The
Care Team

Henry S. “Kip” Smith IV, MD, FAAP is a 1999 graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. He completed both his residency in pediatrics and fellowship in neonatology at the University of Louisville, Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. Dr. Smith is board certified in pediatrics and sub-board certified in neonatal-perinatal medicine.

Amanda L. Searle, APRN, NNP, received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1986 and a Masters in Nursing in the specialty of Neonatal Nurse Practitioner from Louisiana State University Medical Center in 1994 Sciences Center. She was certified as a Neonatal Nurse by the National Certification Corporation in 1994.

Penny W. Blanchard, APRN, NNP, received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1985 and a Masters in Nursing with a dual focus of Neonatal Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist in 1995 from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. She was certified as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner from the National Certification Corporation in 1995.

Lee G. Brown, APRN, NNP, received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville in 1990 and a Masters in Nursing in the Maternal Infant Nursing-Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Option from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1993. She was certified as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner by the National Certification Corporation in 1994.

Amber B. Verdun, APRN, NNP, received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2008 and a Masters in Nursing in the specialty of Neonatal Nurse Practitioner from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in 2011. She was certified as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner by the National Certification Corporation in 2011.

Michele Thibodeaux, APRN, NNP, received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Louisiana State University School of Nursing in 1990. Michele completed the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program at Georgetown University in Washington, DC in 1994. She was certified as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner from the National Certification Corporation in 1994.

Emma L. Hodgkins, APRN, NNP, received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Tennessee in 2007 and a Masters in Nursing in the specialty of Neonatal Nurse Practitioner from Vanderbilt University in 2016. She was certified as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner by the National Certification Corporation in 2016.

Catherine M. Marcus, APRN, NNP, received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from William Carey College of Nursing in New Orleans, LA in 1991 and a Masters of Science in Nursing from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans in 2006. She was certified as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner by the National Certification Corporation in 2007.

Michelle L. Cambias, APRN, NNP, received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1990 from Louisiana State University School of Nursing. Michelle completed the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program at Georgetown University in Washington, DC in 1994. She was certified as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner from the National Certification Corporation in 1994.

LaVonna Parham, APRN, NNP, graduated from University of Alabama at Birmingham with degrees in Respiratory Therapy in August, 2011, Bachelor of Science in Nursing in August, 2016 and Master of Science in Nursing in August 2016. LaVonna received her certification as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner from the National Certification Corporation in 2020.

Stephanie S. Turner, MD, FAAP is a 2011 graduate of Meharry Medical College. She completed both her residency in pediatrics and fellowship in neonatology at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center. Dr. Turner is board certified in pediatrics and sub-board certified in neonatal-perinatal medicine.

Rebecca S. Walsh, M.D., is a Neonatologist at InfaMedics specializing in providing intensive care for critically ill and premature neonates. She attended the American University of the Caribbean in Saint Maarten, Netherland Antilles, for medical school and completed her residency at Beaumont Children’s Hospital in Royal Oak, MI, followed by a fellowship at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, OH. Dr. Walsh emphasizes the importance of teamwork between parents and the medical team when a baby is in the NICU. The ultimate goal is to ensure the safe discharge of the baby, and the care parents provide in the NICU is equally crucial to the medical care provided by the professionals.

Aimee Arceneaux, APRN, NNP received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2012 and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of South Alabama in 2021. She was certified as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner by the National Certification Corporation in 2022.

Claire Roethele, PA-C, received her Bachelor of Science from Louisiana State University In 2016. Claire completed the Masters of Medical Science from Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University in Baton Rouge, LA in 2020. She received her certification as a Physician Assistant from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants on June 1, 2020. She completed 12 months of specialized NICU training after graduation.