UC Davis Children's Hospital

04/17/2026

Dr. Jonathan Kohler, medical director of pediatric trauma and interim co-chief of pediatric surgery at UC Davis Children's Hospital, is a descendant of Ralph Waldo Emerson and now serves on the board of trustees for the Ralph Waldo Emerson Memorial Association. Congratulations, Dr. Kohler!

A press release from the Ralph Waldo Emerson Memorial Association (RWEMA) announcing expanded leadership and the 2026 opening date for the Emerson House.

04/09/2026

Pocket Little League coaches are now equipped with CPR, AED training and a cardiac emergency plan, thanks to help from Project ADAM Sacramento. Find out how your youth sports program can be "Heart Safe."

Image description: Five people stand side-by-side on a baseball field. One holds the Heart Safe certificate.

04/06/2026

We are expanding access to pediatric specialty care through our Pediatric Mobile Clinic, a community-centered clinic on wheels. The vehicle delivers specialty medical and mental health services directly to schools, mental health organizations, and other community agencies across the Sacramento region.

Image description: A person in a white coat stands in the doorway of a van greeting a child carried by her parent.

04/03/2026

The NEC Society and UC Davis Children’s Hospital are teaming up to host the second annual YOLO Run on May 16.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an intestinal disease that can affect medically fragile infants during their first weeks and months of life. UC Davis Children’s Hospital provides lifesaving care for babies at risk of NEC and the NEC Society is the world’s leading nonprofit advancing NEC research, education and advocacy.

Funds raised will benefit UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

The event features a 10K, 5K and 2K run/walk at 8 a.m. at the UC Davis Health Stadium in Davis. A virtual run/walk is also offered for those unable to attend in person.

Image description: Runners pass the starting line wearing numbers on their chests.

03/23/2026

Did you know we have two full-time credentialed school teachers on our Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy team? Our teachers collaborate with patients' classrooms and/or home instruction teachers to develop education plans for a child’s hospital stay. During Child Life Month, we acknowledge our teachers' hard work and dedication to our patients!

03/19/2026

The UC Davis Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) recently hosted a three-day bootcamp to train senior pediatric critical care fellows from across the country.

The training was led by pediatric critical care physicians Dr. Jennifer Lee and Dr. Jessica Signoff at the UC Davis Health Center for Simulation and Education Enhancement.

Lee and Signoff designed the simulation-based training program to prepare senior pediatric critical care fellows for their transition into attending physician roles.

UC Davis is one of only three institutions in the country offering this standardized senior-level bootcamp. The other programs are at Johns Hopkins and Children’s Wisconsin.

“The curriculum focused on high-yield, low-occurrence critical care scenarios, allowing fellows to practice complex decision-making, crisis management, procedural skills and leadership skills in a realistic simulation environment,” said Mandeep “Mandy” Chahal, assistant nurse manager of the Pediatric and Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

Image description: An individual gestures with hands while speaking to five people gathered around an adult sized mannequin on a gurney.

03/16/2026

This week we are highlighting our music therapists as part of Child Life Month!

Music therapy combines music interventions and techniques to help patients accomplish individualized goals with the support of a board-certified music therapist. Music therapy can help patients manage or decrease pain and stress, express their feelings and emotions, and even improve and increase physical activity.

03/13/2026

Congratulations to UC Davis pediatrician Dr. Adrienne Hoyt-Austin, who received the Eli Gold Prize this year! 🎉🎉🎉

“Dr. Hoyt-Austin is an extraordinary pediatrician, scholar, teacher, mentor and service leader who is truly deserving of the Eli Gold Prize,” Serena Yang, division chief of general pediatrics, said in her nomination letter.

Named after the former professor and chair of the UC Davis Department of Pediatrics, Eli Gold supported and encouraged many young aspiring pediatricians, and now the annual award is open to any junior faculty member in the department who has made an impact on children’s health.

Image description: Vice chancellor of human health sciences Mark Rosenblatt (right) presents Adrienne Hoyt-Austin (left) with the Eli Gold Prize. The two stand together, holding a certificate, in front of a TV screen that has Adrienne’s photo on it.

03/13/2026

Congratulations to UC Davis pediatrician Dr. Adrienne Hoyt-Austin, who received the Eli Gold Prize this year! 🎉🎉🎉

"Dr. Hoyt-Austin is an extraordinary pediatrician, scholar, teacher, mentor and service leader who is truly deserving of the Eli Gold Prize,” Serena Yang, division chief of general pediatrics, said in her nomination letter.

Named after the former professor and chair of the UC Davis Department of Pediatrics, Eli Gold supported and encouraged many young aspiring pediatricians, and now the annual award is open to any junior faculty member in the department who has made an impact on children's health.

Image description: Vice chancellor of human health sciences Mark Rosenblatt (right) presents Adrienne Hoyt-Austin (left) with the Eli Gold Prize. The two stand together, holding a certificate, in front of a TV screen that has Adrienne's photo on it.

03/11/2026

Registration is now open for the 2026 NorCal AIDS Cycle, which raises funds for HIV/AIDS service providers in the Sacramento Valley, including the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Clinic at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

The bike race takes place May 14-17. The public is invited to donate or participate.

Image description: A group of people stand in a line, many with bicycles.

03/10/2026

In addition to March being Child Life Month, this week we are also celebrating Creative Arts Therapy Week!

Our art therapists are an integral part of the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy team at UC Davis Children's Hospital. They provide both individual and group art therapy sessions for children of all ages and developmental levels to promote self-expression, communication and coping.