Neonatology is a subspecialty of pediatrics that deals with the medical care of newborn infants, particularly care for premature and ill newborn infants. DM in Neonatology is three-year super specialty course offered in medical colleges in India and abroad. The names of government colleges offering this course and their corresponding intake capacity are given below:

Delhi:

• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi – 1 seat

Punjab:

• Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh – 4 students per year

Tamil Nadu:

• Madras Medical College, Chennai – 8 students per year

West Bengal:

• Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Kolkata – 1 seat

The above-mentioned medical colleges are recognized by Medical Council of India and since only 14 seats are available in total in government colleges in the whole country, there is heavy competition among students to seek admission to this course.

Eligibility requirement:

For seeking admission to the DM in Neonatology course, candidates must have completed their MD in general medicine or Osteopathic medicine and they should also get through the entrance examination conducted either at All India level or state level.

Course content:

A broad outline of subjects covered under DM in Neonatology course is given below:

• Basic Sciences

• Perinatology

• Neonatal hearing assessment

• Neonatal ophthalmology

• Neonatal infections

• Surgery and orthopedics

• Nutrition

• Hematology

• Endocrine and metabolism

• Renal system

• Neurology

• Gastrointestinal system

• Cardiovascular system

• Respiratory system

Candidates are offered with the aforesaid subjects in such a way that they can find the problems if any faced by newborn.

Spectrum of care offered by Neonatologist:

Neonatologist do not focus on a particular organ, rather they focus on the whole health of the newborns who need ICU care. These professionals also act as general pediatricians thereby offering general care for newborn babies.

Future scope of Neonatology:

In the past few years, several advancements were brought about in the neonatology sector of medicine line nitric oxide, extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation, high frequency ventilators and surfactants. There is also great improvement in the related areas like heart transplants, general surgery and cardiac surgery for infants. This has brought about great reduction in the rate of death of newborn babies. With the improving technology in this field, DM in Neonatology graduates are in greater demand particularly in women health care and maternity hospitals not only in India, but also in foreign countries.  Therefore, these professionals can be rest assured of their future job prospects and they can also work as general pediatricians.