NeuroNICU Program

Established in 2013 by the Division of Neonatology, the NeuroNICU program provides expert care, targeted surveillance, neuroprotective interventions and evidence-based treatment options and support for newborns with serious neurologic problems. A collaboration between the highly ranked level IV NICU and the child neurology division, the NeuroNICU program is the only neonatal neurocritical care program within the state of Indiana.

Our program’s mission is to help each baby reach their best neurodevelopmental potential. We achieve this by providing exceptional, team-based, coordinated care for babies in a supportive, culturally responsive environment while fostering familial partnership. Based at Riley Hospital for Children, the NeuroNICU program cares for newborns with serious neurologic problems, including seizures, intracranial hemorrhage, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, malformations and hydrocephalus. Thirty to forty percent of all NICU admissions are followed and treated through the program.

Conditions evaluated and treated

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy
Seizure disorder
Intracranial hemorrhage
Hydrocephalus
Brain malformation
Brain infection
Neuromuscular conditions

Education and Research

The NeuroNICU program participates and presents at many national and regional conferences. The program also works on many quality improvement initiatives, including those for neuroprotection.

Man in suit standing in front of his poster presentation

William Buss, MD, presenting at the International Newborn Brain Conference in San Diego, CA in February 2025.

Woman presenting her work at a conference

Amanda Deford, MD, presenting her research on neonatal cortical visual impairment at the department's Pediatrics Grand Rounds.

Services

Prenatal consultations, postnatal evaluations by team experts including neurology, neurosurgery and interventional neuroradiology

Whole-body hypothermia therapy, developmentally appropriate environment

Advanced neurophysiology, neuroimaging and laboratory technology

Neurointervention by neurosurgery and interventional neuroradiology

Early inpatient neurodevelopmental assessment and follow-up, including GMA and HINE, with transition to outpatient neurodevelopmental follow-up through the Early Years Program

Program Team

Co-Director

Beatrice Stefanescu, MD, MBA, MS

Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics

Beatrice Stefanescu, MD, MBA, MS, is the assistant chief of the neonatal clinical programs in the Division of Neonatology, the medical director of the Riley Hospital Simon Family Tower Newborn Intensive Care Unit, and the co-director of the NeuroNICU program. Dr. Stefanescu completed medical school at the University of Medicine Timisoara, Romania. She completed her neonatal-perinatal medicine fellowship training at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. She received a Master’s in Public Health Services and Epidemiology from Wake Forest School of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Stefanescu’s academic interests include development of tools that allow the delivery of high-quality neonatal health care, use of quality improvement methodology to improve outcomes, and patient safety.

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Co-Director

Sarah E. Wing, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology

Sarah Wing, MD, is a child/neonatal neurologist at IU School of Medicine and Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, IN. She co-directs the NeuroNICU program with Dr. Stefanescu. She completed undergraduate studies at Davidson College in Davidson, NC. Dr. Wing received her medical degree from University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexington, KY and went on to complete her child neurology residency training at IU School of Medicine. Dr. Wing’s academic interests include improving delivery of care to neonates with neurologic injury and seizures through expanding medical knowledge and quality improvement initiatives.

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