Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Each year, more than 650 newborns are referred for a higher level of care to the Level IV NICU at Children’s Health because we have the expertise to help treat even the most complex diseases.
A Level IV NICU is specifically designed to meet the needs of premature and critically-ill newborns. We’re capable of caring for babies born at all gestational ages and with any medical or surgical disease. Our Level IV distinction means we won’t refer your baby to another hospital for care: We have everything newborns need right here.
From providing respiratory support to surgical procedures, renowned neonatologists, surgeons and pediatric sub-specialists from UT Southwestern can care for any and all neonatal health issues. But it’s not just top doctors who care for your baby. Nurses, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, dietitians, social workers, child life specialists and therapists make sure you and your family have the support to help your baby get healthy and strong.
Conditions We Treat
- Pediatric abdominal masses
- Pediatric achondroplasia (dwarfism)
- Pediatric ambiguous genitalia
- Anencephaly
- Pediatric anorectal malformation (imperforate anus or ARM)
- Congenital arteriovenous malformations (AVMs)
- Pediatric biliary atresia
- Bladder exstrophy
- Bladder outlet obstruction
- Bowel atresia
- Pediatric chronic lung disease (CLD)
- Cloacal exstrophy
- Colon atresia
- Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)
- Congenital heart disease
- Congenital infections
- Congenital lung lesions
- Congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM)
- Pediatric craniosynostosis
- Cystic fibrosis (CF) in children
- Pediatric cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Down syndrome in children
- Pediatric duodenal atresia
- Encephalocele in children
- Esophageal atresia (EA)
- Pediatric feeding disorder (PFD)
- Pediatric edema
- Pediatric enteroviruses
- Pediatric gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Gastroschisis
- Goldenhar syndrome (oculo-auriculo-vertebral dysplasia or OAV)
- Pediatric head and neck lumps
- Pediatric hemophilia
- Pediatric high blood pressure (hypertension)
- Hirschsprung's disease
- Hydrops
- Pediatric hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice)
- Pediatric hypotonia (floppy muscle syndrome)
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (intrapartum asphyxia - HIE)
- Pediatric first unprovoked seizure
- Pediatric intestinal disorders
- Pediatric intraventricular hemorrhage and stroke
- Jejunal and ileal atresia
- Pediatric lordosis (sway back)
- Lordosis (swayback) and kyphosis in children
- Meconium aspiration in newborns
- Pediatric mediastinal mass
- Pediatric metabolic diseases
- Pediatric necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)
- Newborn tumors
- Noonan syndrome (NS)
- Omphalocele
- Pediatric patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
- Pediatric persistent pulmonary hypertension
- Pierre Robin syndrome (PRS)
- Pediatric pleural effusion
- Pneumonia in children
- Poland syndrome (Poland sequence)
- Prematurity
- Prenatal drug and alcohol exposure
- Pulmonary sequestration
- Pediatric pyloric stenosis
- Pediatric Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension)
- Muscular dystrophy (MD) in children
- Renal malformation
- Pediatric respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)
- Pediatric rubella (German measles)
- Sepsis and meningitis in children
- Pediatric short bowel syndrome (SBS)
- Skeletal dysplasias and abnormalities
- Spina bifida
- Pediatric syphilis
- Tay-Sachs disease
- Pediatric toxoplasmosis
- Tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF)
- Low birth weight
- VATER syndrome (VACTERL association)
- Pediatric laryngomalacia
- Brachydactyly (symbrachydactyly)
- Pediatric Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS or elastic skin)
- Pediatric encephalopathy (encephalitis)
- Open neural tube defects (ONTDs)
The patient experience in our Level IV NICU.
We care about our babies and the families who love them. The experience in our Level IV NICU takes into account all of your needs, from medical care for your baby to the family’s social, psychological and financial concerns. The NICU is a busy place, but you can expect to be surrounded by specialists devoted to the care and well-being of your baby. Watch this video to meet some of our team members who specialize in neonatal medicine, social work, psychology, spiritual support, child life, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and even music therapy.
Nationally recognized and charting the course for other NICUs
U.S. News & World Report ranks Children’s Health among the nation's top programs in neonatology. This ranking reflects how we use the latest, most innovative treatments to help babies grow up strong.
We are the only NICU in North Texas designated by OptumHealth™ as a Neonatal Center of Excellence. We achieved this distinction because we provide the best possible care for a broad range of health issues, with an emphasis on preventing avoidable complications.
As a member of the Children’s Hospital Neonatal Consortium, we work with other top-ranked NICUs to improve quality and safety at NICUs across the country. We’re also proud to serve as a regional referral center for other NICUs who send babies to us from across North Texas and beyond.
These babies face incredible challenges in the first weeks of life and our team works hard for each and every one of them. Watching them thrive gives us energy to do more!
Featuring a soothing, healing environment
Our NICU recently expanded to include state-of-the-art equipment and upgraded amenities for your family. For instance, we keep your baby comfortable and secure by carefully controlling exposure to light, sound and physical contact.
Through bonding activities and informational sessions, you’ll learn more about the condition affecting your baby, find ways to become involved in your baby’s care and meet families going through NICU journeys of their own.
Leaders in telemedicine services
We were the first NICU in Texas to offer telemedicine services through the TeleNICU Program. Here’s how it works: Let’s say you live in Tyler, but don’t want to uproot your whole family to come to Dallas for a second opinion. Our team will connect with your doctor through a high definition video and audio connection, evaluate your baby and help them decide what to do next.
Our TeleNICU program brings families across Texas peace of mind, knowing they can stay within the comfort of their own home and support system, but still receive our expert-level care. In fact, half of all of the cases that we provide consults on by TeleNICU stay at the home hospital.
