UC Davis Medical Center

04/11/2026

Happy from the furry (and feathery, scaly or barely-hairy) faces that make up the family!

From wagging tails to soothing purrs, our pets bring endless joy, comfort and smiles into our lives. Tag us in your pet photos, and take a look at the animals that our employees love! 🐾

Image descriptions: A group of six collages of photos. Each collage features a collection of photos from different employees, including dogs, cats, horses, bunnies, turtles, and other animals.

04/10/2026

Congratulations, Trang Khu, MS-L, BSN, Med-Surg BC, in the Acute Infections Management Clinic, on receiving a DAISY Foundation Award for her exceptional ability to create a sense of comfort, trust and empowerment for her patients!

Through her thoughtful approach to care, attention to detail and consistent respect for patient autonomy, Trang ensures that each interaction is not only clinically excellent but also deeply personal, helping patients feel seen, heard and confident in their care experience.

From Trang’s nomination:

“Trang has gone above and beyond to advocate for me, but more importantly, to encourage me to advocate for myself. I first met Trang at my first appointment at AIMS, about 6 years ago. I was very nervous to be in a new environment, trusting new people to care for me. I got very nauseous when my port was accessed for the first time in about a year. Trang brought me alcohol prep wipes and taught me to smell them to relieve nausea. I still keep some in my purse, six years later and have taught many people that trick since.

Trang and I talk about books at any appointment where she is my nurse. After sharing details of my family life, she always remembers and checks in on how each of my family members is doing with their current struggle. The thing that stands out to me the most in Trang’s nursing, outside of her warm demeanor and fun personality, is that even though she’s treated me many times, she ALWAYS asks, ‘May I touch your port?’ before she touches me. Many nurses just start treating me or say, ‘I’m going to start cleaning your port area/feel your port,’ but Trang ALWAYS asks! As a frequent medical patient, being given respect, autonomy and the active choice of consent empowers me.

Trang has made me feel like I am not only safe at AIMS but that I am among friends. But it’s not just that kindness that makes her a great nurse. What makes her a great nurse is that she remembers how my port tilts, takes her time before accessing me/never rushes and has never once missed on a poke, because of her attention to detail. She’s a great person, but she’s also a great nurse!”

Congratulations, Trang, on your DAISY Award! 🌼

Image descriptions:
1: Trang Khu, MS-L, BSN stands in front of a daisy banner that reads Congratulations. She is holding a DAISY Award certificate while wearing dark navy blue scrubs.
2: Seven people stand indoors in a clinic setting in front of a banner that reads Congratulations. Trang Khu holds a bouquet of flowers and a framed certificate. Others stand on either side wearing professional and clinical attire.
3: A group of about 15 staff members poses indoors in a clinical workspace. Several people wear navy blue scrubs, while others wear business attire. Trang Khu, near the center, holds a framed certificate and a bouquet of flowers. Behind the group is a banner that reads Congratulations with a daisy image.

04/09/2026

Happy Occupational Health Professionals and Nurses Week to the nurses and supporting staff who protect the health and well‑being of our workforce!

Our Occupational and Employee Health Clinic (OEHC) staff play a critical role at the medical center, delivering preventative services like flu vaccines and TB screenings, caring for injured workers, managing bloodborne pathogen exposures and helping ensure regulatory compliance.

Their work helps keep employees safe, supported and healthy every day.

Image descriptions:
1: A group of OEHC Clinical staff, wearing blue scrubs with the UC Davis Health logo, are smiling while holding a banner that says "Proudly Celebrating Occupational Health Week."
2: A group of OEHC Admin staff, wearing black shirts with the UC Davis Health logo, are smiling while holding a banner that says "Proudly Celebrating Occupational Health Week."
3: A group of OEHC leadership, wearing professional attire, are smiling while holding a banner that says "Proudly Celebrating Occupational Health Week."

04/08/2026

The UC Davis Rehabilitation Hospital will host its 2nd Annual Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Fair on Saturday, April 18, 2026. This free event will bring together spinal cord injury patients, health care providers and community organizations in a space focused on education and support.

The fair will feature informational booths, short presentations and direct access to organizations serving the SCI community across the greater Sacramento area. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with providers, ask questions and explore services tailored to their needs.

