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DrNB Superspecialty · Book Guide

Books for DrNB Neonatology.

The NBE curriculum list, reproduced exactly, plus the editions residents actually read in 2026 — with journals, a year-wise reading plan, and the references you will need for your thesis and exit practical.

22Titles on the NBE list
9Current-edition picks
17Journals listed
3 yearsReading plan included

Doing the DM instead? The same superspecialty is covered at DM Neonatology books.

Official list

Books the NBE curriculum lists for DrNB Neonatology

These 22 titles are reproduced as they appear in the National Board of Examinations curriculum document for Neonatology — spelling and abbreviations included. Treat it as the scope anchor, not as a shopping list.

  1. Neonatal -Perinatal Medicine Diseases of the fetus and infant Avroy A Fanaroff Richard J Martin
  2. Neonatology Pathophysiology & Management of the Newborn Gordon Avery Mary Ann Fletcher M.G. MacDonald
  3. Avery Diseases of Newborn S. Avery Taeusch Ballard
  4. Polin & Fox Fetal and Neonatal Physiology Richard A Polin William W Fox
  5. Roberton's Textbook of Neonatology Janet M Rennie N.R.C Roberton
  6. Neonatology Principles and Practice Dipak K. Guha
  7. Manual of Neonatal Care John P. Cloherty
  8. Neonatology Management, Procedures, On call problems Diseases And Drugs Tricia Lacy Gomella
  9. Breastfeeding A Guide to the Medical Profession Ruth A. Lawrence Robert M. Lawrence
  10. Physical Diagnosis in Neonatology Mary Ann Fletcher
  11. Nelson's Textbook of Neonatology Behrman Kleigman Arvin
  12. Assisted Ventilation of the Neonate Jay P. Goldsmith Edward H. Karotkin
  13. Infectious Diseases of the Fetus & Newborn Infant Remington & Klein
  14. Neurology of Newborn Joseph J. Volpe
  15. Smith's Recognizable Patterns of Human Malformations Kenneth Lyons Jones
  16. Moss and Adams Heart Disease in Infants, Children, & Adolescents Including the Fetus & Young Adult Emmanouilides Riemenschneider Allen & Gutgesell
  17. The Clinical Recognition of Congenital Heart Disease Joseph K. Perloff
  18. Pediatric Cardiology Myung Park
  19. Pediatric Hematology Nathan , Oski
  20. Medical disorders In Obstetric Practice Michel Deswite
  21. Neonatal drug formulary
  22. Textbook of Preventive & Social Medicine Park
Read this before you buy. Curriculum documents are revised infrequently, so several entries name editions that are now years out of date and a few titles are out of print. Use the list to understand what you are expected to have covered, then buy the current edition from the next section.

Source: National Board of Examinations curriculum document for Neonatology

What residents actually use

Current editions, and what each one is for

The books most residents actually buy. These are the editions in circulation now, with a note on whether each is something you read through, keep as a reference, or open only for the viva.

  1. Fanaroff and Martin's Neonatal-Perinatal MedicineMartin, Fanaroff, Walsh · 12th edition · core referenceThe definitive two-volume neonatology reference for theory-level depth.
  2. Cloherty and Stark's Manual of Neonatal CareEichenwald, Hansen, Martin, Stark · 9th edition · bedside manualThe most used practical manual in Indian NICUs and the best day-to-day resource.
  3. Gomella's Neonatology: Management, Procedures, On-Call Problems, Diseases, and DrugsGomella, Eyal, Bany-Mohammed · 8th edition · on-call handbookProblem-based structure that maps closely onto viva scenarios.
  4. Assisted Ventilation of the NeonateGoldsmith, Karotkin, Keszler, Suresh · 7th edition · ventilation referenceCore text for conventional, HFOV and non-invasive ventilation questions.
  5. Avery's Diseases of the NewbornGleason, Sawyer · 11th edition · comprehensive referenceStrong alternative reference, particularly for pulmonary and developmental topics.
  6. Volpe's Neurology of the NewbornVolpe, Inder, Darras et al. · 7th edition · neonatal neurologyStandard for HIE, neonatal seizures and cranial ultrasound interpretation.
  7. Fetal and Neonatal PhysiologyPolin, Abman, Rowitch, Benitz · 6th edition · physiology referenceDepth on transitional and developmental physiology used in theory answers.
  8. Remington and Klein's Infectious Diseases of the Fetus and Newborn InfantWilson, Nizet, Maldonado et al. · 8th edition · infection referenceReference for congenital infections and neonatal sepsis.
  9. AIIMS/NNF Protocols in Neonatology and NNF Evidence-Based Clinical Practice GuidelinesNational Neonatology Forum India · Indian protocol setIndian examiners expect answers aligned with NNF and national protocols.
Journals

Journals that matter in Neonatology

Journal club and the recent-advances parts of the theory paper come from here. You do not need all of them — follow one Indian and two international titles properly.

