STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Richmond University Medical Center has been awarded $2 million in federal funding to help renovate its neonatal intensive care unit, officials announced this week.
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand secured the funding as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 federal spending package signed into law last week. The money will support ongoing renovations to the Wayne Zenna Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which serves one of the highest-risk newborn populations in the country.
The federal dollars represent part of a larger $5.6 million renovation project currently underway at the Staten Island hospital.
The project will expand the unit’s 5,600-square-foot footprint and add 18 private care bays, a renovated nursing station, a fully equipped isolation room and an expanded waiting area for families.
Hospital officials expect the work to be completed by late 2026 or early 2027.
“This investment will transform the care environment for our smallest and most vulnerable patients,” said Daniel J. Messina, the hospital’s president and chief executive officer. “It strengthens our mission to provide exceptional, compassionate care to the Staten Island community and represents a significant step forward in improving health outcomes for newborns and their families.”
The Wayne Zenna NICU treats a significantly higher percentage of low-birthweight babies compared to the national average.
As a Level III facility, the unit provides critical care for premature newborns, including those born before 32 weeks gestation and infants with complex medical conditions. The unit has treated infants weighing as little as one pound and maintains one of the highest survival rates in the country at 997 out of every 1,000 newborns admitted.
Schumer said the modernization will help staff provide more efficient care for vulnerable newborns and families.
“I’m proud to deliver this $2 million federal investment that will bolster RUMC’s quality of care and support their critical, lifesaving work, and help meet the healthcare needs of Staten Islanders,” he said.
Dr. Santosh Parob, chief of neonatology at Richmond University Medical Center, said the funding will allow the hospital to create a more family-centered environment. “Because of this advocacy, we will be able to deliver even higher-quality care to the infants and families who need it most,” he said.