Santina A Zanelli, MD

Santina Zanelli, MD, MSc, is a professor of pediatrics and a board-certified neonatologist who specializes in neurological disorders of the newborn. She is the co-director of the UVA Neuro-NICU, a multidisciplinary program aiming to improve the care of infants with congenital or acquired neurological disorders.

Her research interests include early detection of cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as well as developing family-centered strategies to improve the long-term outcomes of high-risk patients. Dr. Zanelli's areas of clinical interest include optimizing outcomes for extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants and those with severe respiratory distress, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

Born in France, Dr. Zanelli received her medical degree and a master’s degree in genetics and cytogenetics from Université Claude-Bernard in Lyon, France. She came to the United States to pursue a post-doctoral research fellowship in the field of neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and the MCP Hahnemann University School of Medicine. She completed a pediatrics residency at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a neonatology fellowship at UVA.

Dr. Zanelli is married with two children, including one in college, and enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling, reading, and going to the movies in her free time.

Gender

Female

Languages

French, English

Age Groups Seen

Infants (0-2)

Primary Education

Universite Claude Bernard, Faculte De Medecine Laennec

Residency

St. Christopher's Hospital for Children

Fellowships

Hahnemann University Hospital, University of Virginia Medical Center

Certification

American Board of Pediatrics (Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine), American Board of Pediatrics (Pediatrics)

• 2019-2020 Best Doctors in America® List