In 1994, Dr Srinivas Bolisetty came to Australia from India as a young paediatric trainee.

Over the three decades since, he's dedicated his career to newborn intensive care.

Dr Bolisetty is a senior newborn specialist and the medical director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney – the largest NICU in the state responsible for looking after the most vulnerable newborn infants.

“We receive babies with the most complex problems from across the state, often requiring intricate surgeries on their tiny bodies,” Dr Bolisetty explains.

“Our primary role is to give these infants the best possible start to life and provide support for their families every step of the way.”

Dr Bolisetty and his team also volunteer their time to develop and standardise evidence-based clinical guidelines for other NICUs across the country though the Australasian Neonatal Medicines Formulary and other work on neonatal parenteral nutrition.

For his work, Dr Srinivas Bolisetty was awarded the Public Service Medal for outstanding public service to NSW health, particularly in neonatal services, in The King’s Birthday 2025 Honours list.

“What truly motivates me is seeing the remarkable resilience of the newborn infants and the incredible strength of their families. Every day, I witness a powerful fight for life,” Dr Bolisetty says.

“The tiniest babies, often weighing less than a kilo, demonstrate a will to survive that is simply awe-inspiring. My role is to be a part of that journey, to provide expert care and a sense of hope during what can be the most frightening time in a family’s life.

“Knowing that the work my team and I do can make a tangible difference – helping a baby grow strong enough to go home and begin their life – is the ultimate reward.”

Dr Bolisetty says he never went about the work expecting an award like this.

“I see this recognition as a reflection of the amazing team I work with in the NICU. We all share a commitment to caring for our most vulnerable patients,” he says.

“When I think about the work we do, it’s not for the recognition – it’s for the babies and their families.

“[The recognition] will also help shine a light on the critical role of nurses, pharmacists, doctors, and other healthcare professionals who work tirelessly behind the scenes in newborn units across Australia.

“The award is powerful validation of the work my team and I do every day.”