are shaping clinical care. Dr. Kemper explains why treatment thresholds for phototherapy were raised, the careful balance between avoiding unnecessary interventions and preventing kernicterus, and the rationale for moving away from the risk stratification nomogram. The discussion highlights phototherapy as an effective but not benign therapy—one that can disrupt bonding, prolong hospitalization, and create family stress when overused.Listeners will gain insight into the complexities of evidence review, the challenges of consensus-building over eight years of work, and the importance of shared decision-making and reliable follow-up after discharge. This conversation not only demystifies the new guidelines but also reframes the way clinicians think about jaundice management, risk stratification, and the broader impact on families.Support the showAs 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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• #375 - 🟠 CHNC 2025 COVERAGE - What's big about tiny babies?

  Send us a textIn this discussion, Dr. Hevil Shah (Cook Children’s Hospital) and Dr. Julie Lindower (UI Children’s) highlight the work of the CHNC Focus Group on Extremely Preterm Infants, centered on babies born between 21–23 weeks’ gestation. They share insights from a workshop on precision care, emphasizing lessons from Iowa’s long-term data showing improved survival and neurodevelopmental outcomes. The conversation explores variability in resuscitation and counseling practices across centers, and the importance of unified messaging among care teams. The group’s next steps include publishing survey results and strengthening collaborations—particularly with the nutrition focus group—to advance standardized, evidence-based care for the most premature newborns.Support the showAs 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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• #375 - 🟠 CHNC 2025 KEYNOTE - We must welcome open discussions on reproductive health

  Send us a textIn this keynote discussion, Dr. Natasha Henner (Lurie Children’s Hospital) examines how evolving reproductive policies are reshaping neonatal practice, from counseling at the limits of viability to supporting families after restrictive abortion laws. She discusses rising NICU admissions for infants with congenital differences, ethical tensions around “life-limiting” diagnoses, and gaps in perinatal hospice and home care resources. Dr. Henner emphasizes the need for shared frameworks among neonatologists, obstetricians, and palliative care teams, as well as simulation-based training to navigate moral distress and complex communication. Her call to action: welcome these difficult conversations to improve compassionate, coordinated family-centered care.Support the showAs 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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• #375 - 🟠 CHNC 2025 KEYNOTE - Mental Health Support from Heartbeat to Home

  Send us a textIn this keynote conversation, Dr. Amy Baughcum, PhD (Nationwide Children’s), Dr. Elizabeth Fischer, PhD (Children’s Wisconsin), and Dr. Lamia Soghier, MD, MeD, MBA (Children’s National) discuss building comprehensive perinatal mental health support systems that span from prenatal diagnosis to life after NICU discharge. Drawing inspiration from Dr. Joanna Cole’s fetal psychology model at CHOP, they emphasize early screening, interdisciplinary collaboration, and embedding psychologists or social workers within NICU teams. The speakers highlight strategies to normalize emotional distress, empower families to seek help, and align institutional priorities with psychosocial care. Their shared message: supporting parental mental health is essential, evidence-based, and foundational to optimal infant outcomes.Support the showAs 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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