Meharry’s Pediatrics Clinic, in partnership with Nashville General Hospital, hosted its first Rubber Duckie Kickoff: Celebrate & Remember Babies on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, in the Busby Garden.
Held on World Prematurity Day, the event brought together families, clinical teams and community partners to honor the babies delivered at Nashville General Hospital throughout the year. From January through November 2025, more than 270 babies were welcomed into the world by care teams at Meharry Pediatrics Clinic and Nashville General Hospital.
“This awareness is important because we know that babies born too soon face many risks, both immediate and long term,” said Dr. Leslie Appiah, professor and chair of the Meharry Obstetrics & Gynecology Department. “The effects extend far beyond the NICU. They impact a child’s ability to learn, they affect family finances and they influence the future health and productivity of our communities.”
Dr. Xylina Bean, chair of the Meharry Pediatrics Department and chief of neonatology at Nashville General Hospital, emphasized the power of prenatal care.
“Prenatal care is not magic. Prenatal care treats treatable diseases. It educates patients and hopefully improves outcomes,” Bean said. “The prematurity rate in Tennessee is about twice that of many other states, approximately 11 percent. Prematurity rates among African Americans are 1.5 times higher than that.”
Prematurity remains a pressing public health issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 10 babies in the United States is born prematurely each year. Premature birth is the leading cause of infant death and is linked to long-term health complications. Events like the Rubber Duckie Kickoff help raise awareness, support families and highlight the ongoing work needed to improve maternal and infant health outcomes nationwide.
Meharry Medical Group is accepting new patients. Learn more at meharry.edu/mmg.
To see photos from the event , visit https://meharrymedicalcollege.smugmug.com/World-Prematurity-Day-.
Written by Brandon Marshall, communications director, Meharry School of Medicine
