Nicole Randazzo-Ahern, MD, is the new medical director of the Newborn Nursery at Mass General for Children (MGfC). In her new role, which starts November 1, 2016, Randazzo-Ahern will oversee patient and family care in the Newborn Nursery and provide consults in the Pediatric Nephrology and Hypertension Program.

As a newborn provider and mother of two, Randazzo-Ahern believes that proper care and support during the newborn period is crucial to patients’ outcomes. “I’m very family-oriented both with my patients and with my own family, and that drives a lot of my medical practice. Everyone plays a role in caring for newborns and that includes everyone from doctors to nurses to the patient’s family,” she said. “There are a lot of changes whether the baby is healthy or faces medical challenges, and it’s important that families feel supported before, during and after going home. It’s also important that they receive extra support when they need it most.”

In addition to her role as medical director, Randazzo-Ahern will work closely with residents. “Residency is becoming more self-directed with new models of learning,” she said. “I think this is an exciting time to be a resident, so I hope to improve on those models of learning for residents and medical students who come to the hospital to complete their training.”

Randazzo-Ahern, a native of New York City, joins MGfC from Boston Children’s Hospital where she worked in complex care. She earned her medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical School and completed her residency and a fellowship in pediatric nephrology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. Her clinical interests include newborn care, social and family support, glomerular and kidney disease and metabolic disease. Outside of the exam room, Randazzo-Ahern enjoys running, yoga, music and reading.