We are very pleased to announce the results of this year’s intern match. We will be welcoming the arrival of

13 highly qualified new pediatric interns in June as the result of a very successful Match Day this month!

Five of our new interns come from medical schools in California. The remaining come to us from Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida, Vermont, Indiana and South Carolina. Thanks to Dr. Su-Ting Li, our residency program director, and the intern applicant committee who reviewed 233 applicants to our very competitive residency program.

The Department of Pediatrics is hosting two national conferences on important health issues for infants and children. Dr. Andrew Pelech and the Division of Pediatric Cardiology conducted their inaugural Concepts in Congenital Heart Care Symposium on March 18, which had a very successful attendance of physicians, nurses and echo technologists. Dr. Mark Underwood and the Division of Neonatology will be hosting the first national conference dedicated to one of the most pressing concerns in the care of neonates, necrotizing enterocolitis. It will be held April 5-7 at the UC Davis Conference Center in Davis. Conference faculty includes physicians, nurses and nutritionists from around the country with a vast experience in this disorder.

Finally, we are looking forward to the celebration of the level I children’s surgery verification from the American College of Surgeons and groundbreaking for the new UC Davis Children’s Surgery Center in April. Thanks to Mrs. Ann Rice, our UC Davis Medical Center chief executive officer, for her great work and support to move this project forward.

Welcome to the new class!

U C D AV I S C H I L D R E N ’ S H O S P I TA L N E W S L E T T E R S P R I N G 2 0 1 7

Concepts in Cardiac Care SymposiumThe UC Davis Pediatric Heart Center hosted its first Concepts in Congenital Cardiac Care symposium, a conference which brought together medical experts and researchers, pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons, radiologists, sonographers and pediatric cardiac nurses to discuss the changing landscape of congenital cardiac care.

The UC Davis Children’s Surgery Center will celebrate its ground-breaking and its level I children’s surgery center verification by the American College of Surgeons on Tuesday, April 18. This donor event will feature refreshments and tours of the new space. The new children’s surgery center will be a 20,000-square-foot facility, accommodating bigger and more effectively designed operating rooms, a technologically advanced fleet of surgical equipment, as well as the infrastructure to support it. It is scheduled to open in 2018.

Donor naming opportunities are available within the children’s surgery center space, ranging from $15,000 to $10 million donations. For more information about philanthropic naming opportunities, please contact Jacquelyn Mills, 916-734-9192 or jrkaymills@ucdavis.edu.

UC DAVIS CHILDREN’S SURGERY CENTERgroundbreaking event scheduled for April 18

What if a pediatric patient could place herself out of the hospital and into a wildflower meadow where she could ride away on a unicorn? This dream became a reality for pediatric cancer patient Taylor Hurst, thanks to UC Davis Children’s Hospital’s partnership with BayKids Studios, a nonprofit organization that brings professional filmmakers to pediatric patients, helping them transform into directors, actors and heroes of their own stories.

For Taylor, she was able to share her vision with BayKids filmmaker Mimi Rauschendorf, who films at UC Davis Children’s Hospital two days every month. Through the power of film, Rauschendorf brought to life Taylor’s “happy place” where she imagines she is when having to get a poke at the hospital. Taylor said she hopes that her video will help other children when they get pokes.

Each patient chooses how they’d like to participate, ranging from scriptwriting to directing to acting. BayKids Studios finishes the video in post-production and the final films are then screened for patients and their families, shown at movie theaters or posted on YouTube.

The 10-month pilot program launched at UC Davis Children’s Hospital in February. The partnership with BayKids was funded by a Children’s Miracle Network grant.

“I think it’s empowering for kids to tell their stories and experiences,” said Katie Lorain, art therapist at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. “It gives them a sense of mastery. It normalizes the hospital environment and provides an opportunity to have fun.”

Watch Taylor’s video.

What would the Year of Health and Wellness be without those all-important providers of health and wellness, registered dietitians (RDs)?

Members of the RD team can be found any given day contributing to the wellbeing of UC Davis patients, families and staff. When it comes to health, RDs talk the talk by providing education, making timely nutrition recommendations and spreading the gift of wellness in the community.

