Burchfield named chief of neonatology at UF

David J. Burchfield, M.D., has assumed responsibilities as chief of one the largest divisions at the University of Florida College of Medicine.

Burchfield, a professor of pediatrics, was appointed Sept. 24 to direct the clinical, research and teaching operations of the department of pediatrics’ division of neonatology. This division plays a significant role in caring for about 2,700 newborns each year at Shands Children’s Hospital at UF, Shands at AGH and North Florida Regional Medical Center.

He oversees nearly 100 division staff members, including 10 physicians, four fellows, four doctoral degree-level research fellows, 16 advanced-level nurse practitioners, developmental psychologists, and other research, clinical and support staff.

Burchfield, who has been a UF faculty member since 1987, will work to ensure neonates receive top-notch care as cost effectively as possible and that their parents are provided appropriate emotional and spiritual support.

To provide state-of-the-art care, Burchfield hopes to better integrate the care provided by neonatology with the clinical missions of other groups, such as perinatology and the surgical specialties for children. In addition, through mentoring and supporting faculty members and fellows, he will continue to promote the division’s research efforts – which now exceed $1 million in grants per year – in an effort to improve health care and advance the neonatology field.