Outcomes of Children Born Extremely Preterm
Miami Neonatology 2020—44th Annual International Conference

Children who are born extremely preterm are at risk for cognitive difficulties and disability. A common major morbidity for these infants is neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI). Susan R. Hintz, MD, MS Epi, focuses on changes in increased survival for infants born extremely preterm, modifications in resuscitation and perinatal neonatal care, as well as longer term, non-traditional NDI outcomes. She reviews studies that extend beyond 2­ years of age, and how they could change the trajectory of NDI outcomes and future research. Dr. Hintz cites the importance of earlier interventions in the NICU, and better preparing families with transition-to-home care programs and excellent referral and follow-up. She concludes with quality improvement opportunities across the provider network, and discusses the importance of integrating health-related quality of life outcomes to better understand and improve long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.

• Profile

  Susan R. Hintz, MD, MS Epi

  ×

  Susan R. Hintz, MD, MS Epi, is the Robert L. Hess Family Professor of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, professor of pediatrics and, by courtesy, of obstetrics and gynecology, and senior associate chief for academic affairs, Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, at Stanford University School of Medicine. She is also director of The Fetal and Pregnancy Health Program at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. Dr. Hintz received her medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine and completed a residency and fellowship at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.

  Dr. Hintz is a nationally recognized researcher with a primary emphasis on improving outcomes for high-risk, premature infants. She was an early advocate for the creation of the Center for Fetal and Maternal Health at Stanford and has served as medical director since its inception. The program employs an innovative, multidisciplinary approach to providing comprehensive care for complex fetal patients and expectant mothers.

  As medial director and principal investigator for the State of California High Risk Infant Follow-up (HRIF) program, Dr. Hintz assesses the extent to which individual HRIF programs are achieving the mission of the California Department of Children’s Services to provide appropriate follow-up for infants requiring specialized care after discharge from the NICU. HRIF clinics follow at-risk infants for the first three years of life to identify and treat existing and new developmental issues as they arise. Dr. Hintz’s research includes analyzing referrals to the programs, identifying risk factors for lost-to-follow-up cases, including sociodemographic disparities, and assessing the impact of factors such as case management on outcomes.

  In her role as a professor of pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford, Dr. Hintz’s focus is on training the next generation of fetal medicine physician-scientists using a translational approach. The overall goal of her academic, research, and clinical work is to provide exceptional, individualized care to reduce infant morbidity and mortality and to ensure the best possible outcomes for young, vulnerable patients. She is a frequently invited speaker, the author of numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, as well as a contributing editor and invited reviewer for a number of prestigious medical journals.

  Close
  

  Susan R. Hintz, MD, MS Epi

  Robert L. Hess Family Professor of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine
  Professor of Pediatrics and, by courtesy, of Obstetrics & Gynecology
  Senior Associate Chief, Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine
  Stanford University School of Medicine
  Director, The Fetal and Pregnancy Health Program
  Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford
  Palo Alto, California