Registered dietitians Angela Damron, Elaine Souza, Pavel Krylov and Mercedes O’Madden were doing just that at the Health and Wellness Fair in January. Registered dietitian Golnaz Freidman presented “Weight management: It’s not rocket science but sometimes it feels that way” on March 21 at the Education Building.

RDs also walk the walk when it comes to health and wellness. They bring their walking shoes to work every day but for February’s “15 Minutes for 15 Days Challenge,” they really meant business. While Food and Nutrition Services didn’t walk the most minutes this year (Access Team did!), they contributed mightily to the total 182 participants walking 40,545 minutes over 15 days! Thank you to all the registered dietitians for making this the Year of Health & Wellness!

Registered dietitians contribute to the Year of

Health and Wellness

From left to right, clinical psychologist Jane McClay, registered dietitian Angela Damron and nurse coordinator Judy Tsurutani.

UC DAVIS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL PARTNERS WITH BAYKIDS STUDIOS

Filmmakers help pediatric patients express themselves through film

BayKids filmmaker Mimi Rauschendorf shoots a Lego scene envisioned by one patient. Art therapist Katie Lorain adds the finishing touches.

JoAnne Natale, director of quality and safety at UC Davis Children’s Hospital, and her research collaborators, received the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s 2017 Star Research Achievement Award at the organization’s Critical Care Congress in Honolulu, HI.The Star Research Achievement Award recognizes excellence in critical care research, as determined by a score in the top 5 percent of submitted abstracts. Natale was recognized for her research, which found disparities when comparing white, black and Hispanic parents and their children’s participation in a large pediatric critical care clinical trial.

“We are proud of Dr. Natale for her hard work and dedication, advocating that all children benefit from participating in research. It’s a well-deserved honor,” said James Marcin, chief of the UC Davis Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine.

Her interprofessional team of study collaborators included Jill Joseph, from the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, Martha Curley and Ruth Lebet, from the University of Philadelphia School of Nursing, Judith Ascenzi, from the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital, and David Wypij and Christine Ulysses from Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard University.

Natale received a cash award of $100 and was formally honored at the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s Abstract-Based Awards Ceremony on Jan. 24.

Monoamniotic twins Sofia and Isabella Walker celebrated their first birthday this month. The girls, who were born on Leap Year last year, were monoamniotic-monochoronionic or “MoMo” twins, a condition that occurs in as few as 1 in 65,000 U.S. pregnancies and carries significant health risks.

Karen Brand was hired last fall as a full-time pediatric palliative care nurse practitioner at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. It was a new position dedicated to the Supportive Therapies and Enhanced Palliative Services (STEPS) team, whose mission is to help support patients and families with challenging medical conditions.

Brand helps to improve the quality of life of patients. Sometimes, this may involve treating a patient’s symptoms ranging from pain to nausea, sleeplessness to agitation. Other times, she may work with Child Life to provide reiki, guided imagery, art therapy or music therapy to help patients manage their illness.

“Whatever it takes to get joy into these patient’s lives – that’s really my goal,” said Brand, who works with Theresa Murdock-Vlautin, medical director of the STEPS program and board certified palliative care physician, who oversees care provided to patients. “I work as part of the health care team to help the whole child.”

Pediatric palliative care nurse practioner joins STEPS team

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

JoAnn Natale receives Star Research Achievement Award

PATIENT MILESTONE

Sofia and Isabella Walker turn one!

“Thank you again to the incredible care givers at UC Davis Children's Hospital.”

Greg Walker

“With the outstanding care given by the staff at UC Davis Children's Hospital, the Walker ‘MoMo’ twins survived and are thriving,” said Greg Walker, Sofia and Isabella’s father. “Thank you again to the incredible care givers at UC Davis Children's Hospital.”

The girls celebrated this year with a big birthday party at their Stockton home, surrounded by family and friends.

Read their full story.

upcoming events

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FIRST TECH FEDERAL CREDIT UNION presented a $100,000 donation to UC Davis Children’s Hospital on February 1 with a donation specifically benefiting the new Children’s Surgery Center, scheduled to open in 2018.

