Clinical Focus


  • Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
  • Neonatology

Academic Appointments


Professional Education


  • Fellowship: Stanford University Neonatology Fellowship (2009) CA
  • Residency: Children's Hospital Boston Medical Center Pediatric Residency (2005) MA
  • Medical Education: Pritzker School of Medicine University of Chicago Registrar (2002) IL
  • Board Certification: American Board of Pediatrics, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (2010)

Projects


  • Growth Advancement in the NICU: Ten Point Nine, CPQCC (July 1, 2021 - Present)

    Physician Lead for the GAIN: Ten Point Nine Collaborative which aims to improve growth and nutrition for infants with a birth weight > 1500 grams in NICUs with an average daily census of ≤ 10.9.

    Location

    Redwood City, CA

All Publications


  • Increasing early exposure to mother's own milk in premature newborns. Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association Balasundaram, M., Land, R., Miller, S., Profit, J., Porter, M., Arnold, C., Sivakumar, D. 2022

    Abstract

    OBJECTIVE: Increase the proportion of ≤33 weeks newborns exposed to mother's own milk (MOM) oral care by 12h of age by 20% over 2 years to support a healthier microbiome.STUDY DESIGN: We implemented interventions to support early expression of colostrum and reliable delivery of resultant MOM to premature newborns. Statistical process control charts were used to track progress and provide feedback to staff. Proportions of newborns exposed to MOM by 12h were compared relative to baseline.RESULTS: There were 46, 66, and 46 newborns in the baseline, implementation, and sustainability periods, respectively. The primary outcome improved from 48% to 61% in the implementation period (relative change 1.27, 95% CI 0.89, 1.81, p=0.2), to 69% in sustainability period (relative to baseline 1.45, 95% CI 1.02, 2.08, p=0.03).CONCLUSION: An interdisciplinary team-based, multicycle, quality improvement intervention resulted in increased rates of early exposure to MOM.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41372-022-01376-8

    View details for PubMedID 35396577

  • Increasing Parent Satisfaction With Discharge Planning: An Improvement Project Using Technology in a Level 3 NICU. Advances in neonatal care : official journal of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses Balasundaram, M. n., Porter, M. n., Miller, S. n., Sivakumar, D. n., Fleming, A. n., McCallie, K. n. 2021

    Abstract

    Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) families are often overwhelmed by the discharge process. Their anxiety can inhibit learning and contribute to poor infant outcomes and increased healthcare utilization after discharge. Quality of the discharge teaching is the strongest predictor of discharge readiness, so NICUs must develop excellent discharge preparation programs.This improvement project enhances NICU discharge preparedness by providing consistent, early discharge teaching using technology as a supplemental resource and raises parental satisfaction with the process.Neonatal intensive care unit staff and former NICU parents developed a task force to create technology-based discharge education content. The content was originally uploaded to an e-book and later transferred to the electronic health record inpatient portal. Families were able to view discharge teaching content at their own convenience and pace and review topics as needed with the NICU staff. Postdischarge follow-up phone calls provided insight into parental reaction to the new education format.Parent satisfaction top-box scores, reflecting the highest rating in the "Prepared for Discharge" category of the patient satisfaction survey, improved from a baseline of 47% in 2017 to 70% in 2019. Overwhelmingly, 92% of families highly rated the tablet-based discharge teaching during postdischarge phone calls.A comprehensive, consistent, and early discharge program using technology can lead to more effective and efficient NICU discharge education and improved parent satisfaction.Further studies are needed to generalize hospital-based inpatient portal teaching as an additional resource for parental education in the NICU.

    View details for DOI 10.1097/ANC.0000000000000841

    View details for PubMedID 33534225

  • Hypothermia in very low birth weight infants: distribution, risk factors and outcomes JOURNAL OF PERINATOLOGY Miller, S. S., Lee, H. C., Gould, J. B. 2011; 31: S49-S56

    Abstract

    The objective of this study was to study the epidemiology of neonatal hypothermia in preterm infants using World Health Organization (WHO) temperature criteria.A population-based cohort of 8782 very low birth weight (VLBW) infants born in California neonatal intensive care units in 2006 and 2007. Associations between admission hypothermia and maternal and neonatal characteristics and outcomes were determined using logistic regression.In all, 56.2% of infants were hypothermic. Low birth weight, cesarean delivery and a low Apgar score were associated with hypothermia. Spontaneous labor, prolonged rupture of membranes and antenatal steroid administration were associated with decreased risk of hypothermia. Moderate hypothermia was associated with higher risk of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). Moderate and severe hypothermic conditions were associated with risk of death.Hypothermia by WHO criteria is prevalent in VLBW infants and is associated with IVH and mortality. Use of WHO criteria could guide the need for quality improvement projects targeted toward the most vulnerable infants.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/jp.2010.177

    View details for Web of Science ID 000289236900008

    View details for PubMedID 21448204

  • Inhaled nitric oxide in the treatment of preterm infants EARLY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Miller, S. S., Rhine, W. D. 2008; 84 (11): 703-707

    Abstract

    Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) has been used successfully in select term and near-term infants with respiratory failure. The use of iNO in the premature infant population, however, remains controversial. This article will review some of the current literature regarding the use of iNO in premature infants and discuss current recommendations and future research directions.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2008.08.005

    View details for Web of Science ID 000261560600002

    View details for PubMedID 18930359

  • Fetus in fetu: 11 fetoid forms in a single fetus - Review of the literature and imaging JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE Gerber, R. E., Kamaya, A., Miller, S. S., Cronin, D. M., Dwyer, B., Chueh, J., Conner, K. E., Barth, R. A. 2008; 27 (9): 1381-1387

    View details for Web of Science ID 000258853200015

    View details for PubMedID 18716149