UC Davis Health

We are proud to have been designated a Center of Excellence by the Wilson Disease Association! The award recognizes care teams that provide the highest quality care to Wilson disease patients with acute or chronic illness. We are one of eight health systems in the United States (and the second in California) to be named a Wilson Disease Center of Excellence. “This designation is a significant accomplishment by the dedicated members of our Wilson disease care team, which includes hepatology and neurology,” said the director of the center of excellence, Valentina Medici. “The award recognizes our commitment to optimizing Wilson disease care, and diagnosis and follow-up of people affected by the disease.” Learn more about this designation: https://lnkd.in/g4xe6Fze

We are #3 in the nation among public universities and #12 among all universities for how well we set graduates up for financial success in the The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse rankings released today. 🎉 The rankings, from The Wall Street Journal and its research partners College Pulse and Statista, consider how much a school improves students’ chances of graduating and their future earnings with results from student and alumni surveys on college life and diversity. Read the full report by visiting https://ucdav.is/47ftRvv. #OurUCDavis | #CollegeRankings | #GoAgs Video description: A collection of video clips featuring students, events, commencement, Gunrock the mascot, and the UC Davis campus. Various rankings information appears on-screen.

September marks Women in Medicine Month, an annual event celebrating the significant contributions of women in the healthcare field. In honor of this occasion, the UC Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research (CHPR), spotlight three exceptional women working with the center. Each of them excels as both physicians and researchers, serving as principal investigators on grants at CHPR. Learn more about their outstanding work that exemplifies the vital role women play in advancing healthcare. Q&A at the link below. UC Davis Health

It has been over a year since our Transplant Center completed its first liver transplant. During this first year, the team performed 41 liver transplants – far surpassing their initial year goal of 12-14 transplants. Most impressively, the team had a perfect 100% patient survival rate and a graft survival rate of 100%! "This success is due to the amazing work being done by our liver transplant team. We have liver surgeons, hepatologists, liver transplant anesthesiologists, advanced practitioners, transplant coordinators, nurses, financial coordinators, social workers, dietitians, pharmacists, and transplant administrators — who all work tirelessly to provide compassionate and exceptional care to our patients," said Lea K. Matsuoka, section chief for liver transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery in the Division of Transplant Surgery. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gecZrf-u

We're thrilled to share that Aubyn Stahmer, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, has been appointed director of the UC Davis MIND Institute! Stahmer is a nationally recognized expert in autism intervention. Her extensive federally funded research program emphasizes increasing access to autism services for historically marginalized communities. “I am honored to take on this new role at the MIND Institute, a truly special place that was built by families 25 years ago and attracts incredible researchers, clinicians, staff and families,” Stahmer said. "I am excited to work with the faculty and staff to develop new ways to support scientific innovation, integration of clinical services and research and increased community engagement as we move into the future.” Learn more about Aubyn Stahmer and her new role at the UC Davis MIND Institute: https://lnkd.in/gpEFP42E

Happy #NationalBowTieDay from our favorite bow-tie-rocking chair of the UC Davis Health Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. R. Lor Randall! Dr. Randall enjoys how the bow tie enhances his outfit and believes it provides a mental boost. “When I wear a bow tie, my IQ jumps by 10 points,” he says.

Congratulations to Tarra Barragan, BSN, RN, CEN, on her recent The DAISY Foundation award! 🌼 From Tarra’s nomination: “Tara Barragan, RN, has been in the Emergency Department since 2015. She obtained and completed the clinical ladder for a CN III in 2019. She serves as the Emergency Department UBPC Chair and has been involved in leading various process improvement initiatives/projects, including behavioral health activities, fall prevention, WOW reorganization/standardization, and the “Rock Star” board (peer-to-peer recognition). She has been a primary and secondary preceptor for new-hire nurses since joining the department. Tara is also active in community service activities; she co-leads the coordination of medical volunteers and supplies with Dr. Katren Tyler for the California International Marathon annually. Today, Tara went above and beyond. She really helped out a patient and his wife in C pod. The patient is 90 years old and was getting admitted but does all the bills for the couple. The patient's wife was totally overwhelmed and didn't know how to access their accounts to pay their cell phone bill. She was worried that she would be stranded at home with no phone service while her husband was in the hospital. Tara sat down with them (both suffer slightly from dementia), and they weren't always able to provide clear answers. Through kindness and patience, Tara was able to help them access their accounts and pay their cell phone bill, ensuring the patient's wife would have continued critical cell phone service. This is not the first time I've seen Tara quietly do things like this. This is why I'm proud to call her an ED colleague and one of my role models.” We're so lucky to have you, Tara!

Our Pulmonary Services team recently organized and hosted Lungevity: Fortifying the Core of Respiratory Care, a symposium that showcased the work of our fantastic respiratory therapists. Presented in collaboration with the California Society for Respiratory Care (CSRC), the event hosted 95 guests, featured six speakers and offered seven continuing education credits. “This symposium brought together around 100 of Northern California’s foremost respiratory therapists for a day of unparalleled professional development, innovation, and networking. We are committed to advancing the field of respiratory care through cutting-edge research, shared expertise, and collaborative learning,” said Leslie Chesher, pulmonary services supervisor. “This symposium not only highlights our dedication to improving patient outcomes but also strengthens our collective resolve to elevate the standards of respiratory therapy across the region.”

We are excited to share that Ryan Cello, PharmD, has been named a Fellow of the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists (ASHP)! As pharmacy Manager, Ryan oversees the Diversion, Analytics, Informatics, and Automation (DAIA) team, driving advancements in patient care through innovative technology and data analytics. His leadership has been instrumental in developing systems that enhance medication safety and efficiency, reflecting his dedication to excellence in health care delivery. Ryan's commitment to the pharmacy profession extends beyond UC Davis Health. As a Director at Large for ASHP, he plays a crucial role in shaping the future of pharmacy informatics and technology. His involvement in strategic discussions and initiatives at ASHP demonstrates his passion for improving the field and his expertise as a thought leader. Congratulations, Ryan, on this well-deserved honor!

A new, updated #COVID vaccine is on the way. The new 2024-25 formula includes a monovalent (single) component designed to prevent severe illness from the recent Omicron variant KP.2 strain of SARS-CoV-2. Stuart Cohen, the chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, and Dean Blumberg, the chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, answer common questions about the new COVID-19 vaccine, including when it will be available, who should get the vaccine and why: https://lnkd.in/gFPgR3fX