Fetal Care

All of us are at your service

Margot Ahronovich, MD, Medical Director
Dr. Ahronovich is Medical Director of the Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital Fetal Care Center. In addition to her leadership role at the Fetal Care Center, Dr. Ahronovich is a neonatologist in the Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Dr. Ahronovich completed her residency and fellowship at Children’s National Medical Center.

Melissa Eatherly, FNP-BC, Nurse Practitioner
Melissa is a board-certified nurse practitioner who leads the Fetal Care Center. She provides support, patient care coordination, and education for families. Prior to earning her master's degree at George Washington University, Melissa worked for many years as a neonatal nurse and charge nurse at Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Contact her at 703-776-6371 or melissa.eatherly@inova.org.

Erin Caulfield, BSN, IBCLC, Patient Navigator
Erin is a registered nurse who serves as a patient navigator at the Fetal Care Center. She provides patient care coordination, support, and education for families. Erin is a board-certified lactation consultant with over 20 years experience in the fields of maternal and neonatal intensive care nursing. She co-founded and developed the NICU lactation program at Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital. Please contact her at 703-776-6371 or erin.caulfield@inova.org.

Lori Stockel, BSN, RNC-NIC, Patient Navigator
Lori is a registered nurse who serves as a patient navigator in the Fetal Care Center. She provides patient care coordination, support and education for families. Prior to joining the fetal care team, she worked for many years as neonatal nurse in Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital’s Level IV NICU.

Cardiac Electrophysiology

• Mitchell Cohen, MD

Cardiac Surgery

• Lucas Collazo, MD
• Chawki Elzein, MD

Child Life

• Nicole Johnson, CCLS

Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery

• Jenny Chen, MD
• Lora Hindenburg, RN

Fetal Cardiology

• Patrick Callahan, MD
• Ryan Closson, MD
• Bridget Curley, MD
• Christopher Jordan, MD
• Sharon Karr, MD
• Jennifer Lindsey, MD
• Jennifer O’Neil, MD
• Kinjal Parikh, MD
• Harish Rudra, MD

Genetics

• Marta Biderman, MD
• Natalie Hauser, MD
• Savannah Binion, MS, LCGC (prenatal genetics) (prenatal genetics)
• Julia Pascale, MS, LCGC (prenatal genetics)
• Rebecca Miller, MS, LCGC (pediatric and cardio genetics)
• Olivia Wilmath, MS, LCGC (pediatric genetics)

Infectious Disease and Hematology

Infectious Disease

• Andrews Nuibe, MD
• Katherine Moyer, DO
• Melena Robertson, DO
• Stephanie Smith, MD

Hematology

• Ragini Adams, MD
• Shweta Bansil, MD
• Robin Dulman, MD
• Adriana Fonseca, MD
• Elizabeth Linton, NP
• Thomas Newton, MD
• Niccole Piguet, MD
• Anupam Verma, MD
• Elizabeth Yang, MD, PhD
• Noravy Briere, CPNP
• Lauren Godby, CPNP-PC
• Kenia Hall, NP
• Angela Lewis, NP
• Alissa Mills, PA-C
• Joyce Urban, NP

Pediatric Neurosurgery

• Leon Moores, MD
• Peggy Vollstad, PA

Pediatric Surgery

• Joseph Hartwich, MD
• Angela Kao, MD
• Stephen Kim, MD
• Bharath Nath, MD
• Quoc Hung (Key) Nguyen, MD

Orthopedics

• Laurel Blakemore, MD
• Shaunette Davey, DO
• Joanne Dekis, MD
• Laura Gill-Sealy, MD
• Emily Hattwick, MD
• Joseph Letzelter III, MD
• Meryl R. Ludwig, MD
• Benjamin D. Martin, MD
• Evan D. Sheppard, MD
• Katherine Nettles, PA
• Alysen Spencer, PA

Palliative Care

• Sudha Chandrasekhar, MD
• Rebecca Rebstock, SW

Pediatric Nephrology

• Rasheda Amin, MD
• Rosanna Fulchiero, DO
• Randala Lakkis, MD
• Davoud Mohtat, MD
• Patricia Seo-Mayer, MD

Pediatric Urology

• Daniel Casella, MD
• Christina Ho, MD
• Hans Pohl, MD
• Rachel Selekman, MD
• Annie Naughton, PA-C
• Erica Chambers, PA-C

Social Work and Behavioral Health

• Mara Watts, LPC, Neonatal licensed professional counselor
• Brooke Beander, Pediatric CICU Social Worker

Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital is home to the region’s only Level IV, comprehensive sub-specialty NICU. Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital NICU has been recognized for its quality care and outcomes by U.S. News & World Report. The 108-bed unit is staffed 24 hours a day by a multidisciplinary team of neonatal specialists, including round the clock in-house board-certified neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners and specialized nurses. Our NICU cares for high-risk infants requiring specialized care and observation.

Congenital heart program

Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital Congenital Heart Program has been caring for the hearts of our region’s children for more than 30 years. Board-certified pediatric cardiologists, electrophysiologists, anesthesiologists, radiologists, and congenital cardiac surgeons have dedicated their practices to helping children overcome complex congenital anomalies. Fetal cardiologists partner with obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine, and other pediatric specialists for multi-disciplinary care coordination and consultation. Each year, our pediatric cardiac surgeons perform hundreds of cardiac surgeries with outcomes that outperform national benchmarks and standards.

Neuroscience program

Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital Neuroscience Program is uniquely qualified to evaluate and treat neurological conditions from birth and into adulthood.

Combining the expertise of Inova L. J. Murphy Children’s Hospital with the specialty knowledge of Inova Neurosciences, the program features a full complement of board-certified specialists who cover all aspects of inpatient and outpatient care, from diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation and long-term followup.

The program's pediatric neurosurgeons, neurologists, physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, and other clinical team members are skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of the most complex congenital brain and spinal cord anomalies. Capabilities include surgical and nonsurgical treatment of spina bifida, hydrocephalus, chiari malformation, tethered spinal cord, encephalocele and intracranial cysts.

Thoracic and General Surgery

At Inova L.J. Murphy Children's Hospital, our pediatric surgery program is a regional leader, providing innovative, high-quality care for infants, children, and young adults. As a Level 1 Verified Children's Surgery Center, we meet the highest national standards for safety and excellence. Our fellowship-trained pediatric surgeons, anesthesiologists, and specialized nurses are dedicated exclusively to pediatric care. With the support of Certified Child Life specialists, we ensure that every child and family feels prepared, comforted, and cared for throughout their surgical journey.

Craniofacial program

Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital Craniofacial Program and its pediatric experts use a multi-disciplinary approach to evaluate and treat children with craniofacial abnormalities. Pediatric plastic surgeons, neurosurgeons, oral and maxilofacial surgeons, otorhinolaryngologists / otolaryngologists (ENTs), dentists, audiologists, and speech-language pathologists see patients in a coordinated clinic model, led by a nurse navigator.

The craniofacial program's team is skilled in the treatment of cleft lip, cleft palate, craniosynostosis, hemifacial microsomia, Pierre Robin sequence, and other craniofacial abnormalities.

Genetics and genetic counseling

Genetic counseling and testing are available prenatally through Inova’s Antenatal Testing Centers. A genetic counselor can meet with families to discuss the likelihood of a baby being affected by a genetic condition and explain the available options for prenatal genetic testing. Noninvasive screening methods include first-trimester screening (nuchal translucency), cell-free DNA testing, and carrier screening. Invasive diagnostic tests include chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis. If a genetic diagnosis is made, genetic counselors are available to discuss the results with families and ensure they have all the information they need.

In addition to genetic testing, first-trimester ultrasounds, comprehensive level II ultrasound scans, and 3D and 4D ultrasounds are offered by obstetricians and maternal-fetal medicine practitioners who partner with Inova's Children's Fetal Care Center.

First-trimester ultrasounds, comprehensive level II ultrasound scans, and 3D and 4D ultrasounds are available through the obstetricians and maternal fetal medicine community practitioners who partner with Inova Children's Fetal Care Center. Invasive diagnostic testing includes chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis. Noninvasive screening includes first trimester screening (nuchal translucency), cell-free DNA, and carrier screening.

Learn more about Inova's antenatal testing centers  

How to refer to Inova Children's Fetal Care Center

Use any of these channels to refer a patient to Inova Children's Fetal Care Center:

• FetalCare@inova.org
• Call 703-776-6371
• Fax a completed Referral Form to 703-776-6591