Jonathan R Swanson, MD
Neonatology
Bio & Overview
Jonathan Swanson, MD, MSc, MBA, is the chief quality officer for children’s services and the director of the division of neonatology.
As a neonatologist, Dr. Swanson loves the interactions with parents and families, as well as taking care of sick and premature infants. His passion and research focuses on necrotizing enterocolitis, an intestinal infection that afflicts this population. He is also interested in quality improvement methodology and cost-effective care.
Dr. Swanson knew he wanted to work with kids after coaching a basketball team of third and fourth grade girls as a senior in high school. In college at Pepperdine University, he found that his love of science pushed him toward a career in medicine.
Dr. Swanson completed medical school at the University of Rochester and subsequently completed both his pediatric residency and neonatal-perinatal medicine fellowship at the University of Virginia. After completing his fellowship, he worked in northern New Jersey until returning to UVA in 2011. He obtained his master’s degree in healthcare quality and safety in 2013 and his MBA in 2023.
Dr. Swanson enjoys living in the Charlottesville area as it allows ample opportunities for outdoor activities with his wife and kids. They especially enjoy hiking in Shenandoah and visiting the local orchards.
Academic Information
- Department
- Pediatrics
- Academic Role
- Professor
- Division
- Neonatal/Perinatal
- Research Interests
- Quality Improvement, Neonatal Intestinal Disease, Infection
- Gender
- Male
- Languages
- English
- Age Groups Seen
- Infants (0-2)
- Primary Education
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
- Residency
- University of Virginia School of Medicine
- Fellowships
- University of Virginia School of Medicine
- Certification
- American Board of Pediatrics (Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine)
- Appointment
- Chief Quality Officer - Children's Services, Division Director - Neonatology
- Additional Specialties
- Pediatric Cardiology
Highlights
Meet Neonatologist Jonathan Swanson, MD
My name is Jonathan Swanson, and I'm a neonatologist at UVA Children's. As a neonatologist, I take care of babies from as young as 22 weeks to full term who require either surgical expertise or who are sick or premature. Since high school, I knew I always wanted to work with children, and during my first year of training here at UVA, I had a patient who developed necrotizing enterocolitis, and it was that patient who really taught me the role a neonatologist can play, not only in disease management, but in taking care of the patient and the family unit as a whole. Part of my role in neonatology is really to look at systems of care and to ensure that all our patients are receiving the best quality care as well as safe patient care. No parent expects or wants their child to be in the NICU, but when they do, they can know that there's a whole team of people there that are going to be help them through the experience, not only physicians and nurses at the bedside, but respiratory therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, nutritionists, social workers, case managers, and a whole slew of other people who are there to ensure that their child gets the best possible care.
Awards
- 2019 Best Bedside Manner Awards, OurHealth Charlottesville and Shenandoah Valley Magazine; Third Place, Neonatology
- 2018 Best Bedside Manner Awards, OurHealth Charlottesville and Shenandoah Valley Magazine; Second Place, Neonatology
- 2015-2020 Best Doctors in America® List
- 2015 Bedside Manner Award, Our Health Magazine; First place