Follow-up care when you need it
You’ll breathe a sigh of relief once your baby “graduates” from the NICU, but you might be worried about what to do next. That’s why we’ll go out of our way to answer your questions before you go home. We’ll also coach you to handle your baby’s ongoing medical needs.
If your baby requires follow-up care, our Thrive Program monitors infants to the age of 5 years old to make sure they’re on track to achieve developmental milestones for things like motor skills, cognition, speech and physical growth.
Resources
In the News
Nationally recognized and charting the course for other NICUs
U.S. News & World Report ranks Children’s Health among the nation's top programs in neonatology. This ranking reflects how we use the latest, most innovative treatments to help babies grow up strong.
We are the only NICU in North Texas designated by OptumHealth™ as a Neonatal Center of Excellence. We achieved this distinction because we provide the best possible care for a broad range of health issues, with an emphasis on preventing avoidable complications.
As a member of the Children’s Hospital Neonatal Consortium, we work with other top-ranked NICUs to improve quality and safety at NICUs across the country. We’re also proud to serve as a regional referral center for other NICUs who send babies to us from across North Texas and beyond.
Featuring a soothing, healing environment
Our NICU recently expanded to include state-of-the-art equipment and upgraded amenities for your family. For instance, we keep your baby comfortable and secure by carefully controlling exposure to light, sound and physical contact.
Through bonding activities and informational sessions, you’ll learn more about the condition affecting your baby, find ways to become involved in your baby’s care and meet families going through NICU journeys of their own.
Leaders in telemedicine services
We were the first NICU in Texas to offer telemedicine services through the TeleNICU Program. Here’s how it works: Let’s say you live in Tyler, but don’t want to uproot your whole family to come to Dallas for a second opinion. Our team will connect with your doctor through a high definition video and audio connection, evaluate your baby and help them decide what to do next.
Our TeleNICU program brings families across Texas peace of mind, knowing they can stay within the comfort of their own home and support system, but still receive our expert-level care. In fact, half of all of the cases that we provide consults on by TeleNICU stay at the home hospital.
Follow-up care when you need it
You’ll breathe a sigh of relief once your baby “graduates” from the NICU, but you might be worried about what to do next. That’s why we’ll go out of our way to answer your questions before you go home. We’ll also coach you to handle your baby’s ongoing medical needs.
If your baby requires follow-up care, our Thrive Program monitors infants to the age of 5 years old to make sure they’re on track to achieve developmental milestones for things like motor skills, cognition, speech and physical growth.
Resources
In the News
Meet the Care Team
- Lina Chalak, MDNeonatologist
- Sushmita Yallapragada, MDNeonatologist
- Noorjahan Ali, MDNeonatologist
- Chelsea Anderson, MDPediatrician Newborn Medicine
- Dimitrios Angelis, MDNeonatologist
- Asya Asghar, MDNeonatologist
- Kikelomo Babata, MDNeonatologist
- Jesse Banales, MDNeonatologist
- Timothy Brannon, MDNeonatologist
- Christina Chan, MDNeonatologist
- Becky Ennis, MDNeonatologist
- Shamaila Gill, MDNeonatologist
- June Hu, MDNeonatologist
- Jawahar Jagarapu, MDNeonatologist
- Mambarambath Jaleel, MDNeonatologist
- Venkatakrishna Kakkilaya, MDNeonatologist
- Vishal Kapadia, MDNeonatologist
- Rachel Leon, MDNeonatologist
- Imran Mir, MDNeonatologist
- Julie Mirpuri-Hathiramani, MDNeonatologist
- Jessica Morse, MDPediatrician Newborn Medicine
- Sujir Nayak, MDNeonatologist
- Eric Ortigoza, MDNeonatologist
- Christine Pazandak, MDNeonatologist
- Shalini Ramachandran, MDNeonatologist
- Joseph Schneider, MDPediatrician Newborn Medicine
- Julide Sisman, MDNeonatologist
- Muraleedharan Sivarajan, MDPediatrician Newborn Medicine
- Stephanie Spruell, MDNeonatologist
- Kaili Stehel, MDPediatrician Newborn Medicine
- Katherine Stumpf, MDNeonatologist
- Myra Wyckoff, MDNeonatologist
- Courtney Campbell, APRN, NNPNurse Practitioner - Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
- JCJessica Cox, APRN, NNPNurse Practitioner - Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
- TDTimothy Davis, APRN, NNPNurse Practitioner - Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
- Tara Gant, APRN, NNPNurse Practitioner - Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
- David Haggard, APRN, NNPNurse Practitioner - Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
- Crystal Kornak, APRN, NNPNurse Practitioner - Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
- Kathleen Lirette, APRN, NNPNurse Practioner - Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
- Stephanie Matthews, APRN, NNPNurse Practitioner - Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
- Maricel Maxey, APRN, NNPNurse Practitioner - Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
- Sara Roberts, APRN, NNPNurse Practitioner - Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
- Nikki Sanchez, APRN, NNPNurse Practitioner - Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
- DSDebra Stevens, APRN, NNPNurse Practitioner - Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
- Daniele Van Winkle, APRN, NNPNurse Practitioner - Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
- HWHeather Whiteman, APRN, NNPNurse Practitioner - Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
- Catherine Wiethorn, APRN, NNPNurse Practitioner - Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
- Travis Casillas, APRN, NNPNurse Practitioner - Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
- Tatiana Pozo Fiorilo, APRN, NNPNurse Practitioner - Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
- ASAmy Steinert, APRN, NNPNurse Practitioner - Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine