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UPMC Newborn Medicine Program - New Faculty Profile: Shayla Percy, MD

June 24, 2025

Shayla Percy, MD, will join the UPMC Newborn Medicine Program as assistant professor of pediatrics in July 2025 following completion of her fellowship in neonatal-perinatal medicine at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. In addition to her clinical appointment, she will serve as associate medical director of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital.

"I will be splitting my time approximately 50-50 between UPMC Children’s and UPMC Magee initially, with plans to eventually spend more time at UPMC Magee," says Dr. Percy.

In her administrative role, Dr. Percy will focus on triage coordination across neonatal services, working to streamline care delivery for patients who transition between the neonatal intensive care unit, newborn nursery, and related services.

"The goal is for me to focus much of my administrative time on triage and to help ensure seamless coordination across these services. The full scope of the role will evolve as I begin my faculty appointment," says Dr. Percy.

A Lifelong Interest in Neonatology

Dr. Percy’s interest in neonatology began early on as a child

"When I was a kid, about seven, I actually told everyone I wanted to be a neonatologist. This was because I had a cousin who was born prematurely at 24 weeks, and I guess the experience really had an impact on me,” says Dr. Percy. 

While the experience was well in the past by the time Dr. Percy entered medical school and then residency training at UPMC, her first clinical rotation as a resident was in the neonatal intensive care unit. That work, coupled with her childhood experience confirmed her decision to pursue neonatology as a career.

"The NICU was my first ever rotation in residency, and it was so cool. I think what really drew me in was the longitudinal relationships you get with patients. I was there for a month and had the same patients for most of that time and really got to know them and their families," says Dr. Percy. "As I continued through residency, nothing else held the same interest as that first rotation, and I ended up going down the route of neonatal-perinatal medicine."

Clinical Training and Fellowship Experience

A native of Butler, Pennsylvania, which is a short distance north from Pittsburgh, Dr. Percy completed her undergraduate education at Thiel College in Greenville, Pennsylvania, before earning her medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin. She returned to Pittsburgh for her residency and fellowship training at UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Originally, Dr. Percy intended to pursue a career in private practice neonatology at a level III NICU setting. "My initial goal was actually to go into level three private practice. As I was doing the interview process, I realized I was going to miss academics too much," says Dr. Percy. This decision led her to remain at UPMC and subsequently stay on as a faculty member after completing her training.

During her fellowship, Dr. Percy developed an interest in the care of premature infants at risk for metabolic bone disease, a condition that arises when mineral deposition in utero is interrupted due to preterm birth. Mineral uptake, particularly of calcium and phosphorus, accelerates during the third trimester. Infants born prematurely often miss this crucial period of mineralization, which can lead to impaired bone strength and downstream consequences.

"In severe cases, these infants may experience fragility fractures where normal body movements are sufficient to break their bones, says Dr. Percy. “That in itself is a terrible thing to endure. But, respiratory complications can also occur because weakened rib structures may prolong the need for mechanical ventilation. There is also some evidence that bone disease in infancy may influence overall growth trajectories in childhood," says Dr. Percy.

Dr. Percy was involved in a quality improvement initiative during fellowship aimed at reducing fracture rates among extremely premature infants born at UPMC Magee. This work focused on optimizing nutritional strategies and mineral supplementation to improve bone strength and reduce clinical complications.

"We have seen improvements in fracture rates, but there remains opportunity to refine nutritional protocols and early interventions to better support bone health in this vulnerable population," says Dr. Percy.

While research will not be a primary focus of her faculty role, Dr. Percy brings clinical expertise from her fellowship experience that will inform her ongoing care of premature infants with complex nutritional and metabolic needs.

"Metabolic bone disease intersects with many aspects of neonatal care, particularly nutrition and growth, and it is an area that will continue to inform my clinical practice," says Dr. Percy.