Neonatology
Dedicated to Treating, and Ultimately Preventing, All Complications of Premature Birth
Caring For Our Tiniest Patients
Inside the NICU
Neonatology
At Nationwide Children's Hospital, we provide integrated perinatal care and research throughout our patients' childhood, so that each one is able to reach his or her full potential in life.
Caring for more than 3,000 babies each year, we are one of the largest neonatal centers in the nation, dedicated to treating, and ultimately preventing, all complications of prematurity.
Our expertise spans from fetal diagnosis and therapies across the spectrum of newborn conditions to essential long-term follow-up.
We are proud to be one of 18 elite research centers in the Neonatal Research Network, a national network of investigators leading the way in neonatal medicine.
Nationwide Children's Hospital is ranked by U.S. News & World Report for Neonatology.
Neonatology at Nationwide Children's
With more than 336 beds throughout our network, we are America’s largest neonatal center. The size and strength of our program allow us to provide the highest level of experience and translate that expertise into programs that address fetal diagnosis and therapies, across the broad spectrum of newborn conditions.
With the dedication and commitment of our teams and families, we provide babies with cutting-edge interventions, exceptional care and, in turn, remarkable outcomes.
Advanced facilities enable us to provide exceptional care for the whole family.
From our 130-bed Main Campus NICU to seven NICU and special care units located within local birthing hospitals, our patients and their families receive care in the most technologically advanced and family-centered environments available anywhere.
Key Programs
The Section of Neonatal Medicine's key programs provide state-of-the-art capabilities for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of extremely premature and medically fragile neonates.
Our Team
Our team of rigorously trained neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, advanced practice nurses, staff nurses and other health-care specialists provide around-the-clock treatment for newborns, using the most up-to-the-minute medical therapies and technologies.
Meet Our Leadership
Leif D. Nelin
Leif D. Nelin, MD, is the Division Chief of Neonatology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and a Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.
Amy B. Schlegel
Amy Schlegel, MD, is the Section Chief of Neonatology at Nationwide Children's Hospital. She established the Perinatal Advanced Illness Management (AIM) program within the Fetal Center and works closely with the Advanced Illness Management Team and the Nationwide Children's Hospice and Home-based Palliative Care Program in this capacity.
Resources for Parents
NICU Resources
NICU Parent: You are the most important person in baby's life. That's why we have compiled a list of resources for you to use both during your baby hospital stay and at home.
Testing & Diagnostics
We perform a variety of tests in our NICU facilities. Learn more about some of of these tests, their purpose and how they are performed.
Inside Neonatology
Conditions We Treat
- Apnea
- Brain Bleeds
- Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD)
- Cerebral Palsy (CP)
- Complex Birth Defects
- Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
- Extreme Prematurity
- Feeding Disorders
- Gastroesophageal Reflux
- Gastroschisis
- Hyaline Membrane Disease
- Meningitis
- Metabolic Diseases
- Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)
- Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
- Perinatal Asphyxia
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Newborn
- Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
- Seizures and Epilepsy in Children
- Spina Bifida and Myelomeningocele
- Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome
Parent Resources: Caring For Your Baby
Dear Parent: You are the most important person in your baby's life.
We want to help you understand your baby’s developmental and medical needs; prepare for taking care of your baby; know how to get the resources and services you and your baby may need; and focus on parenting.
That's why we have compiled a list of resources for you to use both during your baby hospital stay and at home.