Neonatology

Head prof. Rasa Tamelienė, MD, PhD
Address: Eivenių Str. 2, LT-50161, Kaunas
Phone: +37037326194
E-mail: neonatologijos.klinika@kaunoklinikos.lt

The history of the Department of Neonatology is closely associated with the establishment and development of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Department of Pediatric Medicine. The Department of Neonatology was founded as an autonomous unit by the decree of the Rector of Kaunas University of Medicine (currently - Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LUHS) in 1992. Since then the Department has successfully combined clinical practice, research and studies. The first Head was Antanas Pužas M.D., who was succeeded by Assoc. Prof. Dalia Daugėlienė in 2001 and by Assoc. Prof. Eglė Markūnienė in 2004. The current Head of the Department is Prof. Rasa Tamelienė.
In 1992 the Perinatology program was introduced in Lithuania, Kaunas Center of Perinatology was established and the Department of Neonatology became one of its branches. Kaunas Center of Perinatology treats and performs neonatal surgery on mature and premature newborns with congenital and acquired disorders and serves Kaunas, Klaipėda and Šiauliai regions. The Department of Neonatology consists of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which contains 12 beds, and the Neonatal Unit, whitch contains 80 beds. The Department also includes a Follow-up Rooms where all high-risk newborns are brought from the territories assigned to the Center of Perinatology. Each year the Department treats about 3800 newborns, 500 of which are premature. The Department of Neonatology promotes family-friendly care and in 2005 the Department was granted the title of a Baby-Friendly Hospital, which was renewed in 2017.

RESEARCH

Each year, ca. 400 LUHS students – including ca. 40 foreign students - undergo training at the Department of Neonatology: The teaching personnel of the Department deliver lectures and organize seminars, tutorials, and practical classes. The pedagogues are continuously improving their qualification at clinical and educational scientific conferences in Portugal, Argentina, Australia, Great Britain, South Africa, and Germany, and also during traineeship in Swedish Lund and Karolinska University Hospitals, the US Chicago Illinois University Hospital, and Gregorio Maranon University Hospital in Madrid, Spain.
The employees of the Department also share their experience with Lithuanian and foreign physicians and nurses by organizing scientific-practical conferences, seminars, refresher courses, and traineeship. The majority of the personnel of the Department are members of the Lithuanian Neonatology Association and the Lithuanian Society of Pediatricians.