UC Davis Children's Hospital

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.

03/07/2026

Do you have a picky eater at home? Dr. Erik Fernandez y Garcia shares tips, from his experience as both a UC Davis pediatrician and a parent, to help families in this week's KQED Forum.

We talk to Helen Zoe Veit about children's appetites, and what we can learn from the past to expand kids’ palates — and help parents feel less overwhelmed at dinner time.

03/05/2026

Exciting news! Our patient Shine has been selected as a 2026 National Children's Miracle Network Champion. He will represent UC Davis Children’s Hospital and Northern California on a national stage. 🎊

Image description: Shine with Dr. Craig Senders outside of Glassrock Building.

03/05/2026

Viana's bone marrow donation made a life-changing difference to her father, Hai Trinh, who suffered from hypoplastic MDS/severe aplastic anemia.

His bone marrow transplant was a success!

“I am forever grateful. For my daughters, my wife, the UC Davis Health staff,” Hai Trinh said. “It was a miracle.”

Our Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy team is proud to now offer this vital stem cell source for both adult and pediatric patients in the greater Sacramento area — and it is an example of the strength and collaboration of our combined pediatric and adult transplant programs.

Image descriptions:
1: Viana and Hai wear blue hospital gowns, standing next to each other in a hospital room.
2: Hai and daughter Viana stand close together outdoors in front of a house and leafy plants. They are forming a heart shape with their hands at the center of the image.

03/02/2026

Happy Child Life Month! Child life specialists are experts in child development and focus on the emotional well-being of hospitalized children and their families to reduce anxiety and promote coping. Join us in celebrating all of our certified child life specialists throughout the month of March!