Nemours Children’s Hospital launches new Institute for Maternal Fetal Health to expand early treatment for complex pregnancies

The institute at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Delaware will be led by Dr. Julie S. Moldenhauer, a nationally recognized maternal-fetal medicine specialist and fetal interventionalist

WILMINGTON — Nemours Children’s Health on Wednesday announced the launch of its new Institute for Maternal Fetal Health, a program designed to diagnose and treat medical conditions in babies before birth while providing comprehensive support for expectant mothers. The institute’s first clinical location will open at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware in early 2026.

The launch reflects the health system’s growing focus on early intervention and whole-child care. Nemours — one of the nation’s largest multistate pediatric systems, with two freestanding children’s hospitals and more than 70 primary and specialty practices — has increasingly expanded its prenatal and fetal expertise in recent years. The organization was founded through the philanthropy of Alfred I. duPont and is known nationally for pediatric clinical care, research, and educational programs as well as KidsHealth, the world’s most-visited online resource for family health information.

“This launch ushers in a new era of cutting-edge care for mothers carrying fetuses with known congenital anomalies,” said Dr. R. Lawrence Moss, president and CEO of Nemours Children’s Health. “Our commitment is to deliver state-of-the-art fetal interventions while surrounding the whole family with robust psychosocial support.”

New leadership and expanded resources

The institute will be led by Dr. Julie S. Moldenhauer, a nationally recognized maternal-fetal medicine specialist and fetal interventionalist. Moldenhauer, who is triple-board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, maternal-fetal medicine and clinical genetics, will serve as the institute’s inaugural executive director.

She also holds the newly created Elizabeth W. Snyder Endowed Chair in Fetal Therapy and Innovation, a position supported by local philanthropist and businesswoman Elizabeth W. Snyder. The endowed chair is intended to help Nemours advance research, diagnostic capabilities, and innovative fetal therapies that support families navigating complex diagnoses.

“I’m thrilled to lead the new Institute for Maternal Fetal Health at Nemours Children’s and to further advance research and fetal intervention in this rapidly evolving field,” Moldenhauer said. “Our goal is to transform a prenatal diagnosis into a positive outcome while recognizing the emotional needs of each expectant mother and her family.”

State-of-the-art care designed to keep mothers and babies close

When the institute opens, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware will offer a comprehensive suite of maternal-fetal services, including multimodal fetal imaging, prenatal diagnostics, fetal surgical intervention, advanced genetic evaluation, and coordinated neonatal care supported by pediatric subspecialists throughout the hospital.

Expectant mothers will deliver in the hospital’s Advanced Delivery Unit, located just steps away from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Nemours leaders say this proximity is critical for medically fragile newborns and helps reduce stress for families during the earliest — and often most uncertain — moments after birth.

The institute is designed to create a calming, wellness-focused environment for parents, addressing concerns that families receiving a fetal diagnosis often feel disconnected from their anticipated birth experience.

Part of a growing national footprint

The new institute supports Nemours’ broader mission to expand high-quality pediatric care beyond traditional hospital settings and into more community-based and early-intervention services. Nemours has also gained national visibility through its Well Beyond Medicine podcast, which highlights programs and partnerships addressing whole-child health.

With the launch of the maternal-fetal institute, Nemours aims to become the country’s first multi-hospital, multi-state children’s health system offering advanced fetal interventions. Over time, the program is expected to grow into one of the largest prenatal diagnosis and fetal therapy programs in the nation.

“This elite level of care will be available to every mother whose baby needs this specialized support,” said Dr. Katherine Deans, senior vice president and enterprise surgeon-in-chief at Nemours. “We believe it will have a strong impact on outcomes.”

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