“Our goal is to create a space where our spinal cord injury patients can find help and, more importantly, friendship,” said Evan Scholten, a second-year resident at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and a physician at the UC Davis Rehabilitation Hospital.

Learn more about the event and register here: https://partiful.com/e/lAUmuVCBM8MnUmJYahRv

Image description: An outdoor view of the UC Davis Rehabilitation Hospital.

04/08/2026

UPDATE: A fourth egg was laid moments ago!
-
And then there were three! Our peregrine falcons now have three eggs to watch over as the nesting season continues.

Both mom and dad have been attentive to the nest this past week. The incubation period is roughly 33-35 days, so we may see new chicks in early May.

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

Image description: A falcon peers under a railing, watching the nest with three eggs in it. 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.

04/07/2026

Caring for patients runs in this family. Spanning generations and more than 180 collective years, one family has grown alongside the UC Davis Health system, serving patients in roles across nursing, facilities, leadership and medicine.

Priscilla Catingub grew up with her parents working at UC Davis Health. Her father, Manuel Saldana, spent most of his career with our Plant Operations and Maintenance (PO&M) team, while her mother, Janet, retired as an orthopedic practice manager at the Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center.

The family tradition does not end there. Priscilla’s brother, Angelo Saldana, also works in PO&M. Her sister-in-law, Myrna Saldana, works in Facilities Planning and Development. Meanwhile, her uncle worked on the UC Davis campus. And in 2010, Priscilla met her husband, an attending physician who now owns his own practice. Priscilla is currently an Assistant Nurse Manager II, helping lead the infusion wing of the new Folsom Medical Care Clinic!

Priscilla did the math: that’s over 180 years of UC Davis employment from her family alone.

“The longevity our family has shown isn’t about being comfortable in the organization—it’s about our values aligning with the mission and vision of the university. We’ve been given opportunities to continuously grow and serve at a higher capacity, and that’s pretty amazing," said Priscilla.

Image description: Five family members stand side by side, smiling at the camera during an indoor gathering. From left to right are Janet Saldana, Manuel Saldana, Myrna Saldana, Priscilla Catingub and Angelo Saldana. They are dressed casually, standing close together with their arms around one another.

04/06/2026

Near Aggie Square, a familiar killdeer mother has once again made a nest in the contractor's parking lot. This time laying three speckled eggs close to where she nested last year.

Killdeer are known for returning to the same general areas year after year, favoring open, rocky ground that helps camouflage their eggs. Parking lots, it turns out, fit the bill, though they come with their own risks.

Don't worry: the small shorebird is protected and our teams are keeping an eye out to help ensure the nest remains undisturbed while nature takes its course. Our Parking and Transportation Services staff surrounded the area with bright orange cones to protect her and her four eggs from passing cars and curious pedestrians.

The chicks are expected to hatch by the end of April!

Image description: A killdeer bird sits low on a gravel nest in an Aggie Square parking lot. The small brown and tan bird with two black chest bands is surrounded by loose rocks and pebbles. Orange traffic cones and metal barricades are placed nearby to protect the nest, with a parked vehicle visible in the background.

04/03/2026

Last week, Jennifer Owens, MSN, CPNP, CNS, of the STEPS Pediatric Palliative Care Team, was honored with a DAISY Foundation Award for her outstanding commitment to compassionate, patient- and family-centered care. Jennifer consistently demonstrates a rare combination of clinical expertise and emotional intelligence, supporting families through complex and deeply personal decisions with clarity, empathy and respect.

Her work with a young father during his infant daughter’s hospitalization exemplifies her ability to lead with both skill and humanity in the most challenging circumstances.

From the nomination:

“I am honored to nominate Jen Owens, Nurse Practitioner on the STEPS Pediatric Palliative Care Team, for the DAISY Award. Jen consistently embodies the core values of pediatric palliative care: presence, clinical excellence and extraordinary compassion. She has a remarkable ability to support families through profound loss while guiding care teams with clarity and grace.

Jen recently cared for a child with a life-limiting condition and their family during an extended hospitalization. From the outset, she created a space of trust and safety for the child’s parent, who remained at the bedside while navigating overwhelming grief and uncertainty. Jen gently guided conversations about hopes, values, and complex medical decisions, balancing deep compassion with clear, thoughtful communication.

