Image of NICU reunion postcard artwork by Michelle O'Gara

In celebration of its 150th anniversary, SBH Health System (St. Barnabas Hospital) is inviting the families of babies treated in its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) back to the hospital on Thursday, August 25th (from 1 – 3 p.m.) to reconnect with its doctors and nurses for an afternoon of fun, food and friendship. The reunion will be held in the hospital’s Sycamore Grove (behind the hospital at Third Avenue and 183rd Street).

A NICU is an intensive-care unit specializing in the care of ill or premature newborn infants. Level III neonatal intensive care units, like the one at SBH, have neonatologists (pediatricians with specialized training in newborn intensive care) on-site 24 hours per day for babies born prematurely or in need of close supervision.

Since its inception in 1998, the SBH NICU has treated an estimated 1,700 babies. An invitation to their families went out earlier this month.

“While we’ve kept in contact with many of our patients and their families over the years, we’re very much looking forward to welcoming back others, some of whom are now teenagers, we haven’t seen in years,” said Dr. Lazaro Lezcano, the hospital’s long-time Director of Neonatology. “It will be an opportunity for all of us to catch up.”

For inquiries, call 718-960-3515.


Steve Clark