UC Davis Medical Center

12/12/2025

Sisters have a built-in best friend for life, and it's even more special when they work together.

Meet the Robles sisters, Rue, Rosheena and Raissa, three sisters who work together at UC Davis Health. Not only are they siblings, but they're also all nurses. Talk about family tradition!

“Working with my sisters as nurses in the same hospital is both fun and really exciting. We get to share not just our profession, but our daily routines: carpooling to work, grabbing lunch together and supporting each other through the ups and downs of each shift. It’s rare to experience your career alongside the people you grew up with, and it makes every day feel a little lighter and a lot more meaningful," said Rue West, RN NICU.

“I love working together! There’s something special about working in the same hospital as my sisters. Even on different units, we’re still each other’s safety net, cheerleaders and built-in support system. Same mission, same heart, just different hallways," said Rosheena Atashkadeh, RN 48X PACU.

“It’s true when they say work is more fun when working with your best friends. We’re already connected genetically but working together connects us on a different level. We can relate with one another about the craziness a 12-hr shift brings but also enjoy the rewards that comes with this profession," said Raissa Hernandez, RN NSICU.

On top of all that, they also have a cousin who works in radiology and one of their husbands works in patient transport!

Image Description: Rosheena Atashkadeh (left), Raissa Hernandez (middle) and Rue West (right) wear blue scrubs with UC Davis Health logos. They are standing in front of a window.

12/11/2025

Menopause is a natural part of the aging process with three distinct stages: perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause.

Understanding the stages of menopause can help you manage symptoms and make informed decisions about your health. It can also help you to understand what lifestyle changes and treatments may help reduce some of the symptoms that often come with this change.

Learn more about each stage and how to manage symptoms and hormonal changes:

Menopause is a natural part of the aging process with three distinct stages: perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. Learn more about each stage and how to manage symptoms and hormonal changes.

12/11/2025

12/10/2025

12/09/2025

These are some very boop-able snouts! You can count down the dog days with our custom-made canine calendar featuring the facility dogs and pet therapy volunteers of UC Davis Health!

It's the perfect gift for someone who loves dogs! Your support directly impacts The CARE Projects Canine CARE and Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Facility Dog Program. 🐕

Order yours today: https://childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org/fundraiser/4124/

Image Descriptions: Three dogs are individually posed in front of a blue background.

12/08/2025

The holidays can often bring joy and connection, but also feelings of stress, anxiety and depression.

Setting boundaries, taking care of yourself and practicing gratitude are a few strategies you can use to help with the season’s challenges. Learn more: https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/five-tips-to-manage-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays/2025/11

Image Description: A warmly lit indoor setting decorated for the holidays. In the foreground, a long table is adorned with festive garland. In the background, multiple people are seated around the table, engaged in conversation.

12/04/2025

We're excited to share that Golnaz Friedman, MS, RD, CCTD, received the 2025 Jeanette Hasse Distinguished Transplant Dietitian Award!

The Jeanette Hasse Distinguished Transplant Dietitian Award recognizes a registered dietitian who has advanced transplant nutrition through patient care, education, research, innovation and service.

Golnaz has been a transplant dietitian here for eleven years, where she now serves as outpatient dietitian supervisor and senior transplant dietitian. She has led major improvements in transplant nutrition care, including expanding the transplant RD team, developing standardized dietitian competencies and redesigning functional status testing to improve pre-transplant identification of risk. Her leadership extends to QAPI initiatives, transplant research and mentoring new transplant dietitians.

Please join us in congratulating Golnaz Friedman as the 2025 recipient of the Jeanette Hasse Distinguished Transplant Dietitian Award!

Image Description: An individual with long dark hair, wearing a white blouse with subtle polka dots and a tied bow at the neckline, smiles at the camera. Green tree leaves are blurred in the background.

12/02/2025

Last month, Luis Fidel Luquin, BSN–C, RN, PCCN, on East 6 Cardiothoracic PCU, received a DAISY Foundation Award for his exceptional dedication to patient-centered care.

Known by his team for his calm presence, clinical expertise, and ability to support patients and families through complex and emotional situations, Luis consistently embodies the highest standards of nursing practice.

From the nomination:

“I came into the ER Monday evening with a swollen arm due to my breast cancer and extreme pain and a possible pregnancy. After a long night in the ER we found out I also had blood clots throughout my body, so I was moved into a room in the EAST-6 PCU unit where Luis became my nurse.

I couldn’t have been more thankful to have been in his care while going through very difficult circumstances. He showed me the utmost compassion and care every day that I was under his care, even when he was busy with other patients, he always took great care of me. He made me feel well taken care of, was very professional and always checked in with me to make sure that I understood what was going on or if I had questions, in every aspect of my care (the blood clots, the pregnancy, the cancer discussions and what the medications being administered were for).

