March of Dimes President addresses Geisinger's NICU parent group

DANVILLE – March of Dimes President Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, recently met with the families of children who were cared for in Geisinger’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during a luncheon of Geisinger’s Family Advisory Board of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) Family Support Program.

Howse noted that Geisinger is the site of the March of Dimes’ first rural Family Support program. Launched in 2006 and led by Cindy Line, a March of Dimes Family Support Specialist, Geisinger’s offers comfort, stress relief and information to families with children in the NICU.

“After extensive research, we determined that Geisinger would be the perfect hospital to choose as our first partner in a rural area,” said Dr. Howse. “The programs and quality of care Geisinger provides are comparable to the top medical centers in the nation.” 

As part of the Family Support Program, Line created the Family Advisory Board, a committee made up of parents and family members of children who receive care in the NICU. “The creation of this committee came naturally,” Line said, “I had so many parents get in touch with me and ask how they could volunteer and offer ideas, it really seemed to form itself.”

Dr. Howse noted, “I am so excited to see such enthusiasm from parents and the NICU staff at Geisinger.” She added, “The best part about Geisinger’s Family Advisory Board is that it allows new programs to develop out of feedback provided by family members.”

Earlier in the day, Dr. Howse spoke to Geisinger’s Senior Leadership Council on the organizations’ shared interest in improving maternal and infant health. Geisinger CEO Glenn Steele, MD is the honorary chair of the March of Dimes Pennsylvania Prematurity Campaign that funds programs to reduce premature births.

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