Fetal Care Center

All of us are at your service

Margot Ahronovich, MD, Medical Director
Dr. Ahronovich is Medical Director of the Inova 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 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 the Inova 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 of experience in the fields of Maternal and Neonatal Intensive Care nursing. She co-founded and developed the NICU Lactation Program at Inova Children’s Hospital. Please contact her at 703-776-6371 or erin.caulfield@inova.org. 

Cardiac Electrophysiology

• Mitchell Cohen, MD

Cardiac Surgery

• Lucas Collazo, MD
• Marcelo Cardarelli, MD

Child Life

• Ashley Richards, CCLS
• Nicole Johnson, CCLS

Fetal Cardiology

• Patrick Callahan, MD
• Sarah Chambers, MD
• Sharon Karr, MD
• Jennifer Lindsey, MD
• Jennifer O’Neil, MD
• Kinjal Parikh, MD
• Harish Rudra, MD

Pediatric Surgery

• Joseph Hartwich, MD
• Stephen Kim, MD
• Bharath Nath, MD

Pediatric Neurosurgery

• Leon Moores, MD
• Peggy Vollstad, PA

Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery

• Stephen Baker, DDS, MD
• Jenny Chen, MD
• Lora Hindenburg, RN
• Renee Jesperson, MD

Genetics

• Ryan Hartman, MS, GC
• Natalie Hauser, MD
• Jessica Merberg, MS, GC
• Becca Miller, MS, CGC

Orthopedics

• George Gantsoudes, MD
• Laura Gill-Sealy, MD
• Emily Hattwick, MD

Palliative Care

• Alva Roche-Green, MD
• Candyce Greene, MD
• Kirsten Smith, NP
• Rebecca Rebstock, SW

Pediatric Nephrology

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

Pediatric Urology

• Daniel Casella, MD
• Christina Ho, MD
• Hans Pohl, MD
• Rachel Selekman, MD
• Briony Varda, MD

Social Work

• Christine Tran, MSW, LSW

Inova's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Inova L. J. Murphy Children’s Hospital is home to the region’s only Level IV, comprehensive sub-specialty NICU. For the sixth year in a row Inova L. J. Murphy Children’s Hospital NICU has been recognized for its quality care and outcomes. 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

The Congenital Heart Program at Inova L. J. Murphy Children’s Hospital has been caring for the hearts of our region’s children for more than 25 years. Board-certified pediatric cardiologists, electrophysiologists, anesthesiologists, radiologists, and congenital cardiac surgeons have dedicated their practice 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 approximately 300 surgeries with outcomes that outperform national benchmarks and standards.

Inova Children’s Neuroscience Program

Inova Children’s 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 Neuroscience Institute, 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 follow-up.

The 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 the surgical and non-surgical treatment of spina bifida, hydrocephalus, chiari malformation, tethered spinal cord, encephalocele and intracranial cysts.

Inova Children’s 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, ENTs, dentists, audiologists, and speech and language pathologists see patients in a coordinated clinic model, led by a nurse navigator.

The Craniofacial Program is skilled in the treatment of cleft lip/palate, craniosynostosis, hemifacial microsomia, Pierre Robin sequence, and other craniofacial abnormalities.

Inova Children’s Hospital Genetics and Genetic Counseling

All levels of testing are available

First trimester ultrasounds, comprehensive Level II ultrasound scans along with 3D and 4D ultrasounds are available through the Obstetricians and Maternal Fetal Medicine community practitioners who partner with the Fetal Care Center. Invasive diagnostic testing includes chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis. Noninvasive screening includes First Trimester Screen (nuchal translucency), cell free DNA (NIPT), and Carrier Screening per ACOG recommendations.

Learn more about the Antenatal Testing Center here.

How to refer to the Fetal Care Center

Use any of these channels to refer a patient to Inova L. J. Murphy Children's Hospital Fetal Care Center:

• Email FetalCare@inova.org
• Call 703-776-6371
• Fax a completed referral form to 703-776-6591