Wayne Zenna Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Richmond University Medical Center’s Wayne Zenna Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a New York State Department of Health designated Level III NICU providing comprehensive, family-centered care for premature and critically ill newborns. Our multidisciplinary team delivers 24/7 neonatal care for both full-term and preterm infants, including babies born as early as 23 weeks.
Our experienced team cares for more than 500 newborns each year, combining advanced technology, specialized expertise, and compassionate support to help infants thrive through every stage of their neonatal journey.
Compassionate Care from an Experienced Team
Our NICU team covers all aspects of care and support for you and your newborn:
- Board-Certified Neonatologists
- Registered Nurses
- Pediatric Specialists
- Physician Assistants
- Respiratory Therapists
- Clinical Pharmacists
- Lactation Consultants
- Speech and Feeding Therapists
- Physical and Occupational Therapists
- Social Workers
Advanced NICU Services
We provide a full range of specialized neonatal services, including:
- Conventional mechanical ventilation
- High-frequency ventilation
- Inhaled nitric oxide therapy
- Non-invasive respiratory support
- Pediatric surgical care (excluding cardiac surgery)
- Donor human milk program
- Advanced therapies and specialized neonatal support
Conditions We Treat
Our team cares for infants experiencing a wide range of medical conditions, including:
- Prematurity
- Multiple gestation births (twins, triplets, and higher-order multiples)
- Neonatal infections
- Feeding difficulties
- Hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice)
- Infants of diabetic mothers (IDM)
- Hypoglycemia
- Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn (TTN)
- Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS)
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)
- Apnea
- Anemia and blood disorders
- Congenital heart disease
- Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)
A Family-Centered Approach
We believe families are essential members of the care team. Our philosophy emphasizes healing, comfort, education, and collaboration during the earliest and most critical days of life. Our NICU fosters a supportive environment by:
- Encouraging parents to spend as much time as possible with their infants.
- Promoting open communication with the healthcare team.
- Inviting families to participate in daily multidisciplinary rounds.
- Partnering with parents throughout their baby’s hospitalization.
Developmental Follow-Up After Discharge
Infants with prematurity or complex medical needs may receive continued developmental support through our coordinated outpatient services, including:
- Developmental specialists
- Neurology care
- Speech and feeding therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
These services are provided in close collaboration with each child’s pediatrician to support optimal growth, development, and long-term outcomes.
Excellence in Neonatal Care
The Wayne Zenna NICU serves one of the nation’s highest-risk newborn populations and has achieved exceptional outcomes. Over the past five years, our neonatal mortality rate has been approximately 1 per 1,000 live births, significantly lower than the national average of 4 per 1,000 live births.
For decades, our NICU has provided hope, healing, and expert care to premature and critically ill infants. We are proud that many former NICU patients return years later to thank the team that helped give them the strongest possible start in life.
Recognized Excellence Through the Vermont Oxford Network
The Wayne Zenna NICU is proud to be an active member of the Vermont Oxford Network (VON), the world’s leading collaboration dedicated to improving the quality, safety, and outcomes of neonatal care. Through participation in VON’s international database, our team continuously measures performance against leading NICUs across the country and around the world.
Our outcomes consistently meet or exceed national benchmarks, reflecting our commitment to evidence-based care, quality improvement, and exceptional clinical outcomes for the infants and families we serve.
Contact Us
To learn more about the Wayne Zenna NICU, please call 718-818-4310.
Meet Our NICU Team
Santosh M. Parab. MD, FAAP
Chief of Neonatology
Dr. Parab completed his medical school and Pediatric residency from University of Mumbai, India. He completed further specialization in Pediatrics and obtained Membership of Royal College of Physician, UK. After coming to United States, he completed residency at Brookdale Hospital and fellowship in Neonatal Medicine at Brown University and New York Medical College.
Dr. Parab moved to Staten Island and joined Richmond University Medical Center in 2005 as a Neonatologist and has been serving as a Chief of Neonatal service since 2021. He is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at New York Medical College. He has authored many peer-reviewed publications and book chapters
in Neonatology.
Melissa Guillermo, MD
Neonatologist
Dr. Melissa Guillermo received her undergraduate degree in Nutrition and Toxicology at the University of California at Berkley and worked as a Clinical Dietitian specializing in nutrition support. She went on to pursue a degree in Medicine at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay in Manila, Philippines. She was a previous Pediatric resident here at Richmond University Medical Center. She completed her Neonatology Fellowship at Rutger’s Robert Wood Johnson in New Brunswick, NJ and is currently working as a Neonatologist here at Richmond University Medical Center.
Laurie Guzman, DO
Neonatologist
Dr. Laurie Guzman received her medical degree from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed residency training at Good Samaritan University Hospital, followed by a fellowship in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at Hackensack University Medical Center. She is dual board-certified in Pediatrics and Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, with fellowship research focused on the use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in the NICU.
