Dr. Jason Baxter | Advancing Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Supporting Families Through High-Risk Pregnancy
In this episode of the NICU Today Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Jason K. Baxter, MD, MSCP, FACOG, a nationally recognized Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Jefferson Health. With more than two decades of experience at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Dr. Baxter has led inpatient obstetrics, built research programs, and mentored future physicians through the Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship program.
Dr. Baxter’s path to medicine began after earning an engineering degree from Princeton University, where he met his wife, Heather. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch and completed residency and fellowship training in Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, along with a Master’s in Human Investigation. His three children were born at the very hospitals where he trained, giving him both professional and personal insight into the care of high-risk pregnancies.
Throughout his career, Dr. Baxter has authored more than 120 peer-reviewed publications and has been honored for clinical care, research, teaching, and leadership. His research interests include prediction and prevention of preterm birth, pharmacology in pregnancy, and evidence-based obstetric care. He also serves on Maternal Mortality Review Committees for both Pennsylvania and Philadelphia.
On today’s episode:
- What led Dr. Baxter to a career in Maternal-Fetal Medicine and what his role entails.
- When families can expect to be referred to Maternal-Fetal Medicine during pregnancy.
- The number-one question families ask—and what they should be asking at their first MFM appointment.
- How the medical approach to bedrest has evolved and what that means for families today.
- Understanding the care team: OB, MFM, and NICU—and whether families can request a collaborative team meeting to discuss a birth plan.
- A meaningful story from Dr. Baxter’s career and how it shaped his perspective as a clinician and leader.
- His biggest advice for families navigating high-risk pregnancy or preparing for the possibility of NICU care.
