Each year the NICU providers nominate and then vote on individuals for the Neonatology Excellence Award, designed to recognize an individual who promotes the optimal care of newborns by advancing and supporting education, research, quality improvement, and overall clinical care. This year’s winner of the 2025 Neonatology Excellence Award is Julie Rice, RN, charge nurse at the UPH-Meriter NICU. Rice’s nominators noted that she has a wealth of experience and is a strong leader, is incredibly compassionate, and well-loved among all who have the honor of working with her in the NICU. They added that her work doesn’t end with the clinical care of her patients and leadership in the NICU; Rice has also taught hundreds of trainees (nursing students, NICU fellows, NNP students, pediatric residents, medical students, and more) how to best support babies during neonatal resuscitation and care for them on a daily basis. Read more about Rice, the full slate of this year’s nominees, and past award winners on the Neonatology Excellence Award webpage.