Not only did he show compassion to myself, as his patient, but he also showed compassion and care to my family. He made us feel like he truly cares for the well-being of his patients and their families. Me and my family are deeply appreciative of his care and for having such a kindhearted nurse during this difficult time. He exemplifies the kind of nurse we believe every person/family going through difficult situations/hospital visits should have.”

Congratulations, Luis, on your DAISY Award!

Image descriptions;

1: A health care provider in navy scrubs stands and smiles in front of a banner with white daisies on it, holding a green and white award with text on it that reads "The Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses."

2: A large group of health care professionals is gathered in a hospital hallway. Most are wearing navy blue scrubs, while a few are in professional attire. They are positioned around a banner that reads “Congratulations” with a daisy graphic. One person near the center is holding a framed certificate.

12/01/2025

Sisters share a special bond. But working side by side in health care and in the same department? That’s next-level sisterhood.

Meet Ava Lim and Menchu Barcenas, two sisters who not only share family ties but also a calling. Both serve as nurses at UC Davis Health, supporting patients through some of life’s most critical moments.

"Having my sister in some of my high-risk deliveries is something deeply comforting, and knowing that no matter how challenging the day gets, I have my sister there, not just as a colleague, but as family. The love of family woven into the fabric of our work makes everything more meaningful. It’s not just about sharing a workplace, it’s about sharing dreams, laughter, and the quiet understanding that only siblings carry. It’s a reminder of where we came from and how far we’ve come. We get to build, learn, and grow side by side in a place that values love, compassion, courage, integrity, learning, and high-quality patient care. I am so proud to be working alongside my sister," said Ava Lim, BSN, RNC, D3-University Birthing Suites.

"When my family moved to Sacramento many years ago, my sister Ava brought me to UC Davis Medical Center. I was in search for my first nursing job. At that time, Ava had been working at UC Davis for a few years and she had told me that she enjoyed the work environment, her coworkers and the professional growth opportunities. She had also worked at a different hospital simultaneously and eventually stayed at UC Davis. It highly influenced my decision to work here. It’s been such an amazing experience to be able to work along side with my sister at some of the high-risk pregnancies and deliveries," said Menchu Barcenas, RNC-NICU, D5-NICU.

Image Description: Two people are standing in front of a decorative backdrop. They are surrounded by an arch of balloons in shades of rose gold, gold, white and pink. To the left, there is a large collage board displaying multiple graduation photos.

11/26/2025

11/25/2025

From childhood secrets to career milestones, sharing a workplace turns sisterhood into something extraordinary.

Meet sisters who work together, Alina Okunev and Angelina Litvinov. Here's why they say it's so special to work together.

“I started my career at UC Davis in 2012 and quickly discovered how wonderful it was to be part of the UC Davis Health system. I shared my experience with my sister, Angelina, and after hearing how much I enjoyed my work and the culture here, she decided she wanted to join too," said Alina, RN, BSN, Cancer Center. "She applied, and about a year later, she was hired. It’s a really neat thing to be working within the same health system, and we’re both proud to be part of the UC Davis family."

“Working with my sister means a lot to me. It’s really special to share this experience with her and be part of the same organization that’s making a difference in people’s lives," said Angelina, RN, BSN, Dermatology. "We support each other, and it’s nice knowing someone who really understands the work like we do. I’m proud of both of us for being part of UC Davis Health."

Image Description: Two individuals are standing side by side outdoors in front of a residential-style building. Both are wearing matching navy blue UC Davis Health scrubs with visible name badges and have their arms crossed.

11/24/2025

Nearly one in four Americans cares for a family member, which comes with a heavy emotional, financial and health toll. But you don't have to do it alone.

Joanna knows this firsthand. When her husband’s dementia began during the pandemic, she turned to our Healthy Aging Clinic for guidance.

Through our Caregiver Consultation, Joanna found personalized coaching and resources to help her navigate the challenges of caregiving.

"I know I can reach out every time and talk to someone who knows a lot more than me. It helps to know that you have that security blanket when things are unexpected or dramatically changing,” she says.

This service, offered in partnership with the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, connects caregivers with geriatric-trained nurses who provide practical plans for communication, behavior management and hands-on care.

Learn how you can ask your primary care physician for a referral to the Healthy Aging Clinic to benefit from this program: https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/youre-not-alone-in-caregiving/2025/11

Image Descriptions:
1: Two people standing outdoors near a coastline with waves visible in the background. One person is wearing a dark plaid shirt and a baseball cap with text that reads “UC Davis Health." The other person is wearing a light red top.

2: Two people leaning close together in front of a vibrant yellow wall with horizontal blue stripes. One person is wearing a dark gray shirt with a blue square logo featuring a white “M.” The other person is wearing a dark top with a chunky necklace made of large beads in white and red tones.