FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 1, 2004--Alan R. Spitzer, M.D., a prominent neonatal researcher and academician, has accepted the position of Vice President, Research and Education, at Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. (NYSE: PDX) effective July 1, 2004. He will oversee the clinical research, continuing medical education and clinical quality initiatives for the national physician group practice.

Dr. Spitzer is a prolific neonatal researcher. He is the author of a popular neonatal textbook, Intensive Care of the Fetus and Newborn, and has collaborated on more than 200 peer-reviewed research articles and textbook chapters during his career.

He has been a practicing neonatologist for more than 25 years, and most recently served as Chief of the Division of Neonatology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and as Professor of Pediatrics at Stony Brook.

"Throughout my academic and clinical career, I've helped children directly under my care, and helped children indirectly through research efforts," said Dr. Spitzer. "There is a unique opportunity at Pediatrix to build on the excellent programs that are in place. Through their large network of practicing physicians and their extensive database of clinical outcomes, there is an opportunity to have a much broader influence on our ability, as physicians, to more fully understand the care and treatment of critically-ill newborns."

Pediatrix Medical Group established its research and education efforts in 1996 to create a platform for physician education, clinical research, and clinical quality improvement. Pediatrix maintains a robust clinical outcomes database, Research Data System, that now includes from more than 180,000 patients cared for by its physicians. This database has been used to conduct retrospective queries and to shape prospective research in neonatal and maternal-fetal medicine.

Pediatrix has sponsored and completed two multi-center research trials, one focused on the impact of the nutritional substance glutamine on hospital-borne infection, the other on the causes of death in near-term neonates. Additional research, sponsored by both Pediatrix and outside private sources, is ongoing.

Physicians, nurse practitioners, and neonatal nurses worldwide receive continuing medical education from Pediatrix's on-line university, available at www.pediatrixu.com. Physicians practicing as part of Pediatrix have also completed several clinical quality initiatives using the principles of best-demonstrated processes to improve specific outcomes, including weight gain among very low-birth weight babies.

"We believe that our national group practice provides physicians with a unique platform at several levels, including both an opportunity to track our clinical experiences and analyze that data, as well as a responsibility to our patients, hospital partners and payors to share our findings with the neonatal and maternal-fetal community in a way that improves patient outcomes," said Roger J. Medel, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Pediatrix. "We look forward to the leadership that Alan will bring to Pediatrix in terms of finding answers to challenging clinical questions, and to constantly expand the body of knowledge within our medical subspecialties."

Dr. Spitzer earned his undergraduate degree from New Jersey's Rutgers University and graduated from University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He completed his pediatric residency at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and his neonatal fellowship at University of California at San Francisco.

After completing his formal training, Dr. Spitzer joined the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, where he also served as a staff neonatologist. During his 11-year tenure there he assumed positions of increased responsibility, including as Senior Physician of the Division of Neonatology at Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania.

In 1989 he became Professor of Pediatrics at Jefferson Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, and Chief of Neonatology at Philadelphia's Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

    He joined the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1999.

    About Pediatrix

Pediatrix was founded in 1979. Pediatrix physicians are reshaping the delivery of maternal-fetal and newborn care, identifying best demonstrated processes and participating in clinical research to enhance patient outcomes and provide high-quality, cost-effective care. Its neonatal physicians provide services at more than 200 NICUs, and through Obstetrix, its perinatal physicians provide services in many markets where Pediatrix's neonatal physicians practice. Combined, Pediatrix and its affiliated professional corporations employ more than 690 physicians in 30 states and Puerto Rico. Pediatrix is also the nation's largest provider of newborn hearing screens and newborn metabolic screening. Additional information is available at www.pediatrix.com.

CONTACT: Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc., Fort Lauderdale
Bob Kneeley, 954-384-0175, x-5300
bob_kneeley@pediatrix.com

SOURCE: Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc.