Retired doctor donates $1M to HSHS NICU

Former HSHS anesthesiologist Dr. Babu Prasad has donated $1 million to St. John’s Children’s Hospital to celebrate his 80^th birthday.

Dr. Beau Batton, director of newborn services at HSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital, said the donation will fund upgrades to specialized respiratory and temperature control equipment that’s critical for transporting newborns in need of medical care. The neonatal intensive care unit cares for about 800 babies each year, with about 45 newborn inpatients on any given day, Batton said.

“One of the many things we do around here is provide neonatal transport from essentially two hours in every direction. Sometimes those transports are by helicopter and sometimes those transports are by ground,” Batton said. “We do about 150 of these transports a year.”

Aryn Hunter, chief administrative officer at HSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital, said the hospital’s NICU is a lifeline for young families across much of central Illinois.

“Dr. Prasad’s gift will help provide lifesaving equipment and technology including an additional temperature-controlled, encased bed specifically crafted for ambulances transporting newborns to the children’s hospital from outlying areas,” Hunter said.

Prasad retired more than 20 years ago from a career in anesthesiology and previously donated $1 million to the neonatal intensive care unit in 2020.

“I want to make Springfield one of the best cities to live here in the country,” he said. “I am blessed to be here; I am blessed to be a part of St. John’s Hospital… we should hope others will come forward and help the community,” Prasad said.

Ali Farmer, director of the HSHS St. John’s Foundation, praised the former anesthesiologist’s journey and generosity.

“Dr. Prasad arrived in the United States from India in 1971 with little more than his medical degree and the hope of building a new life here. He found opportunity here. He built a distinguished career at St. John’s Hospital and has chosen to extend the same promise of opportunity to babies beginning their life here,” she said.

Some of the donation will also go toward supporting other NICU programs the hospital offers, such as home care.