A photo of Jae Kim.

Jae Kim, MD, PhD


  • Institute Co-Director, Perinatal Institute
  • Director, Division of Neonatology
  • Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics
As physicians, we must be great listeners and observers in order to deliver the best care to our families.
Jae Kim, MD, PhD

About

Biography

I am a pediatric neonatologist who specializes in the care of newborns who are born prematurely, as well as infants who present problems at birth and within the first few months after birth. Our team provides the highest level of care in the nation for the sickest infants and those with the most complex conditions.

In my practice, I believe that a holistic approach to care is necessary now more than ever. This is especially true in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where technology can sometimes overwhelm parents. As physicians, we must be great listeners and observers in order to deliver the best care to our families. We watch for the subtle changes in our babies as well as the dynamic changes in their families that can occur on a day-to-day basis.

I am proud to lead a team of healthcare professionals who work together in the 14 different NICUs and newborn sites across the Cincinnati area to provide exceptional newborn care. Our team engages in fetal care before birth alongside our obstetrical colleagues and takes care of infants during the time of birth and after birth when problems arise. We couple this care with important bridges to scientific discovery in the areas of laboratory research, clinical research, quality improvement and follow-up care for the best long-term health outcomes.

I assisted in the formation of two donor banks for human breastmilk – one in Toronto, Canada, the city where I grew up, and the other in San Diego, California, where I practiced for over a decade. I consider these breastmilk banks to be among my most significant accomplishments.

In my research, I have had a long-standing interest in newborn nutrition, with a particular focus on a mother’s breastmilk. The lifesaving properties of breastmilk are still in an exciting period of discovery. We continue to uncover new benefits of breastmilk, including its ability to pass on immune protection to babies and to alter the microbes in their gut to stimulate the best environment for their gut health.

This is especially important for infants with the worst type of gut inflammation, a condition called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). My interest in these infants is deep-rooted, and I work with other clinical research scientists, laboratory scientists and breastmilk specialists to better understand this condition. Our aspirational goal is to have a world without NEC.

I am also dedicated to strengthening our care of infants by integrating more advances in technology, such as improvements in the use of monitored data and electronic health data, as well as softening our care with the integration of family-centered care practices. The future of newborn care is going to be very data- and technology-rich, and our challenge is to preserve the human connection with this modern care model.

My wife and I are proud parents of two grown adults. We love to travel to different countries around the world and experience their cultures, music and food. I am a fan of swimming, hiking, cycling and playing (preferably scoreless) golf. In Cincinnati, I especially enjoy the many forested walking areas, which offer a calming balance to work.

MD: University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, 1989.

Residency: Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada, 1990.

PhD: University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, 1999.

Fellowships: Neonatology & Pediatric Gastroenterology; Hepatology and Nutrition, 2001.

Interests

Neonatal nutrition; neonatal bowel injury; neonatal resuscitation

Services and Specialties

Neonatology

Research Areas

Neonatology

Publications

Current Patterns of Probiotic Use in U.S. Neonatal Intensive Care Units: A Multi-Institution Survey. Hanna, M; Ahmad, I; Yanowitz, T; Kim, J; Hunter, C; Digeronimo, R; Ahmad, KA; Sullivan, K; Markel, TA; Hair, AB; Cuna, A; Garg, PM; Reber, K; Premkumar, MH. American Journal of Perinatology: neonatal and maternal-fetal medicine. 2024; 41:e2658-e2665.

Endotracheal Tube Size Adjustments Within Seven Days of Neonatal Intubation. Peebles, PJ; Jensen, EA; Herrick, HM; Wildenhain, PJ; Rumpel, J; Moussa, A; Singh, N; Mehrem, AA; Quek, BH; Wagner, M; DeMeo, S; Johnston, LC; Nishisaki, A; Foglia, EE. Pediatrics. 2024; 153.

Cholestasis is associated with a higher rate of complications in both medical and surgical necrotizing enterocolitis. Nayak, SP; Huff, KA; Zaniletti, I; Ahmad, I; DiGeronimo, R; Hair, A; Kim, J; Markel, TA; Piazza, A; Reber, K; Roberts, J; Sharma, J; Sullivan, K; Premkumar, MH; Yanowitz, T. Journal of Perinatology. 2024; 44:100-107.

Addressing Health-Related Social Needs and Mental Health Needs in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Exploring Challenges and the Potential of Technology. van de Kamp, E; Ma, J; Monangi, N; Tsui, FR; Jani, SG; Kim, JH; Kahn, RS; Wang, CJ. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20.

Rapid Whole-Genomic Sequencing and a Targeted Neonatal Gene Panel in Infants With a Suspected Genetic Disorder. Maron, JL; Kingsmore, S; Gelb, BD; Vockley, J; Wigby, K; Bragg, J; Stroustrup, A; Poindexter, B; Suhrie, K; Kim, JH; Kurfiss, A; Breeze, JL; Trinquart, L; Davis, JM. Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). 2023; 330:161-169.

Relationship between social support and post-discharge mental health symptoms in mothers of preterm infants. Haeusslein, L; Gano, D; Gay, CL; Kriz, RM; Bisgaard, R; Vega, M; Cormier, DM; Joe, P; Walker, V; Kim, JH; Lin, C; Sun, Y; Franck, LS. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. 2023; 41:260-274.

Providing Optimal Nutrition to Very Low Birthweight Infants in the NICU. Kim, JH. NeoReviews.org. 2023; 24:e271-e284.

Summary of the Joint National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration Workshop Titled "Exploring the Science Surrounding the Safe Use of Bioactive Ingredients in Infant Formula: Considerations for an Assessment Framework ". Donovan, SM; Abrams, SA; Azad, MB; Belfort, MB; Bode, L; Carlson, SE; Dallas, DC; Hettinga, K; Järvinen, K; Kim, JH; Lebrilla, CB; McGuire, MK; Sela, DA; Neu, J. The Journal of Pediatrics. 2023; 255:30-41.e1.

Patterns of lipid-injectable emulsion use in neonatal intensive care units across the United States: A multi-institution survey. Huff, KA; Nayak, SP; Ahmad, I; DiGeronimo, R; Hair, A; Kim, JH; Markel, T; Piazza, A; Reber, K; Roberts, J; Sharma, J; Sullivan, K; Ahmad, KA; Yanowitz, T; Premkumar, MH. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. 2023; 47:51-58.

Parent Readiness for Their Preterm Infant's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Discharge. Franck, LS; Kriz, RM; Bisgaard, R; Gay, CL; Sossaman, S; Sossaman, J; Cormier, DM; Joe, P; Sasinski, JK; Kim, JH; Lin, C; Sun, Y. Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing. 2023; 37:68-76.

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4.6
Overall Patient Rating