April 28, 2025 – HCA Florida University Hospital welcomed more than 120 families back to the hospital on Saturday, April 26, for its first-ever Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) reunion since opening its doors in 2021. The joyful event brought together former NICU graduates, their parents, and the team of nurses, physicians, and support staff who once cared for them during their earliest and most fragile days.
“Our NICU team provides extraordinary care to our tiniest and most vulnerable patients, and it’s incredibly meaningful to see them come back healthy and strong,” said Neva Spencer, Chief Nursing Officer at HCA Florida University Hospital. “This is why we do what we do – to give our families hope, healing, and happy futures.”
Board-certified neonatologists lead the Level III NICU. Infants also receive care from other specialists, including neonatal nurses, respiratory therapists, and pharmacists. HCA Florida University Hospital also features subspecialties in heart care, neurological care, endocrinology, ophthalmology, orthopedic and ear, nose and throat (ENT) care.
In just over three years, the hospital’s NICU has built a strong reputation for excellence. Earlier this year, HCA Healthcare recognized HCA Florida University Hospital’s NICU as a 2024 Unit of Distinction Top Performer — earning the title of the #1 NICU across the entire HCA Healthcare system.
“This reunion is truly special,” said Dr. Michael Stern, Neonatologist at HCA Florida University Hospital. “Each child here today represents a story of strength and hope. Seeing so many of our NICU graduates thriving reminds us why we are so passionate about the work we do every day.”
Throughout the day, families enjoyed music, games, face painting, and refreshments, creating new memories while celebrating how far their children have come.
About HCA Florida University Hospital
HCA Florida University Hospital is a state-of-the-art, multi-specialty hospital that partners with top clinical leaders and uses enhanced technology to deliver exceptional patient experiences. The comprehensive medical facility provides a full range of healthcare services to Davie, FL, and its surrounding communities, including 24/7 emergency care with board-certified emergency physicians, maternity, orthopedics, oncology, neurosciences, diagnostic services, imaging, and a full range of robotic and minimally invasive surgical services. HCA Florida University Hospital features all-private patient rooms. It is located adjacent to the campus of Nova Southeastern University in Broward County. For more information on HCA Florida University Hospital, please visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.
About HCA Florida Healthcare
HCA Florida Healthcare, a part of HCA Healthcare, is a family of more than 650 affiliated sites of care, including hospitals, physician practices, freestanding emergency rooms and urgent care centers. As one of the state’s leading healthcare networks, HCA Florida Healthcare’s 11,100 experienced doctors and more than 84,000 colleagues work together to deliver equitable, evidence-based collaborative care through more than 12 million patient encounters annually. HCA Florida Healthcare is committed to improving more lives in more ways and giving back to the communities it serves. In 2024, the network provided more than $1 billion in uncompensated care and contributed more than $3.7 million to community organizations across the state. In addition, HCA Florida Healthcare offers patients access to highly trained specialists, including the state’s most comprehensive cardiovascular network. A strong advocate for the next generation of healthcare professionals, HCA Florida Healthcare is a leader in in training future healthcare professionals, offering 151 Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs at 27 different hospitals with more than 2,400 residents. For more information, please visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.
