Advancing newborn care: Better starts through innovation and collaboration

Dr Sarah Al Faraj

Dr. Sarah Alfaraj is an Infection Control expert and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Consultant with extensive experience in advancing patient safety, infection prevention, and healthcare quality improvement. She is affiliated with Alfaisal University and has undertaken advanced postgraduate training at The University of British Columbia, reflecting her commitment to excellence in clinical practice, education, and research. Throughout her career, Dr. Alfaraj has championed evidence-based strategies to strengthen infection prevention programs and improve outcomes for vulnerable patient populations. She is a passionate advocate for multidisciplinary collaboration, staff development, and cultivating a culture of safety within healthcare organizations. Her leadership has supported innovative initiatives in infection prevention, quality improvement, and healthcare transformation, while actively contributing to professional education and knowledge sharing. Dr. Alfaraj is widely recognized for promoting patient safety through continuous improvement, clinical excellence, and collaborative leadership. As a presenter at the International Hospital Federation (IHF) Awards, she shares practical insights into implementing sustainable, evidence-based interventions that enhance healthcare quality and patient outcomes, inspiring organizations to adopt innovative approaches that create lasting improvements in safety, reliability, and excellence in care.

Dr Jia Ming Low

Dr Low Jia Ming is a Consultant Neonatologist at the National University Hospital (NUH), Singapore, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. She is currently pursuing a PhD focused on maternal–infant immunity and human milk immunology. Her research interests span maternal vaccination, breast milk immunology, neonatal infectious diseases, and translational immunology.

Beyond immunology research, Dr Low has led several quality improvement and innovation initiatives in neonatal care, including infection prevention and sustainability projects within the NICU. Her long-term goal is to develop a translational research programme focused on maternal–infant immunity, mucosal immunology, and vaccine-mediated protection during early life, with the aim of improving health outcomes for infants and children.

Ms Sharifa Nooruddin

Sharifa Nooruddin is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) in 2019 and Master of Science in Nursing (MScN) in 2024 from The Aga Khan University.

She has over six years of experience in neonatal intensive care and has conducted multiple training programs for neonatal nurses. She has also led quality improvement initiatives focused on implementing evidence-based practices to enhance the quality of newborn care.
She contributed to the establishment of a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at The Aga Khan Maternal and Child Care Center, Hyderabad, applying her clinical expertise to strengthen neonatal services and improve the quality of care provided to newborns.

Ms Mary Jane Palacay

Mary Jane Palacay, is an Administrative Officer engaged in program implementation, administrative management, and organizational operations within public health initiatives. She holds a Master in Business Administration and provides administrative and technical support to programs that strengthen newborn screening services and improve access to timely healthcare interventions for infants and families.

Her work involves coordinating activities, facilitating documentation and reporting requirements, supporting stakeholder engagement, and contributing to the successful implementation of newborn screening and capacity-building initiatives. Her professional interests include strategic management, process improvement, and innovative approaches that enhance healthcare service delivery and organizational efficiency.

Through her role, Ms. Palacay supports initiatives that strengthen health systems, promote workforce development, and enhance the quality, accessibility, and effectiveness of newborn screening services.

Mr John Kristoffer Sacro

John Kristoffer B. Sacro, RN is a Program Development Officer II at the Newborn Screening Center – Northern Luzon (NSC-NL), hosted by the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Batac City, Ilocos Norte. He is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Community Health Development at Benguet State University in La Trinidad, Benguet. As a registered nurse and public health professional, he has been actively involved in implementing, monitoring, and continuously improving the Newborn Screening Program across Northern Luzon. His work focuses on strengthening program operations, enhancing service delivery, and promoting quality assurance initiatives that contribute to the timely detection and management of congenital disorders among Filipino newborns. Furthermore, He actively contributes to program evaluation, research, and data management to drive evidence-based health outcomes. Dedicated to service excellence, Mr. Sacro remains committed to advancing equitable access to newborn screening, fostering partnership collaboration, and ensuring early detection and comprehensive follow-up care for every Filipino child.