Committee on the Fetus and Newborn (COFN)

The Committee on Fetus and Newborn (COFN) studies issues and current advances in fetal and neonatal care; makes recommendations regarding neonatal practice; collaborates with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) to consider perinatal issues on which the practices of obstetrics and pediatrics merge and works cooperatively with ACOG on new editions of Guidelines for Perinatal Care.

History

In 1937, the Academy established the Committee on Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality to collaborate with a similar committee in the American Pediatric Society. Together, these committees agreed that neonatal mortality and morbidity could be reduced by applying what was already know. The group made a number of recommendations including collecting statistics and developing a standard nomenclature for causes of death, conducting more autopsies to learn about the causes of death, collaborating with obstetricians, and developing standards for protection of newborn infants. In 1938, the Committee requested a name change to the Committee on Problems of the Fetus and Newborn Infant and in 1941, the name was changed to its current name, COFN.​

Mission Statement

To improve health outcomes for the fetus and newborn by critically reviewing and synthesizing evidence on key topics into policy statements and reports for dissemination to Academy members and others working to improve perinatal outcomes; by encouraging further research when knowledge gaps exist and by providing expert collaboration with other agencies, organizations, and individuals that share our common goal of achieving the best outcomes for all children.

View policy statements

Committee Members

Eric Eichenwald, MD, FAAP
Chairperson
Philadelphia, PA

Kelly Wade, MD, FAAP
Philadelphia, PA

Margaret Parker, MD, FAAP
Boston, MA

Camilia Martin, MD, FAAP
Boston, MA

David Kaufman, MD, FAAP
Charlottesville, VA

Namasivayam Ambalavanan, MD, FAAP
Birmingham, AL

Mark Hudak, MD, FAAP
Jacksonville, FL

Arun Pramanik, MD, FAAP
Shreveport, LA

Charleta Guillory, MD, FAAP 
Houston, TX

Wanda Barfield, MD, MPR, FAAP
Liaison, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Tucker, GA

Stacy Beck
Liaison, ACOG
Pittsburgh, PA

Michael Narvey, MD, FAAP
Liaison, CPS
Winnipeg, MB

Tim Jancelewicz, MD, FAAP
Liaison, Section on Surgery
Memphis, TN

Ashley Lucke, MD, FAAP
Liaison, SONPM
Austin, TX

Lisa Grisham MS, NP
Liaison, NANN
Tucson, AZ

Contact COFN