Every day our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) team members do everything medically possible to help premature and critically ill infants grow and heal. Their family-focused care is exceptional. Their clinical expertise is world renowned. But the 29-bed facility in which they serve our region’s most vulnerable patients is dated and cramped.

The team’s ability to provide top-notch care in an obsolete physical environment is a testament to their skill and dedication, which was recognized by a 2023 Press Ganey Human Experience Guardian of Excellence Award® that put University of Vermont Children’s Hospital in the top 5% for patient experience nationwide. A new NICU is a priority for UVM Medical Center, but financial and space constraints make construction impossible in the near term.

"Our Henry entered the world at only 2 pounds, 4.7 ounces, and spent 10 weeks in the NICU. The team took amazing care of our boy, who is now a thriving 8-year-old. Our charitable gifts enable us to continue to say thank you." - Kristen and Jared Vincent

Thanks to a $1 million gift in 2018 from EastRise Credit Union (formerly New England Federal Credit Union) plus generous gifts from the Vincent Family Foundation and Bridget and Valdemar Garibay, a series of renovations designed to create a more supportive environment for NICU patients and families has begun. Core elements include the creation of two private rooms, a new and more welcoming NICU entrance, heating and cooling system upgrades and a new clinical care team station. To achieve these important improvements, the NICU support spaces were reconfigured, leading to a redesigned family room, dedicated equipment and supply rooms and an upgraded nurse call system, plus private offices for social workers and nurse managers. The final phases of these renovations will conclude in the spring of 2025.

“Having a welcoming entrance where you can see a friendly face right away will help decrease some of the stress parents feel when entering the unit,” says NICU Nurse Manager Natalie Clark, BSN, RNC-NIC. “Currently, we only have one private room, often requiring our staff to rotate patients in and out based on who has the greatest need for this space. Three private rooms will allow our space to better support families during these extremely vulnerable moments.”