Adrienne Hoyt-Austin receives Eli Gold Prize

Adrienne Hoyt-Austin, assistant clinical professor of pediatrics, has received the 2026 Eli Gold Prize.

Hoyt-Austin was nominated by Serena Yang, division chief of general pediatrics, in recognition of her clinical excellence and contributions to teaching, mentorship, research, community service and health equity efforts.

“Dr. Hoyt-Austin is an extraordinary pediatrician, scholar, teacher, mentor and service leader who is truly deserving of the Eli Gold Prize,” Yang said in her nomination letter.

Hoyt-Austin provides care in the UC Davis Health newborn nursery, Glassrock Pediatric Clinic and the primary care pediatric clinic at the Sacramento County Health Center, which is a federally qualified health center.

Her many achievements include establishing the breastfeeding and lactation medicine subspecialty clinic at the Glassrock Pediatric Clinic, serving on the UC Davis Human Milk Task Force and chairing the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Protocol Committee. She is a two-time recipient of the Golden Apple Teaching Award and is a scholar in the UC Davis Health Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health K12 Program.

The Eli Gold Prize is open to any junior faculty in the UC Davis Department of Pediatrics who has achieved prominence in clinical, teaching, research or community service. The criteria for identifying the award recipient includes innovation, their influence on child health, and impact on UC Davis Children’s Hospital, the Department of Pediatrics and the UC Davis School of Medicine. The award winner is invited to present a lecture on a topic of their choice at a Pediatric Grand Rounds (teaching sessions on clinical topics related to children’s health).

The annual award was named for Eli Gold, former professor and chair of the UC Davis Department of Pediatrics, who supported and encouraged many young aspiring pediatricians. The prize includes $3,000 for research or career development.