The MED welcomes an average of 4,900 babies each year and some of those need extra care. The MED’s newborn intensive care unit is one of the oldest and largest in the United States. Since it opened in 1968, staff have treated more than 45,000 premature or critically ill babies, some weighing just one pound.

The Newborn Center treats more than 1,300 premature or critically ill newborns each year and is one of only 14 member institutions of the National Research Network, which is supported by the National Institute of Health's Child Development Program.

The center credits its success to a multi-disciplinary approach. Specially trained social workers and perinatal workers help the whole family cope with the inevitable challenges of dealing with premature or critically ill newborns.

To date, 38 fellows have been trained in Neonatal/Perinatal Medicine at the Newborn Center, and 500 scientific papers have been published by the facility’s medical team.