Clinical Focus


  • Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine

Academic Appointments


Honors & Awards


  • Ernest and Amelia Gallo Endowed Fellow., Child Heath Research Institute (CHRI) (7/2017-7/2019)

Professional Education


  • Board Certification: American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatrics (2013)
  • Fellowship: Stanford University Neonatology Fellowship (2019) CA
  • Medical Education: Grant Medical College - University of Mumbai (2003) India
  • Residency: Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center (2010) NY
  • Board Certification, American Board of Pediatrics., Pediatrics. (2013)

All Publications


  • Social distancing and extremely preterm births in the initial COVID-19 pandemic period. Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association Shukla, V. V., Carper, B. A., Ambalavanan, N., Rysavy, M. A., Bell, E. F., Das, A., Patel, R. M., D'Angio, C. T., Watterberg, K. L., Cotten, C. M., Merhar, S. L., Wyckoff, M. H., Sanchez, P. J., Kumbhat, N., Carlo, W. A., Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network, Polin, R. A., Laptook, A. R., Keszler, M., Hensman, A. M., Vieira, E., Pierre, L. S., Hibbs, A. M., Walsh, M. C., Newman, N. S., Smucney, S., Zadell, A., Poindexter, B. B., Schibler, K., Grisby, C., Kirker, K., Wuertz, S., Dudley, J., Beiersdorfer, T., Thompson, J., Goldberg, R. N., Finkle, J., Fisher, K. A., Laughon, M. M., Bose, G., Clark, C., Kicklighter, S. D., White, D., Carlton, D. P., Loggins, Y., Laursen, J., Mackie, C., Bottcher, D. I., Bremer, A. A., Higgins, R. D., Archer, S. W., Tyson, J. E., Khan, A. M., Stoll, B. J., Dominguez, G., Eason, E., Hall, D. J., Mahatme, A., Martin, K., Reyna, I., Stephens, E. K., Wade, J., White, M., Nelin, L. D., Jadcherla, S. R., Slaughter, J. L., Luzader, P., McCool, J., Warnimont, K., Purnell, J., Small, K., Stein, M., Sullivan, R. A., Marzac, L., Baugher, H., Zettler, E., Miller, B., Beckford, D. R., DeSantis, B., Reedy, R., Gantz, M. G., Bann, C. M., Zaterka-Baxter, K. M., Gabrio, J., Leblond, D., O'Donnell Auman, J., Van Meurs, K. P., Stevenson, D. K., Chock, V. Y., Ball, M. B., Recine, B. P., Reichert, E. N., Collins, M. V., Cosby, S. S., Colaizy, T. T., Harmon, H. M., Baack, M. L., Hogden, L. A., Johnson, K. J., Schmelzel, M. L., Walker, J. R., Goeke, C. A., Faruqui, S. E., Coulter, B. J., Schrimper, B. M., Jellison, S. S., Elenkiwich, C., Henning, M. M., Broadbent, M., Van Muyden, S., Fuller, J., Ohls, R. K., Beauman, S. S., Lacy, C. B., Hanson, M., Kuan, E., DeMauro, S. B., Eichenwald, E. C., Abbasi, S., Catts, C., Chaudhary, A. S., Dhawan, M. A., Ghavam, S., Mancini, T., Puopolo, K. M., Snyder, J., Guillet, R., Reynolds, A. M., Lakshminrusimha, S., Sacilowski, M. G., Rowan, M., Jensen, R., Jones, R., Kent, A., Prinzing, D., Scorsone, A. M., Binion, K., Guilford, S., Orme, C., Sabaratnam, P., Rochez, D., Li, E., Donato, J., Brion, L. P., Duran, J., Eubanks, F., Harrod, M., Sepulvida, P., Vasil, D. M., Yoder, B. A., Baserga, M., Minton, S. D., Sheffield, M. J., Rau, C. A., Christensen, S., Coleman, K., Elmont, J. O., Francom, B. L., Jordan, J., Loertscher, M. C., Marchant, T., Maxson, E., McGrath, K., Mickelsen, H. G., Parry, D. M., Tice, K., Weaver-Lewis, K., Woodbury, K. D. 2024

    Abstract

    HYPOTHESIS: Increased social distancing was associated with a lower incidence of extremely preterm live births (EPLB) during the initial COVID-19 pandemic period.STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study at the NICHD Neonatal Research Network sites comparing EPLB (220/7-286/7 weeks) and extremely preterm intrapartum stillbirths (EPIS) rates during the pandemic period (March-July, weeks 9-30 of 2020) with the reference period (same weeks in 2018 and 2019), correlating with state-specific social distancing index (SDI).RESULTS: EPLB and EPIS percentages did not significantly decrease (1.58-1.45%, p=0.07, and 0.08-0.06%, p=0.14, respectively). SDI was not significantly correlated with percent change of EPLB (CC=0.29, 95% CI=-0.12, 0.71) or EPIS (CC=-0.23, 95% CI=-0.65, 0.18). Percent change in mean gestational age was positively correlated with SDI (CC=0.49, 95% CI=0.07, 0.91).CONCLUSIONS: Increased social distancing was not associated with change in incidence of EPLB but was associated with a higher gestational age of extremely preterm births.CLINICALTRIALS:GOV ID: Generic Database: NCT00063063.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41372-024-01898-3

