UC Davis Health

03/31/2026

Eggcellent news! Our mother peregrine falcon has laid her first egg after the pair returned to the nest about two months ago.

Based on the nest camera footage, the event occurred quietly and without fanfare. When the sun set Monday evening, the nest was still empty. By the time dawn broke Tuesday morning, a single egg had appeared, transforming a season of uncertainty into one of renewed anticipation.

The falcons have been closely monitoring the egg all morning. Baby chicks usually emerge from their shells in late April!

Tune in to the livestream for round-the-clock falcon updates: https://health.ucdavis.edu/welcome/peregrine-falcon/

Image description: A peregrine falcon is perched inside a white nest box on a high ledge of UC Davis Health. The falcon is standing over a newly laid egg. The nest box has a sign that reads “UC Davis Health Peregrine Falcons Est. 2016,” and the view beyond the railing shows the city and trees far below. The EarthCam logo appears in the lower right corner.

03/30/2026

Medical social workers are the quiet problem-solvers who help patients navigate challenges that are not always visible. A few of our social workers take you through a typical day on the job.

As we honor , we’re thankful for our social workers who connect patients with the best support and resources every day.

Video description: Several people speak directly to the camera, each holding a small black microphone. Text on screen reads “What a typical day looks like for social workers in the... Children’s Hospital, Emergency Department, Adult Neurology Department.” Individually, they answer the question either outdoors or beside their cubicle. Many wear clothing that says UC Davis Health Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

03/30/2026

“I never had a single warning sign and had no idea I was at high risk. If it weren’t for that remote monitoring program, who knows what would have happened?”

Dennis Backer joined our Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) program for high blood pressure at his primary care physician's recommendation. The program allows our team to monitor patients' blood pressure from home to catch any problems early.

Without any symptoms, Dennis' routine blood pressure checks revealed a dangerously low heart rate. Our team acted quickly and sent him to the emergency department, leading to a lifesaving pacemaker.

Learn how early intervention made the difference in Dennis' life: https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/remote-monitoring-catches-a-hidden-heart-problem-just-in-time/2026/03

Image descriptions:
1: Dennis Backer sits in a clinic room wearing a red shirt while a health care professional stands nearby holding a tablet. The professional appears to be recording information while the seated person rests against the chair.
2: Dennis Backer, in a red shirt, sits in a clinic chair with a blood pressure cuff on one arm while a medical device records their vitals in the foreground.

03/27/2026

Happy National to our dedicated team of doctors, fellows and residents!

Thank you to our physicians across UC Davis Health who exemplify the highest standards of patient-centered care. Each day, they navigate the complexities of modern medicine, advance clinical practice and research, and ensure that all patients receive thoughtful, high-quality care.

Image descriptions:
1: Two individuals wearing medical scrubs stand side by side, holding a beverage cup. One person has a stethoscope around the neck and a face mask pulled down below the chin. Behind them, a barista works at a counter.
2: A group of seven individuals stands behind a UC Davis Health-branded appreciation table. The table is stocked with snacks, drinks, and small giveaway items. One person holds up a UC Davis Health T-shirt. A sign on the table reads Grateful for you. Thank you for everything you do each and every day.
3: Three individuals stand close together. The person in the center has one arm around each of the other two. All three are facing the camera. Behind them is a wall-mounted screen displaying text that is not fully visible.
4: A barista prepares a drink at a mobile coffee station. Two individuals stand nearby facing the camera and smiling, while others move or converse in the background.
5: Three individuals stand together at the entrance of a room. One person holds a small plate of food and another holds a cup. A hallway map and signage are visible on the wall.
6: Two individuals stand in front of a table covered with Sacramento Republic FC-branded merchandise. One person holds up a towel with the word Indomitable printed on it. Behind them, two additional people work at the table, arranging items.

03/26/2026

Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, is a blood clot that forms in a deep vein. Most DVTs happen in the legs and it is a serious condition that affects hundreds of thousands of Americans each year. DVT is on the same level as other major health problems like heart attacks and strokes.

While it often starts quietly, it can quickly become dangerous if not treated. Knowing the signs, risks and treatment options for DVT can help protect your health and may even save your life.

Learn about DVT symptoms, what to watch for and common myths:

Deep vein thrombosis is a common, dangerous blood clot that needs recognition, prompt treatment and long-term awareness to prevent complications.

03/25/2026

03/25/2026

Fevers in children are common and, in many cases, a normal part of the body’s response to infection. However, knowing when to monitor symptoms at home and when to seek medical care can be challenging for parents and caregivers.

Our pediatric experts explain how to safely manage fevers at home, what warning signs to watch for and when it may be time to contact your child’s care team:

Fevers are common in children. So when should you take your child to see a doctor? And how can parents help their child's fever at home? Our pediatricians have answers for you.

03/24/2026

Tuberculosis is a global disease that kills millions each year. Our researchers in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine have developed a new test that can detect an active TB infection, a critical step toward faster diagnosis, earlier treatment and stopping the spread of TB.

