INTRODUCTION
A tertiary care neonatal unit at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC) was started in 1997 with the primary objective of establishing a state-of-the-art neonatal intensive care referral center to provide high-quality clinical care to critically ill neonates. In addition, the unit enhanced the clinical training for pediatric post-graduate trainees and facilitated the creation, and academic progression of various pediatric sub-specialties, including Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Surgery, and Pediatric Neurology. Furthermore, a free-standing Department of Neonatology was established at KAHER’s JNMC on 1st January 2020 with the major aim of further enhancement of the academic and research capabilities of the neonatology unit by initiating an effort to start an NMC-accredited DM Neonatology training program. The DM curriculum of the KAHER University was formulated in 2023 and approved by the Board of Studies. An enduring commitment towards the improvisation of neonatal care is evidenced by the recognition of the neonatal unit as a Level 3A unit by the National Neonatology Forum of India for the second time in 2021.
Currently, the Department of Neonatology is fully functional with a total strength of four faculty members, including two Professors, one Associate Professor, and one Sr. Resident. A renovated 30-bed level 3-A NICU, a state-of-the-art facility, provides high-quality therapeutic and supportive neonatal care, including delivery room management, care of extremely preterm infants, various modes of neonatal ventilation, non-invasive ventilation, total-parenteral nutrition, care of neonates with diverse surgical conditions, neonates with critical congenital heart disease requiring pre-operative stabilization and care of neonates with diverse medical problems requiring coordinated multi-disciplinary support involving various pediatric sub-specialties. Collaborative clinical activities are being provided with the support of departments of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Neurology, Cardiothoracic surgery/Intensive Care