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Yes, it is time for a separate residency “Neonatal Critical Care Medicine”: the European Society for Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care supports the proposal

Journal of Perinatology volume 46, pages 326–327 (2026)Cite this article

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Dr. Lakshminrusimha and Steinhorn recently posed the question, “Is it time to create a separate residency and department in neonatal critical care?” in the Journal of Perinatology [1]. Our answer is yes and we are grateful for their question, which could not be more timely.

In fact, just a few weeks ago, the Lancet Commission for the Future of Neonatology [2], an international initiative, recognized the same issues endangering neonatology: inadequate recognition as a specialty, ineffective training, insufficient multidisciplinarity, few clinician-scientists, and a lack of funding and innovation in recent decades. These issues are relevant and urgent, given the advances obtained in the past and the higher complexity of patients admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) nowadays.

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References

  1. Lakshminrusimha S, Steinhorn RH. Is it time for a separate residency and department in “Neonatal Critical Care Medicine”?. J Perinatol. 2025;45:867–72. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-025-02219-y.

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  2. De Luca D, Modi N, Davis P, Kusuda S, de Wildt SN, Keszler M, et al. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health Commission on the future of neonatology. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2025;9:578–612. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(25)00106-3.

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  4. Sanchez-Luna M, Raimondi F, De Luca D. Neonatal professorships in Europe: insufficient to protect the tiniest and frailest. Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2025;50:101224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2025.101224.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Paediatrics, Transportation and Neonatal Critical Care, “A.Beclere” Medical Center, APHP-Paris Saclay University, Paris, France

    Daniele De Luca

  2. Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Innovation Unit, INSERM U-999, Paris Saclay University, Paris, France

    Daniele De Luca

  3. Neonatology Division, University General Hospital Gregorio Maranon, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Manuel Sanchez-Luna

  4. Chair, Section of Neonatal Critical Care, European Society for Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care, Lugano, Switzerland

    Manuel Sanchez-Luna

  5. Division of Neonatology, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy

    Francesco Raimondi

  6. Deputy Chair, Section of Neonatal Critical Care, European Society for Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care, Lugano, Switzerland

    Francesco Raimondi

  7. Paediatric Intensive Care, King’s College Hospital, London, UK; Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK

    Akash Deep

  8. Medical President Elect, European Society for Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care, Lugano, Switzerland

    Akash Deep

  9. Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, and Heart and Lung Division, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

    Aparna Hoskote

  10. Chair of Educational Affairs, European Society for Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care, Lugano, Switzerland

    Aparna Hoskote

  11. Institute of Higher Education and Research in Healthcare (IUFRS), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Anne Sylvie Ramelet

  12. Nursing President, European Society for Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care, Lugano, Switzerland

    Anne Sylvie Ramelet

  13. Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Children’s Hospital St. Marien gGmbH, Landshut, Germany

    Karl Schettler

  14. Medical President, European Society for Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care, Lugano, Switzerland

    Karl Schettler

Authors
  1. Daniele De Luca
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  2. Manuel Sanchez-Luna
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  3. Francesco Raimondi
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  4. Akash Deep
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  5. Aparna Hoskote
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  6. Anne Sylvie Ramelet
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  7. Karl Schettler
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Contributions

DDL conceived the letter and write the first draft; MSL analysed the European situation data and the literature and critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content; FR analysed the European situation data and the literature and critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content; AD analysed the the literature and gave the PICU experience and critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content; AH analysed the literature and gave the PICU experience and critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content; ASR analysed the European situation data and the literature and critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content; KS analysed the European situation data and the literature and critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content; all authors agreed to make this an ESPNIC position and approved the final article version.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniele De Luca.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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De Luca, D., Sanchez-Luna, M., Raimondi, F. et al. Yes, it is time for a separate residency “Neonatal Critical Care Medicine”: the European Society for Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care supports the proposal. J Perinatol 46, 326–327 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-025-02502-y

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