Archives Diseases of Childhood: Fetal & Neonatal editionThe Journal of PediatricsPediatrics (English Edition)Indian Journal of PediatricsIndian PediatricsClinics in PerinatologyJournal of NeonatologyJournal of PerinatologyPediatrics TodayArchives of Pediatrics and Adolescent MedicinePediatric Clinics of North AmericaPediatric Clinics of IndiaRecent Advances in PaediatricsSeminars in NeonatologySeminars in PerinatologyThe Year Book of PediatricsActa Paediatrica: an international journal of Paediatrics
Reading plan

What to read, and when

Three years of superspecialty training goes faster than it sounds, and most of it is spent on the floor. The order below is what works for most DrNB Neonatology residents.

Year 1

Build the base

Work from Cloherty and Gomella for daily care while reading Fanaroff systematically; master NRP and NNF protocols. Register the thesis.

Year 2

Go deep, collect thesis data

Add Goldsmith for ventilation during the intensive care posting, Volpe for neuro cases, and Polin/Fox for physiology depth. Follow Cochrane Neonatal reviews.

Year 3

Revise, drill, submit

Revise Fanaroff selectively, consolidate NNF guidelines, drill radiograph/cranial ultrasound spots and equipment viva, and practise timed short notes.

Thesis

References for your thesis

Protocol, methodology and reporting standards examiners expect you to have followed.

  • ICMR National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research Involving Human Participants
  • NNF Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines
  • CONSORT and STROBE reporting statements
  • Cochrane Neonatal reviews
  • Indian Pediatrics and Journal of Neonatology for local data
Practical & viva

What the practical actually tests

Cases, spotters and stations that come up again and again in the exit exam.

  • Long case: preterm or sick neonate with full gestational assessment and management plan
  • Short cases: dysmorphism, congenital malformations, neurological examination of the newborn
  • New Ballard scoring and growth chart plotting
  • Neonatal resuscitation (NRP) demonstration on manikin
  • Ventilator settings, blood gas interpretation and troubleshooting
  • Cranial ultrasound, chest and abdominal radiograph spots
  • Procedures: umbilical catheterisation, exchange transfusion, lumbar puncture, chest drain
  • Equipment viva: incubator, CPAP devices, phototherapy, transport ventilator, pulse oximeter
About the course

DrNB Neonatology in context

DrNB Neonatology theory is three papers of 100 marks and three hours each in short-notes format, requiring 150/300 to pass, with a separate 300-mark practical taken after theory. The practical uses clinical cases and/or OSCE plus viva. Neonatology practicals characteristically include gestational assessment, NRP demonstration, ventilator and blood gas troubleshooting, and an equipment station.

Frequently asked

DrNB Neonatology books — questions

Which books does the NBE curriculum list for DrNB Neonatology?

The National Board of Examinations curriculum for Neonatology lists 22 titles, beginning with Neonatal -Perinatal Medicine Diseases of the fetus and infant Avroy A Fanaroff Richard J Martin. The full list is reproduced on this page exactly as it is published.

Which single book should I start with in DrNB Neonatology?

Fanaroff and Martin's Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine by Martin, Fanaroff, Walsh is the usual anchor. The definitive two-volume neonatology reference for theory-level depth.

How is DrNB Neonatology different from the DNB or MD version?

DrNB Neonatology is a superspecialty course taken after a broad-specialty MD, MS or DNB, so the reading is narrower and deeper. The broad-specialty texts are assumed knowledge by the time you start.

Do I need to buy every book listed?

No. Most residents own two or three and use the department or library copy for the rest. That is exactly why printing selected chapters from a PDF works out cheaper than buying volumes you will open twice.

Can you print these books for me?

We print from the PDF you send us. Send the file on WhatsApp with your page count and whether you want colour, black and white or mixed, and we print, bind and deliver anywhere in India. We do not supply copyrighted book files.

How much does printing cost?

Black and white is 50 paise a page, colour is Rs 1 a page, and binding is Rs 40 per bound volume. A 400-page mixed set with binding usually works out around Rs 300 plus delivery.

Printing your DrNB Neonatology reading?

Send the PDF on WhatsApp — colour Rs 1/page, B&W 50p/page, binding Rs 40. Printed, bound and delivered anywhere in India.

Other superspecialties

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