Join us for an insightful DocScopy session with Dr. Michael Narvey, brought to you by The MedBound Times, a health journalism platform by MedBound. MedBound is a networking, educational, and career-enhancing platform designed for healthcare professionals and students.
Parul Soni from MedBound Times had an opportunity to talk with Dr. Michael Narvey, Section Head of Neonatology at the Winnipeg Health Sciences Center. He is the Committee Chair of the Canadian Pediatric Society: Fetus and Newborn Committee.
He is the Medical Director of the Child Health Transport Team. He is also an Associate Professor at the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Investigator, at the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba.
Dr. Michael Narvey is one of the principal authors of the 2019 Canadian Pediatric Society position statement ‘The Screening and Management of Newborns at Risk for Low Blood Glucose’.
He is an educator on social media. He has a huge following on Tiktok and Instagram. He is also on Twitter, Facebook and Youtube.
Parul Soni: Sir, please tell us about your professional journey so far.
Dr. Michael Narvey: After medical school, I began training in Pediatrics at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg where I completed a year of further training in Neonatology. This was followed by two years of Neonatal fellowship at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.
Then I began my career as a Neonatologist in Edmonton. I spent over 6 years there. My career included both clinical and administrative duties including 4 years as the Fellowship Program Director and two years as the Medical Director for a level II unit.
In late 2010 I accepted a position in Winnipeg to become the Section Head of Neonatology and I continue to hold this post. In 2016 I took on the additional role of Medical Director of the Child Health Transport Team. In 2015 I became a member of the Canadian Pediatric Society’s Fetus and Newborn Committee and in 2019 took over as Chair of the same.
Parul Soni: What inspired you to pursue Neonatology?
Dr. Michael Narvey: I have a sibling who is thirteen years younger than I am and my parents were both doing their respective jobs. I had to take care of my young sister just like a parent would. As a teen, I wanted to become a gynecologist. I was passionate about gynecology. During medical school, I went to Toronto to do a rotation in a high-risk perinatal medicine unit. I remember one particular delivery. The baby was born with multiple abnormalities. I was fascinated to study the abnormalities and how these were treated. A light bulb went on and I suddenly wanted to do everything related to neonatology.
Parul Soni: What is your passion now? Has it changed?
Dr. Michael Narvey: As you approached me through Instagram, you must have seen I am still passionate about high-risk pregnancy and treatments involved in it. We work with maternal medicine people very closely.
Parul Soni: The educational videos you post on Instagram are very interesting. How did the name, "NICU Musings" come to your mind?
Dr. Michael Narvey: It was a result of my musings. All things neonatal interest me immensely. It inspires me every day to spread knowledge, treat neonates and make educational videos for parents who usually look for answers online.
Parul Soni: As there are three levels of neonatal care, What is the level of care provided to neonates in Canada as compared to the USA?
Dr. Michael Narvey: The state of care in America and Canada is very similar. The only difference is population. America has 10 times the population Canada has. I hope I don't offend anyone. Canada has embraced the concept of regionalization. So not every city has intensive care units for newborns who need cardiac care. We have centers that serve several cities/ provinces sometimes. That area gets developed in the specialization. It does not happen in America, especially in smaller areas. The specialization can't grow there, as they get 1-2 cardiac cases per year. The volume of cases is low. Then there are places like New York, Los Angeles, and Washington which are really developed.
Parul Soni: What about viability? A delivery after how many weeks of gestation is reasonable to resuscitate?
Dr. Michael Narvey: The hot topic is the edge of viability, the question is how low can you go. We have come as low as 22 weeks. Both Canada and the United States are steadily accepting 22 week neonates can be resuscitated. There was recent news on CNN that a 21 week neonate was resuscitated and survived in United States.
Stay tuned for the next part of this insightful conversation.
