Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

We are a 26 bed Level IIIB Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Our NICU is equipped with the latest technology and a multidisciplinary team of neonatologists, advanced practice providers, nurses, respiratory therapists, neonatal pharmacist, neonatal dietician, neonatal occupational and speech and language therapists, offering around-the-clock advanced care for premature infants and babies with complex medical conditions. Our specially trained staff will partner with you in providing excellent care for you and your baby.

Family Services

At Johns Hopkins Bayview, we are very cognizant of the need to support the families of infants hospitalized in our NICU. We recognize that for many families, having a newborn in the NICU is challenging and stressful. During this time, we offer numerous support services, including:

Lactation Support and Breast Milk Storage
Lactation support includes IBCLC Lactation consultants for lactating parents desiring to provide human milk for their newborns as they recover and grow. In addition, all nurses and advanced practice providers have been trained to assist with breast feeding, breast milk pumping, and breast milk storage.
Car Seat Testing
For infants less than 37 weeks (and others, as needed) prior to discharge.
Complex Congenital Heart Disease Screening
Educational Materials
Handouts and books; videos available for in-hospital teaching.
Family Conference Room
For private conversations between families and the NICU medical team regarding an infant's status and ongoing care.
Health Maintenance for Newborns
Hearing Screening with AABR
Infant CPR Training
Interpreter Services
We have Spanish interpreters on staff that are available 24 hours a day. The Johns Hopkins International Office and an interpreter service via the Cyracom phone system both are available in house.
Newborn Metabolic Screening
NICU Family Library & Resource Center
Funded by the Johns Hopkins Children's Center Special Project Fund 2010; a desktop computer is available for use by parents (assistance from a medical librarian may be requested).
Parent Sleep Room
Provided for parents travelling from a great distance, and for new mothers to rest while visiting their infants.
Social Work Consultation
Our social workers meet with every family to identify psychosocial stressors of having a baby in the NICU. They provide supportive counseling and assist families with connections to resources. They also connect families with the Ronald McDonald House and assist with discharge planning.
NICU Discharge Planning
The discharge coordinator, along with the multidisciplinary team, facilitates a smooth and safe transition for infants and their families from the NICU to home or a transitional hospital.

Meet the Team

Leadership

Sara Maria Munoz-Blanco, MD
- Medical Director, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Jennifer Fundora, MD MHS
- Associate Medical Director, NICU, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Neonatologists

Khyzer Aziz, MD
- Chief Medical Information Officer, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
- Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Renee Boss, MD MHS
- Associate Interim Division Director of Neonatology
- Professor of Pediatrics
Raul Chavez Valdez, MD
- Co-Director, Neurosciences Intensive Care Nursery
- Associate Professor of Pediatrics
May Chen, MD
- Associate Director, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship Training Program
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Suneetha Desiraju, MD
- Medical Director, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Johns Hopkins Hospital
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Jennifer Kumjae Fitzgerald, MD
- Instructor in Pediatrics
Jennifer Fundora, MD MHS
- Associate Medical Director, NICU, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Jacqueline Aliotta Gallup, MD
- Co-Medical Director, Maryland Regional Neonatal Transport Program
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Maureen Marie Gilmore, MD
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
William Christopher Golden, MD
- Medical Director, Newborn Nursery, Johns Hopkins Hospital
- Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Laura Elizabeth Herzig, MD
Alexandra Lazzara, MD
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Cecilia Young Kwak, MD MPH
- Instructor in Pediatrics
Nazli Kuter, MD
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Maria D. Latham, MD
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Wayne Keith Leung, MD
- Interim Medical Director, NICU, Frederick Health Hospital
- Instructor in Pediatrics
Nethra Kumar Madurai, MD
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Kartikeya Makker, MBBS MPH
- Interim Division Director of Neonatology
- Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Sara Maria Munoz-Blanco, MD
- Medical Director, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Frances Northington, MD
- Co-Director, Neurosciences Intensive Care Nursery
- Professor of Pediatrics
Maide Ozen, MD
- Director Neonatal Simulation Education
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Brittany L. Schwarz, MD
- Director, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship Training Program
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Advanced Practice Providers

Ashley Nichole Alghali, DNP

Primary Location: The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
Olivia Foya, DNP

Primary Location: The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
Lesli Gelfert, CRNP

Expertise: Neonatology

Primary Location: Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD
Lauren Kerrigan, CRNP

Primary Location: Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD
Michelle R Martin-Rahn, CRNP

Primary Location: Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD
Viviana Katherine Pearson, CRNP

Primary Location: Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD
Pedro Nixon Ramirez, CRNP

Primary Location: Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD
Stefani Rojek, CRNP

Primary Location: The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
Kristin M Schrengost, CRNP

Primary Location: Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD
Diana P Steidl, CRNP

Primary Location: Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD

Support the NICU

Support for our mission of caring for critically ill newborns, growing premature infants and their families is always welcome and appreciated. From grateful families and relatives we have received monetary donations, as well as wooden rocking chairs, framed photographs and beautifully engraved plaques that we proudly display in the NICU area. From individuals, foundations and businesses throughout the community, we have received monetary donations, the renovated Parent Sleep Room and personal items such as hand-knitted blankets, hats and outfits.

Gifts to the NICU assist us with the purchase of new equipment and educational materials for parents and families. With your help, some items on our NICU "wish list" could become reality:

Manikins for teaching infant CPR
Furniture for the Family Waiting Area
New flat-screen TV/DVD player for parent education

If you or someone you know is interested in making a donation or supporting our mission at the Johns Hopkins Bayview NICU, please contact the development office at 410-502-2911.

The NICU team is made up of board-certified neonatologists and neonatal nurse practitioners (NNP), and a nursing staff experienced in neonatal care. Those in training, including neonatology fellows, and nursing and nurse practitioner students also join the Johns Hopkins Bayview NICU team. Physicians on the team care for infants at both the Johns Hopkins Bayview and Johns Hopkins Hospital NICUs.