History of Developing Neonatal Drug Therapy: Nurses Play a Pivotal Role

Dr. Robert M. Ward completed medical school at Johns Hopkins University in 1974 and trained in Pediatrics, Neonatology and Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Minnesota. After serving as assistant professor in Pediatrics and Pharmacology at Pennsylvania State Univ, he moved to the University of Utah in 1985 as Associate Professor of Pediatrics.  He served as Medical Director of the Primary Children’s Hospital NICU from 1989-1997 and was promoted to Professor of Pediatrics in 1995.   

In 1997, he began the Pediatric Pharmacology Division at Utah to study medications in children.  He was PI of the Utah NICHD Pediatric Pharmacology Research Unit Network site from 2004-2010.  In 1997, Dr. Ward became Chair of the AAP Committee on Drugs and consulted in the development of FDAMA, BPCA and PREA, federal legislation to increase the study of drugs in children.  He has consulted with the FDA, NIH, Institute of Medicine, and USP and testified before Congress regarding the need for study and approval of drugs for pediatric patients.  His research interests focused on neonatal and fetal pharmacology through studies of narcotic analgesics, inhaled corticosteroids, neonatal abstinence syndrome, gastrointestinal reflux, and inositol for prevention of ROP.  Dr. Ward lectured frequently nationally and internationally.  He has authored or co-authored over 132 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 29 book chapters.  He retired to emeritus status in 2015, but returned to direct the clinical pharmacology division in 2017-2019.  The University of Utah honored him in 2021 by establishing the Robert M. Ward Endowed Chair in Pediatric Pharmacology. 

Wakako has been a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) for 22 years (RN for 33 years). She is an NNP at Pediatrix Neonatology Practice in Nashville, TN. She received MSN in NNP specialty from Vanderbilt University in 2002, and DNP from Northeastern University in 2014. Her commitment to the tiny patients includes clinical practice as NNP, providing education both in the U.S. and abroad, conducting or supporting research, and making contributions to other special causes.

She is an internationally published author both in Textbooks and peer reviewed publication. She is a frequent speaker especially on neonatal topics as well as advance practice content and has served as adjunct faculty at several NP programs abroad including Asia and Africa.

She currently serves as a non-executive board member for the Council of International Neonatal Nurses (COINN) and participates in global health efforts to improve the maternal/infant health. She is an active co-author member for the World Health Organization educational project specific to ‘Sick and Small Newborns’ to inform the clinicians endeavoring in regions where neonatal-specific education is limited.

She also serves on the board of active parent organizations, such as the PreemieWorld Foundation, Inc. and the Books for Healing Partnership, Inc. Family advocates are important in Wakako’s life since she is also a part of a family who experienced a loss of a prematurely born baby leaving a powerful reminder in her mind about prematurity and families’ struggles.

Wakako has represented NANN to the International Neonatal Consortium since its inception in 2015 and worked closely with INC, COINN, Parents Advocates and numerous other stakeholders globally who are involved in the INC’s mission. Many important projects were undertaken since 2015. Wakako considers it a privilege to have been a co-author for numerous publications in the last several years that emerged from the INC projects that NANN supported. Wakako is grateful for NANN’s commitment for INC’s mission and feels honored to be a part of the NANN/INC collaboration on this education project.