Nobody chooses to have their infant in the NICU. Everyone wants to bring their baby home, but obviously weÕre there in case babies do need further care after being delivered. WeÕre there for infants who are sick, or ill, or need surgery, as well as infants who are born prematurely and donÕt have the capability of going home yet. Our NICU team is interdisciplinary, which means it consists of many different people that are committed to caring for your baby. We have nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians. We have patient care technicians. We have a great ancillary team of respiratory therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapy. Child Life works with us. We also have a great compliment of case managers and social workers who are there to support the family. So itÕs very collaborative. ThereÕs a period of education where we do a lot of teaching and talking about the disease processes, and then ultimately, parents become such vital care partners on our team, and become advocates for their children. I think, within the NICU, weÕve really been a model unit for family-centered care, and so we really encourage parent participation on rounds. We welcome parentsÕ input and their perspective on changes that they see in their baby, and we hope to create a very supportive environment where, again, parents ultimately feel empowered, and feel like theyÕre an advocate for their children. We offer things that other NICUs do not. One of them is Neuro-NICU. So we specialize in infants who have neurological problems. We also do HeRO, which is a heart rate variability monitor for an early indicator for sepsis that was developed here at UVA.  We also are unique in that we are on the leading edge of technology and care plans across the nation. WeÕve been involved in multiple trials that really push the envelope as far as bringing the newest and most effective technology to premature and sick infants. We recognize that our words have consequences. Our skills, our actions, the things that we do are consequential, and we take that very seriously. I also think that weÕve really dedicated ourselves to being supportive of families, and being an inclusive environment where, no matter where you come from, no matter what the color of your skin is, no matter what your socioeconomic status is, no matter what good or bad youÕve done in this world, weÕre committed to caring for you and for your baby, and we all have the same goal of sending home a healthy child.