She maintained a steady presence throughout, leading interdisciplinary meetings and ensuring the family felt informed, supported, and heard. In moments of intense emotion, Jen created space for the parent to process while helping the care team communicate with empathy and respect.

As the child’s condition progressed, Jen compassionately guided the parent through difficult decisions, helping them focus on comfort and dignity. She also supported the extended family and provided emotional support to staff, bringing calm and steadiness to all involved.

At the end of the child’s life, Jen ensured both comfort and dignity, remaining present for the family during an unimaginable loss. In the days that followed, the parent shared deep gratitude, expressing that Jen’s presence made them feel less alone during the most difficult time of their life.

Jen’s care demonstrates the very essence of the DAISY Award: extraordinary compassion, exceptional clinical skill, family-centered advocacy, and a profound commitment to dignity. She transformed an unthinkable tragedy into a space where love, presence, and humanity could guide every step. For these reasons and so many more, I wholeheartedly and gratefully nominate Jen Owens for the DAISY Award at UC Davis Medical Center.”

Congratulations on your DAISY Award, Jennifer!

Image descriptions:
1: Jennifer Owens, wearing teal scrubs, stands indoors holding a framed DAISY Award certificate. She is smiling and standing in front of a congratulatory DAISY Award banner in a hospital hallway.
2: Jennifer Owens in teal scrubs stands at the center of a small group of colleagues in a hospital hallway, holding a framed DAISY Award certificate. The group smiles toward the camera, with a congratulatory DAISY Award banner behind them.
3: A large group of UC Davis Health hospital staff poses together in a hospital hallway for a group photo. Several people wear scrubs and ID badges, and one person near the center holds a DAISY Award certificate. A congratulatory DAISY Award banner is visible behind the group.

04/02/2026

If you are a patient at our Auburn clinic, you probably know Judy Pickett-Lopez, patient service representative, by voice when she calls you for a follow-up.

Judy has been serving patients in the same building since 1991, and became part of the UC Davis Health team 30 years ago in 1996. She's seen patients grow up before her very eyes.

Recently, a former pediatrics patient stopped by her desk and asked, "Do you remember me?" He was all grown up, but Judy knew him right away. Judy enjoys being the link between her community and their health care.

"Her punctuality, kindness and dependability have earned the trust of both patients and colleagues, creating a welcoming and reassuring environment. We are grateful for her many years of dedication and commitment," said Alysa Oden, Auburn clinic manager.

We are grateful for Judy and her incredible service to the Auburn community and to UC Davis Health!

Image description: Judy stands outside, to the right of a sign that reads "UC Davis Medical Group 3200 Bell Road."

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.

03/27/2026

Plant-based proteins are nutrient-rich, heart-healthy options that support overall health. Discover the benefits of plant-based protein and simple ways to add it to your meals:

Plant-based proteins are nutrient-rich, heart-healthy options that support overall health. Discover the benefits of plant-based protein and simple ways to add it to your meals.

03/26/2026

Please join us in congratulating Amy Brooks-Kayal on receiving the 2025 Women & Philanthropy Impact Award!

Over the course of her accomplished career in academia and health care, she has gone above and beyond to level the playing field in neurology.

With three decades of experience in both practice and teaching neurology, Brooks-Kayal has helped develop many prospective neurologists. During her time at UC Davis, her approach has not changed: promoting mentorship and inclusivity as a professor and as department head.

“Being nominated by my colleagues for this award and receiving it were particularly meaningful to me,” she said, adding that the award’s qualifications match her dedication to “exemplary leadership, mentorship, and advocacy for women and other underrepresented groups.”

The Women & Philanthropy Impact Award recognizes a UC Davis faculty or staff member for contributions to the advancement of women, along with exemplary leadership and significant impact on university communities.

Learn more about Brooks-Kayal and her impressive career: https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/amy-brooks-kayal-wins-2025-women--philanthropy-impact-award/2026/03

Image descriptions:
1: From left to right: Chancellor Gary May, Amy Brooks-Kayal and Mark Rosenblatt.
2: Members of the Women & Philanthropy Advisory Council smile with Amy Brooks-Kayal holding her award.