In 2024 around 6.8 percent of all children born in Austria arrived too early—before the end of week 37 of the pregnancy. Particularly vulnerable are the 265 extremely preterm infants who were born before week 28 and require extensive intensive care. This highly specialized care can only be provided by qualified perinatal centers—like the Division of Neonatology at the Medical University of Graz. Through a unique combination of theory, evidence, clinical experience and realistic simulation training, a new format for professional development imparts physicians with the main skills required for neonatology and reanimation of preterm infants.
The challenge of preterm birth
The Graz division is a reference center in Austria and has consolidated its internationally recognized expertise in a new professional development program: The "Neonatology and Reanimation of Preterm Infant: Physiology, Evidence and Simulation Training" course was recently held at Med Uni Graz for the first time.
"With its mixture of theory based on clinical practice and science as well as intensive practical training, this course is unique in the German-speaking world and fills an important gap in neonatal professional development," says Gerhard Pichler, head of the Division of Neonatology.
From theory to realistic practice
As part of the new format, central aspects of clinical practice are conveyed in interactive lectures and case presentations. A particular emphasis was placed on the physiology of the first minutes after birth as well as innovative diagnostic and therapeutic measures in the field of neonatology. The theoretical part was supplemented by practical simulations at the Med Uni Graz Clinical Skills Center, where the participants received training in essential skills for stabilizing and reanimating preterm infants.
Positive resonance and future prospects
"The feedback from the participants was excellent. That makes us happy and validates our work, and it also means the course will be held regularly in the future," explains Lukas Mileder, senior physician for education at the Division of Neonatology and co-organizer of the course. With a total of 16 doctors from seven Austrian states, the premiere of the new format showed clearly that there is a great need for specialized professional development in this field.
Profile: Lukas Mileder
Lukas Mileder is a specialist in pediatrics and adolescent medicine with an additional specialization in neonatology and pediatric intensive care medicine. From 2018 to 2025 he was deputy head of the Clinical Skills Center at the Medical University of Graz. Currently he is head of the Paediatric Simulation Group Graz (PaeSiGG) at the Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. Very active in student education, he is the teaching coordinator for neonatology in the required modules "Gynaecology and Early Phase of Life" and "Medicine in Childhood and Adolescence." Mileder is also the deputy head of the Med Uni Graz postgraduate courses "Practitioner in Medical Simulation" and "Master of Medical Simulation" (MMS).