    View details for PubMedID 38388715

  • Exposure to umbilical cord management approaches and death or neurodevelopmental impairment at 22-26 months' corrected age after extremely preterm birth. Archives of disease in childhood. Fetal and neonatal edition Handley, S. C., Kumbhat, N., Eggleston, B., Foglia, E. E., Davis, A. S., Van Meurs, K., Lakshminrusimha, S., Walsh, M., Watterberg, K. L., Wyckoff, M. H., Das, A., DeMauro, S. B. 2022

    Abstract

    OBJECTIVE: To compare death or severe neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) at 22-26 months' corrected age (CA) among extremely preterm infants following exposure to different forms of umbilical cord management.DESIGN: Retrospective study.SETTING: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network registry.PATIENTS: Infants born <27 weeks' gestation in 2016-2018 without severe congenital anomalies who received active treatment after birth and underwent neurodevelopmental assessments between 22 and 26 months' CA.EXPOSURES: Immediate cord clamping (ICC), delayed cord clamping (DCC) or umbilical cord milking (UCM).MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURE: Primary composite outcome of death or severe NDI at 22-26 months' CA, defined as severe cerebral palsy, Bayley-III cognitive/motor composite score <70, bilateral deafness or blindness; individual components were examined as secondary outcomes. Multivariable regression examined associations, adjusting for risk factors identified a priori and potential confounders. Mediation analysis explored the effect of severe intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) on the exposure-outcome relationship.RESULTS: Among 1900 infants, 64.1% were exposed to ICC, 27.8% to DCC and 8.1% to UCM. Compared with ICC-exposed infants, DCC-exposed infants had lower odds of death or severe NDI (adjusted OR 0.64, 95%CI 0.50 to 0.83). No statistically significant differences were observed when comparing UCM with either ICC or DCC, or between secondary outcomes across groups. Association between cord management and the primary outcome was not mediated by severe IVH.CONCLUSION: Compared with ICC, DCC exposure was associated with lower death or severe NDI at 22-26 months' CA among extremely preterm infants, which was not mediated by severe IVH.

    View details for DOI 10.1136/archdischild-2022-324565

    View details for PubMedID 36253076

  • Umbilical Cord Milking versus Delayed Cord Clamping and Associations with In-Hospital Outcomes among Extremely Premature Infants. The Journal of pediatrics Kumbhat, N. n., Eggleston, B. n., Davis, A. S., DeMauro, S. B., Van Meurs, K. P., Foglia, E. E., Lakshminrusimha, S. n., Walsh, M. C., Watterberg, K. L., Wyckoff, M. H., Das, A. n., Handley, S. C. 2021

    Abstract

    To compare in-hospital outcomes after umbilical cord milking versus delayed cord clamping among infants <29 weeks' gestation.Multicenter retrospective study of infants born <29 weeks' gestation from 2016 to 2018 without congenital anomalies who received active treatment at delivery and were exposed to UCM or DCC. The primary outcome was mortality or severe (grade III or IV) intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) by 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA). Secondary outcomes assessed at 36 weeks PMA were mortality, severe IVH, any IVH or mortality, and a composite of mortality or major morbidity. Outcomes were assessed using multivariable regression, incorporating mortality risk factors identified a priori, confounders, and center. A prespecified, exploratory analysis evaluated severe IVH in two GA strata, 22-246/7 and 25-286/7 weeks.Among 1,834 infants, 23.6% were exposed to UCM and 76.4% to DCC. The primary outcome, mortality or severe IVH, occurred in 21.1% of infants: 28.3% exposed to UCM and 19.1% exposed to DCC, with an adjusted odds ratio that was similar between groups (aOR 1.45, 95% CI 0.93, 2.26). UCM exposed infants had higher odds of severe IVH (19.8% UCM vs. 11.8% DCC, aOR 1.70 95% CI 1.20, 2.43), as did the 25-286/7 week stratum (14.8% UCM vs. 7.4% DCC, aOR 1.89 95% CI 1.22, 2.95). Other secondary outcomes were similar between groups.This analysis of extremely preterm infants suggests that DCC is the preferred practice for placental transfusion, as UCM exposure was associated with an increase in the adverse outcome of severe IVH.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.12.072

    View details for PubMedID 33417919

  • Is prophylaxis with early low-dose hydrocortisone in very preterm infants effective in preventing bronchopulmonary dysplasia? Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association Kumbhat, N. n., Davis, A. S., Benitz, W. E. 2019

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41372-019-0485-8

    View details for PubMedID 31471578