Longtime Golisano Children’s Hospital leader Dr. Carl D’Angio retires after decades of transforming neonatal care and inspiring generations of physicians

Rochester, New York – When Dr. Carl D’Angio first entered the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as a young pediatrics intern, he had no idea he was stepping into what would become his life’s passion. The moment he began working with the tiniest and most vulnerable patients, something clicked. “Neonatologists tend to be people who use their hands,” he says. “And I loved everything about it.” From that day forward, his career—and his heart—belonged to newborns.

Finding His Purpose Among the Smallest Patients

D’Angio’s journey into neonatology was not something he planned, but rather something that found him. His medical training took him through many pediatric specialties, yet he always felt drawn back to the NICU, where precision, skill, and deep compassion were intertwined. After finishing his residency at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in 1987, he spent a year in London broadening his perspective, followed by three years working with the Indian Health Service. Even away from the NICU, he found himself missing the environment that had first inspired him. “That’s when I decided that I would make neonatology my career,” he recalls.

When he joined the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) in the early 1990s as a neonatology fellow, the experience changed him profoundly. The intensity of those early years—long nights, emotional highs and lows, and immense responsibility—taught him what it meant to lead with both skill and empathy. “As exhausting as it was, being the one responsible—[for] the wins and the losses—that was one of the highlights of my career,” he says.

A Career Defined by Care and Curiosity

It was also during that fellowship that D’Angio’s curiosity about the science behind care began to take shape. He started conducting his own research, developing a focus on how discoveries made in the lab could be translated directly to the bedside. “The reason I came to neonatology was patient care,” he explains. “What kept me there was the ability to develop research and new therapies to help the kids. This really started me on the rest of my career.”

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That blend of compassion and curiosity would come to define his professional life. In 2011, D’Angio became principal investigator for the combined Rochester-Buffalo Neonatal Research Network, a national consortium uniting more than a dozen major institutions. For twelve years, he led multi-site clinical trials designed to improve survival and long-term outcomes for premature infants. “Being able to work with other experts from across the nation who were interested in the same things was an incredible opportunity,” he says.

Leadership Rooted in Support and Collaboration

When D’Angio was appointed Chief of the Division of Neonatology at Golisano Children’s Hospital (GCH) in 2015, his impact reached new heights. Over the past nine years, he not only guided a nationally respected program but also helped shape the next generation of neonatologists. “What I’ve always told my team is that to lead them is to support them,” he says. “Supporting their clinical work, their research, their teaching—that has meant the world to me.”

Those who have worked with him describe a leader who leads by listening, and who views success as something shared rather than claimed. “Carl is a thoughtful mentor and staunch supporter of our division, as well as a truly exceptional person,” says Dr. Colby Day, medical director of the Golisano Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

D’Angio attributes much of the division’s success to the unique spirit of the Rochester community. “A major highlight of my work has been being at an institution that is highly collaborative,” he says. “The people in Rochester are ‘East Coast driven and Midwest nice.’ They’re ambitious, focused, and kind. It’s been really special being able to work in such a place.”

Witnessing Decades of Progress

During his career, D’Angio has watched neonatology evolve in ways that once seemed unimaginable. When he began, babies born at 24 weeks of gestation were considered barely viable. Today, infants born as early as 22 weeks can survive—and often thrive—thanks to advances in technology and care. “When you’re in the trenches day-to-day, it’s hard to see the change. But when you step back, the transformation is staggering,” he reflects.

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Under his leadership, the Golisano Children’s Hospital NICU—caring for roughly 1,200 newborns each year—became a regional cornerstone of neonatal medicine. It remains the only NICU of its kind in the Finger Lakes region and has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report six times in the past eight years, ranking among the nation’s top 50 neonatology programs.

D’Angio’s ability to find joy even in small victories became a hallmark of his approach. He recalls one story from his fellowship years that still stands out. A premature baby, born at just 24 weeks, eventually grew strong enough to weigh one kilogram—a milestone worth celebrating. To mark the occasion, D’Angio made a tiny dumbbell using two formula bottle caps and a small metal rod. “It was a small gesture, but emblematic of what caring for these kids is about: celebrating every bit of progress.”

Passing the Torch

After decades of dedication to newborn medicine, D’Angio is stepping away from his role at Golisano Children’s Hospital to begin a new chapter in life. He and his wife will soon move to Maine to be closer to their children and four grandchildren. But even in retirement, his journey of care and service continues. In an unexpected turn, he is now training to become an Episcopal minister—a calling that, in many ways, mirrors the compassion and guidance he has always offered his patients and colleagues.

He leaves confident that the Division of Neonatology will continue to thrive under its new chief, Dr. Hitesh Deshmukh. “I can think of no one better than Dr. Deshmukh to lead the division forward,” he says. “His expertise as a physician-scientist, his kindness and collaborative spirit, and his deep commitment to advancing both patient care and discovery make him uniquely suited for this role.”

A Legacy That Lives On

For all the milestones, awards, and research breakthroughs, what defines Dr. D’Angio’s career most is the quiet, human side of his work. His leadership was never about prestige—it was about people: his patients, his team, and the families who trusted him during their most vulnerable moments. He built a division where collaboration, compassion, and scientific discovery go hand in hand, and where every success is measured in lives saved and families made whole.

Even as he leaves the NICU behind, the lessons and values he instilled remain deeply rooted in the hospital’s culture. Generations of doctors who trained under him continue his work, carrying forward his blend of skill, curiosity, and kindness.

Looking back, D’Angio’s path seems almost poetic—a career that began with a spark of curiosity in a hospital ward has evolved into a lifetime of healing, mentoring, and inspiration. His story serves as a reminder that medicine, at its best, is not only about science but also about heart.

For the countless families whose newborns passed through the Golisano Children’s Hospital NICU, and for the many colleagues who found a mentor in him, Dr. Carl D’Angio leaves behind more than a legacy—he leaves behind a spirit of hope, compassion, and enduring dedication.

And as he begins this next chapter in Maine, surrounded by family and guided by faith, the foundation he built in Rochester will continue to nurture new lives for years to come.