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Indian-American physician to headline National Mental Health Conference
Hand to Hold’s annual event will spotlight Neel Shah’s work in equitable maternal and neonatal care as NICU mental health challenges rise nationwide.
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Anushka Pathak - Wed, 15, Oct 2025
- 16:16 EDT
- 26
Neel Shah, chief medical officer of Maven Clinic and visiting scientist at Harvard Medical School / Courtesy: LinkedIn
Hand to Hold, a national nonprofit supporting families of premature and medically fragile infants, will host its annual National NICU Mental Health Conference on November 5–6, 2025, featuring Indian-American physician and maternal health advocate Neel Shah as a keynote speaker.
Neel Shah, chief medical officer of Maven Clinic—the world’s largest digital platform for women’s and family health—will lead discussions on building equitable, compassionate care systems for NICU families. A visiting scientist at Harvard Medical School, Shah has authored over 100 research articles and contributed to four books on healthcare innovation.
The virtual conference is the only event in the U.S. that unites NICU parents and healthcare professionals to address critical mental health challenges, share insights, and drive advocacy. Held during Prematurity Awareness Month, the event underscores the mental and emotional toll of premature births, with parents facing high rates of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
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Joining Shah is Sheehan Fisher, associate professor and perinatal psychologist at Northwestern University, who will present research on mood disorders among parents during the perinatal period. Both keynote speakers will address the importance of mental health support for parents navigating traumatic births and long-term neonatal care.
“The unfortunate reality is that a growing number of families are impacted by the NICU each year as admission rates continue to rise,” said Katrina Moline, executive director of Hand to Hold and a NICU-graduate parent.
“Our mission with the NICU Mental Health Conference is to improve outcomes for NICU babies by providing families and NICU professionals with the education, resources, and emotional support they need to navigate complex care environments and overwhelming circumstances,” she added.
This year’s program will feature leading voices in neonatal and perinatal health, focusing on themes such as health equity, burnout and self-care, trauma-informed care, and grief and loss.
The conference aims to deepen understanding of the emotional impact of traumatic births and NICU stays while promoting cultural competence and family-centered care. Parents will also hear from other NICU families sharing lived experiences of resilience and recovery.
During the event, Hand to Hold will present its 2025 NICU Hero Awards, recognizing a NICU professional and a hospital unit that exemplify excellence in family-centered care.
The virtual conference will be free for NICU parents, ensuring accessibility for families caring for medically fragile infants.
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