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Birth of Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, son of President Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy
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Period: to
History of Neonatology
Neonatology is a relatively new field, with the first subspecialty boards offered in 1976. Much of the impetus of developing this field stemmed from the resources placed in caring for babies after President Kennedy's son died after being born just a few weeks early -
Death of President JFK's son
Even though Patrick Kennedy was born at 4 1/2 pounds and only 5 1/2 weeks early, he died after 2 days of respiratory distress syndrome. This event led to significant resources being directed to developing new treatments to support ill newborns, and the field of Neonatology burgeoned. -
Neonatology Boards
The first subspecialty boards were offered in Neonatal- Perinatal Medicine in 1976, and the field of Neonatology is officially created -
Surfactant FDA approved
Surfactant, therapy to treat RDS which would have saved Patrick Kennedy's life, is FDA approved- infasurf developed in collaboration between Rochester and Buffalo -
iNO FDA approved
inhaled nitric oxide to treat pulmonary hypertension of the newborn FDA approved -
Oscillator ventilator FDA approved
FDA approves Oscillator- breaths 900 times/ minute to help support critically ill neonates
