PINEHURST, N.C. – FirstHealth of the Carolinas is pleased to welcome Kelly Cason Driver, D.O., who will care for infants in Clarke NICU at Moore Regional Hospital.
Driver earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2012 and completed a pediatrics residency at the University of South Florida College of Medicine. She also completed a Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship at the University of South Florida.
Driver said she is excited to join FirstHealth’s Women & Children team and looks forward to caring for the system’s tiniest patients.
“I love fetal and neonatal physiology. The complicated steps that lead to the healthy development and birth of a newborn are fascinating,” Driver said.
“I love caring for this special population because of their resilience. It amazes me how much these babies can overcome. I also love working with the families. Typically, families do not expect to have to be in the NICU, and it gives me meaning and purpose to be able to help support them during a time of such stress and unknown.”
Driver said she tries to approach each patient with a whole-body approach.
“Family-centered care is so important for the best outcomes for the patient,” she said.
Dr. Laura Valleni, neonatology medical director of Clarke NICU, said Driver is a wonderful addition to the care team.
"We are delighted to welcome Dr. Driver to our NICU team and are certain that her expertise will enhance our ability to care for our ill and premature infants,” Valleni said. “She is an exceptional, dedicated and compassionate neonatologist with a focus on quality improvement as well as on family-centered neonatal care that empowers parents to take an active role in their child's health."
Driver said she knew she would pursue a career in medicine early in life.
“As a child, going to the doctor fascinated me. I knew at a very early age that I wanted to be a pediatrician, and once I learned what a NICU was, I was committed,” she said. “It was meant to be.”
Outside of work, Driver said she enjoys spending time outside with her husband and children.
More About the Clarke NICU at MRH
When your newborn needs special medical attention, you want to receive expert care and keep them close to loved ones. At the Clarke Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, you can have both.
The NICU is able to care for premature newborn babies (born at less than 37 weeks gestation) and full-term newborns with breathing problems, infections, jaundice or other problems. The 13-bed NICU is staffed by specially trained nurses and physicians.
To find out more about the Neonatal Intensive Care services at Moore Regional, please call (910) 715-2085 or visit our website.
