Ralf Joachim Holzer, M.D., M.S.C.
Director, Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Catheterization
Professor of Pediatrics
To see if Ralf Joachim Holzer is accepting new patients, or for assistance finding a UC Davis doctor, please call 800-2-UCDAVIS (800-282-3284).
Locations and Contact
UC Davis Children's Hospital
UC Davis Children's Hospital
2315 Stockton Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95817
Additional Numbers
Physician Referrals
Philosophy of Care
Dr. Holzer's main focus is on delivering the highest quality of care, safeguarding exceptional outcomes and individulizing the care for each and every patient. Patients and their families will receive the highest possible personal attention, helping in this difficult journey at every step along the way.
Clinical Interests
Dr. Holzer is a pediatric cardiologist and an internationally recognized expert in all types of transcatheter interventions for patients with congenital heart disease and has demonstrated novel interventional techniques through live case demonstrations at many larger national and international scientific meetings.
Research/Academic Interests
Dr. Holzer has an extensive academic and research portfolio with more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, over 20 book chapters and numerous scientific abstracts to his name. He has a particular interest in outcomes research, quality improvement, and risk adjustment. Dr. Holzer also holds a Masters Degree in Information Technology.
Division
Pediatric Cardiology
Center/Program Affiliation
Medical School
State Exam, Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany 1994
Medical School
M.D., Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany 1995
Other School
M.S.C., Information Technology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK 2005
Internship
Internal Medicine, Alexandra Hospital, Redditch, UK 1996
Internship
Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Mainz, Mainz, Germany 1994-1995
Residency
Pediatrics, Various London UK Hospitals, London, UK 1996-1999
Fellowship
Pediatrics, Cardiology, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool, UK 1999-2003
Fellowship
Pediatrics, Cardiology, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool, UK 2004
Fellowship
Pediatrics Interventional Cardiology, University of Chicago Childrens Hospital, Chicago IL 2003-2004
Chair, PICS Society Quality Committee, 2020, 2021, 2022
Member, IMPACT Registry Steering Committee, ACC-NCDR, 2020, 2021, 2022
Member, SCAI, Congenital Heart Disease Council, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Chair, ACC NCDR IMPACT Registry Research & Publications Committee, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Chair, C3PO Registry Research & Publications Committee, 2020, 2021
Holzer RJ. IMPACTing the future: Are we on the right track? Pediatr Cardiol. 2022 Apr;43(4):821-826.
Holzer RJ, Gauvreau K, McEnaney K, Watanabe H, Ringel R. Long-Term Outcomes of the Coarctation of the Aorta Stent Trials. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2021 Jun;14(6):e010308. doi:10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS.120.010308. Epub 2021 May 27. PMID:34039015.
Dayton JD, Ford K, Carroll SJ, Flynn PA, Kourtidou S, Holzer RJ. The Deconditioning Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Unaffected Healthy Children. Pediatr Cardiol. 2021 Mar;42(3):554-559. doi:10.1007/s00246-020-02513-w. Epub 2021 Jan 4. PMID:33394120.
Backes CH, Bergersen L, Rome JJ, Batlivala SP, Glatz AC, Ovunc B, David S, Rivera BK, Haque U, Kollins K, Yin H, Holzer RJ. Quality metrics in cardiac catheterization for congenital heart disease: utility of 30-day mortality. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2015 Jan 1;85(1):104-10. doi:10.1002/ccd.25683. Epub 2014 Oct 7. PMID:25257572.
Holzer R, Beekman R, Benson L, Bergersen L, Jayaram N, Jenkins K, Kennedy K, Moore J, Ringel R, Rome J, Vincent R, Martin GR. Characteristics and safety of interventions and procedures performed during catheterisation of patients with congenital heart disease: early report from the national cardiovascular data registry. Cardiol Young. 2016 Aug;26(6):1202-12. doi:10.1017/S1047951115002218. Epub 2015 Oct 12. PMID:26455737.
Backes CH, Cua C, Kreutzer J, Armsby L, El-Said H, Moore JW, Gauvreau K, Bergersen L, Holzer RJ. Low weight as an independent risk factor for adverse events during cardiac catheterization of infants. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2013 Nov 1;82(5):786-94. doi:10.1002/ccd.24726. Epub 2013 Mar 2. PMID:23436647.
Holzer RJ, Gauvreau K, Kreutzer J, Moore JW, McElhinney DB, Bergersen L. Relationship between procedural adverse events associated with cardiac catheterization for congenital heart disease and operator factors: results of a multi-institutional registry (C3PO). Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2013 Sep 1;82(3):463-73. doi:10.1002/ccd.24866. Epub 2013 Apr 9. PMID:23413194.
Holzer RJ, Gauvreau K, