The Regional Medical Center at Memphis (THE MED) has one of the oldest and largest newborn intensive care units in the United States. Over 1,300 premature or critically ill newborns are treated at the Newborn Center each year. It is one of only 14 member institutions of the National Research Network, which is supported by the National Institute of Health's Child Development Program.

Since opening in 1968, over 45,000 premature babies have been treated successfully, some weighing just one pound. In 1968, Memphis had one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country. The Newborn Center has reduced its infant mortality rate to just over two percent.

The Newborn Center credits its success to a multi-disciplinary approach to caring for patients. Specially trained social workers and perinatal workers help the whole family cope with the inevitable challenges of dealing with premature or critically ill newborns.

To date, 38 physicians have been trained in Neonatal/Perinatal Medicine at the Newborn Center, and 500 scientific papers have been published by the facility’s medical team. Dr. Sheldon B. Korones is founder and Dr. Ramasubbareddy Dhanireddy is medical director.

For more information about the Sheldon B. Korones Newborn Center, call (901) 545-7117.

Medical Director: Dr. Ramasubbareddy Dhanireddy