The donation was raised at the fourth annual Dave & Dan Golf Classic, presented by First Tech Federal Credit Union. NFL Hall of Famers Dave Wilcox and Dan Fouts co-chaired the event, where a remarkable $1.1 million was raised for Credit Union for Kids (CUFK), a non-profit organization under which America's credit unions raise funds for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN Hospitals).

“We are big supporters of UC Davis Children’s Hospital and are proud to be able to help them create this new children’s surgery center,” said Scott Jenner, president of Addison Avenue Investment Services, a division of First Tech. “Credit unions were built with the philosophy of ‘people helping people,’ and this is a great way to give back to the communities in which we serve.”

Funds from the event benefit six children's hospitals in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and California, including UC Davis Children's Hospital.

Since adopting the CMN hospitals as their charity of choice, CUFK is now the third largest sponsor of CMN Hospitals. Since 2006, CUFK has raised $150 million for CMN Hospitals.

First Tech will also participate in the annual SACTOWN Run event on Sunday, April 2, 2017, and is the presenting sponsor at this year’s 11th annual CMN Friendship Invitational golf tournament on Monday, April 10, 2017. Both events benefit UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

“We are honored and thank First Tech for their contribution to UC Davis Children’s Hospital and for helping to make the Children’s Surgery Center a reality in the near future,” said Ann Madden Rice, UC Davis Medical Center's chief executive officer.

FIRST TECH FEDERAL CREDIT UNION donates $100,000 to Children’s Hospital

April 2: Credit Union Sactown Run. 10 mile, 5K and UC Davis Children’s Hospital miracle mile run. Benefits Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals including UC Davis Children’s Hospital. 7:30 a.m. https://runsra.org/sactown-run/

April 5-7: Necrotizing Enterocolitis Symposium. Hosted by UC Davis Children’s Hospital and the NEC Society. UC Davis Conference Center, Davis. http://bit.ly/2mAUKlF

April 8: NorCal AIDS Cycle Fundraising Dinner benefiting the UC Davis Pediatric AIDS clinic. Must be over 21 to attend. West Sacramento Civic Center Galleria, 1110 West Capitol Ave. 5 p.m. $45. http://2017NCACBBQ.bpt.me

April 8: Babies and Bumps. UC Davis Children’s Hospital will have a booth, staffed by UC Davis Pediatric Heart Center and Fetal Care and Treatment Center staff. Citrus Heights Community Center. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. facebook.com/BabiesandBumps

April 9: Miracle Maker Sunday Dinner and Auction. Benefits Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis. Granite Bay Country Club. https://www.cmngolf.com/

April 10: CMN Friendship Invitational. Golf tournament to benefit Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis. Granite Bay Country Club. https://www.cmngolf.com/

April 22: UC Davis Picnic Day. UC Davis Children’s Hospital will have a booth on the Quad. Free. https://picnicday.ucdavis.edu

April 29: March for Babies. UC Davis Children’s Hospital team, led by NICU nurse Mary Petrella. UC Davis Children’s Hospital will have a booth. State Capitol. 7:30 a.m. http://bit.ly/2mb1jA5

Formerly Conjoined Twins Leave California Hospital – New York Times

Wild Bill’s Tattoo-a-thon – KCRA

Red Carpet Black Tie Ball – ABC10

How to Protect Your Infant in a World of Anti-Vaxxers – The Federalist

UC Davis Endorses HPV Vaccine Recommendations – The California Aggie

How Video Collaboration Between Hospitals Improves Patient Care – Health Tech Magazine

Needles Ease Pain for Kids with Stomach Pain – The Sacramento Bee

Black, Hispanic parents may be less likely to enroll kids in medical trials – Reuters

From left: Dennis Forget, vice president of Consumer Lending at First Tech; Jacquelyn Mills, senior director of development with Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis; Scott Jenner, president of Addison Avenue Investment Services; Ann Madden Rice, chief executive officer of UC Davis Medical Center, Sue Davis, client engagement senior specialist, Addison Avenue Investment Services; Linda Hernandez, assistant at Addison Avenue Investment Services, and John Weidert, director emeritus of First Tech.