Current TB screening tests do not differentiate between active TB disease and inactive infections.

"If we can stop the spread of TB by more easily identifying active infections, we can make a significant difference in decreasing global numbers of this devastating disease," said
Imran H. Khan, Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Sciences.

Learn more about our clinical trials: https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/advancing-global-health-uc-davis-test-identifies-active-infectious-form-of-tb/2026/03

Video description: An opening scene shows graphics and text: "UC Davis Health Driving Discovery." Imran Khan, Ph.D., professor at UC Davis Dept. of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, wears a suit jacket in a research lab with a computer monitor behind them. A montage of photos shows those with symptoms for TB. A graphic shows the difference of lungs that have had severe symptoms vs. mild symptoms. Researchers are in a lab with equipment, actively testing for TB.

03/20/2026

Happy !

Some of our leadership joined members of the Certified Nurses Day Committee to visit units throughout the health system to personally thank our nurses.

This year’s tour included stops at East 3, Davis 5 NICU and Tower 2 SICU, where Christine Williams, chief nursing executive; Mark Rosenblatt, vice chancellor of human health sciences; and Mike Condrin, interim chief executive officer, connected with teams and expressed their gratitude and appreciation.

We are proud to celebrate our certified nurses and the difference they make across our health system!

Image descriptions:
1: A group of individuals is standing together in a hospital hallway holding a large blue banner. The banner reads, “UC Davis Health” and “Magnet Recognized,” followed by “Proudly celebrating our certified nurses | March 19” and “Certified Nurses Day” in large white text. Most people are dressed in medical scrubs, while a few are wearing business attire.
2: A group of people stands in a row indoors, holding the same large blue banner. The group is standing in front of a large, colorful abstract mural with swirling patterns in shades of orange, teal, blue and white.
3: A group of individuals is gathered in a break room holding the blue banner. The people in the room are wearing medical scrubs and business attire. The setting includes tables, chairs, a wall clock, cabinets, a refrigerator and a countertop with snacks.
4: A group of individuals is standing in a hospital hallway holding the large blue banner. Most people in the group are wearing medical scrubs, and a few are wearing business attire.

03/19/2026

We are proud to share that one of our physicians will present at one of the most prestigious gatherings in global adolescent health and gynecological care next month!

Mitchell Creinin, distinguished professor and director of the UC Davis Complex Family Planning Fellowship, was selected as a plenary speaker for the World Congress of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology in San Francisco.

Creinin will speak several times and host a hands-on workshop at the conference. His plenary talk will feature an in-depth exploration of the latest advancements in levonorgestrel and copper IUDs, as well as progestin-based contraceptives.

Learn more about his work ahead of April's conference: https://health.ucdavis.edu/obgyn/news/headlines/uc-davis-health-physician-to-serve-as-plenary-speaker-at-global-gynecology-congress-/2026/03

Image description: Mitchell Creinin stands in a brightly lit hospital hallway, wearing a white coat that says his name in blue font on the right breast pocket.

03/19/2026

A group of engineers at UC Davis Tech Foundry and our medical professionals teamed up to develop a teaching model to train pediatric surgeons in fetoscopic repair of spina bifida.

“Fetal surgery, and fetoscopy for spina bifida in particular, is one of the more technically complex procedures in pediatric surgery, yet there are very few opportunities for surgeons to practice it,” said Payam Saadai, an associate professor of surgery.

One of the biggest benefits of fetoscopic repair over similar treatments for spina bifida is that it allows the mother to have a vaginal delivery in the future, due to its minimally invasive nature.

Thanks to the teaching model, fetoscopic surgery will be an option alongside the CuRe trial here. Learn more about how we're advancing treatment for spina bifida: https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/new-training-model-helps-surgeons-practice-minimally-invasive-spina-bifida-repair/2026/03

Image descriptions:
1: Two individuals stand at a demonstration table and use long laparoscopic instruments to operate on a training model designed to simulate fetoscopic repair of spina bifida. The model sits inside a black circular base on the tabletop. A monitor to the right displays a live feed of the interior view of the model as the instruments manipulate it.
2: A close-up shows a training womb model enclosed in a clear plastic dome. One person holds a white handheld controller device, guiding thin surgical tools through openings in the dome. To the right, a monitor displays a close-up camera view of the inside of the model, showing simulated tissue.
3: Two individuals are standing beside a table in an indoor training space at Aggie Square. One person wears a light gray UC Davis Health jacket and jeans, and the other person wears a dark cable‑knit sweater with a purple lanyard and an identification badge.

03/17/2026

Medical social workers do so much for our patients behind the scenes, often guiding families through some of their hardest moments. Here’s what they wish more people knew about the profession.

This Social Work Month, we celebrate and recognize the dedicated social workers who ensure patients receive the support, resources and advocacy they need.

Video description: Four people, individually, speak directly to the camera, holding a small black microphone. Text on screen reads “What do you wish people knew about medical social workers?” while they answer the question either outdoors or beside their cubicle. Many wear clothing that says UC Davis Health Licensed Clinical Social Worker.