Our Team | Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) | UC Davis Children's Hospital

Pediatric Services

UC Davis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Our neonatal care team

Our neonatology specialists partner with neonatal nurse practitioners, neonatology fellows, pediatric residents, pharmacists, neonatal nurses, neonatal transport nurses, dietitians, respiratory therapists, physical occupational and speech therapists, social workers and child life specialists to make up the NICU team.

 

Our clinical leaders
  • Steven James McElroy, M.D.
    Chief of neonatology

    Steven James McElroy, M.D.

    Steven McElroy, M.D., is the Chief of Neonatology and specializes in neonatal-perinatal medicine. He offers care for all critically ill newborn infants.

    McElroy has had a longstanding interest in understanding the injury and repair mechanisms of the developing small intestine and specifically how this relates to neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). His research has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Children’s Miracle Network and industry partners. He has lectured nationally and internationally and sits on the Scientific Advisory Board for the NEC Society.

    View full bio for Steven McElroy, M.D.
  • Medical Director

    Catherine Rottkamp, M.D., Ph.D.

    Catherine Rottkamp, M.D., Ph.D., is the medical director at the NICU and believes that exceptional NICU care requires a team of dedicated professionals as well as involvement of and communication with parents. In her role as a leader and neonatologist, she strives everyday to maximize outcomes for NICU babies and aims to get them home with their families where they belong.   

    View full bio for Catherine Rottkamp, M.D.
  • Janelle Beall, R.N., M.S.N., NICU nurse manager
    Nurse Manager

    Janelle Beall, R.N., M.S.N., R.N.C.-N.I.C., C-O.N.Q.S.

    Janelle Beall, R.N., M.S.N., R.N.C.-N.I.C., C-O.N.Q.S., oversees the nursing staff at UC Davis Children’s Hospital designated level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and nursery, a unit specializing in the care of high risk infants, including those born prematurely and very prematurely. Her team of nurses provide the essential, everyday care for infants staying in the NICU and needing around the clock intensive care.

Our specialists

Geoanna Bautista, M.D.

Assistant Professor

Specialties
Neonatology
Pediatrics
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Location(s)
Phone: 800-282-3284
Sylvia Bowditch, M.D.

NICU Hospitalist, Department of Pediatrics

Specialties
Pediatrics
Neonatology
Nicole Cacho, D.O., M.P.H.

Associate Professor

Specialties
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Location(s)
Phone: 800-282-3284
Lee Donohue, M.D.

Assistant Professor

Specialties
Neonatology
Location(s)
Phone: 800-282-3284
Kristin Hoffman, M.D.

Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics

Specialties
Neonatology
Pediatrics
Location(s)
Phone: 800-282-3284
Kara Kuhn-Riordon, M.D.

Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor

Specialties
Neonatology
Pediatrics
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Location(s)
Phone: 800-282-3284
Satyan Lakshminrusimha, M.D., M.B.B.S.

Chair, Department of Pediatrics

Pediatrician-in-Chief, UC Davis Children's Hospital

Dennis and Nancy Marks Endowed Chair in Pediatrics

Professor, Department of Pediatrics

Specialties
Neonatology
Location(s)
Phone: 800-282-3284
Steven McElroy, M.D.

Chief, Division of Neonatology

Professor, Department of Pediatrics

Specialties
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Location(s)
Phone: 800-282-3284

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Specialties
Neonatology
Francis Poulain, M.D.

Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology

Specialties
Neonatology
Pediatrics
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Location(s)
Phone: 800-282-3284
Catherine Rottkamp, M.D., Ph.D.

NICU Medical Director

Assistant Professor, Division of Clinical Pediatrics

Specialties
Neonatology
Pediatrics
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Location(s)
Phone: 800-282-3284
Deepika Sankaran, M.D., F.A.A.P.

Assistant Professor

Specialties
Neonatology
Location(s)
Phone: 800-282-3284
Christina Sollinger, M.D.

Associate Professor

Specialties
Neonatology
Pediatrics
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Location(s)
Phone: 800-282-3284
Emily Stieren, M.D., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology

Specialties
Neonatology
Pediatrics
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Location(s)
Phone: 800-282-3284
Payam Vali, M.D.

Associate Professor, Division of Clinical Pediatrics

Specialties
Neonatology
Pediatrics
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Location(s)
Phone: 800-282-3284
Nurse with newborn in NICU
Partnering to enhance neonatal care

NICU network partners

UC Davis Children’s Hospital serves as the Regional NICU partner for community NICU affiliates focused on supporting maternal child health care. These partners are found across UC Davis Health’s 33-county service area that stretches from Central California to the Oregon and Nevada borders.

These partnerships aim to enhance quality of care, keep moms and babies together, and ensure patients receive the right care at the right place and the right time.

Getting in touch with us

Contact us or make a referral

For referring physicians, please call our patient referrals and transfer phone number for assistance with neonatology services. 

We also provide neonatology telehealth consultations for physicians caring for infants throughout Northern California through our pediatric Clinical Telehealth Program.

Learn more about pediatric telehealth consultations

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

4301 X Street
Sacramento, CA 95817

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is located within UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

View map and directions

For physician referrals or appointments

800-823-4543

To see one of our specialists, a referral is required from your child’s primary care physician.

For NICU transfers

833-823-6428

For the hospital 24-hour operator

916-734-2011

For physician telehealth consultations

877-430-5332