Shawn Hitchcock

I spent my 42 year career dedicated to the care of the sick newborn.  There was never a shortage of patients.  While their medical care has changed and improved, it is no less intense for the babies, their families, care providers, and society at large.  Indeed, the impact of premature, and sick, newborns on the world has only grown in the 42 (!!) years that I have been a nurse.  In 2022, Georgia's infant mortality rate was 7.1 per 1,000 live births, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.  Maternal mortality in the US is the highest of the 11 developed nations reviewed by the Commonwealth Fund in 2020.  The March of Dimes works to change these sad, shameful numbers.

My friend and colleague, Dr. Ira Adams-Chapman, was a champion of babies and children, mothers and families.  She was a role-model for all that is good.  Ira's demeanor and smile got me through many a patient crisis while we cared for patients together in the NICU.  Ira died unexpectedly in October 2020. The last few years of Ira's life were marred by the loss of her beloved husband, Thad, and then, cancer.  Yet, on she worked to improve the outcomes, both acute and longterm, of our patients. Her illness, and then passing, during the coronavirus pandemic meant that we who loved her could not be with her while ill. Nor were we able to celebrate Ira's WONDERFUL life appropriately.  I, together with Ira's colleagues, created Ira's Team, to JOYFULLY remember Ira!  Contributing to her positive legacy is what we know she would want. 

I am "Captain" of Ira's Memorial Marching Team.  Follow this link to read more:

https://www.marchforbabies.org//team/IrasMemorialMarchingTeam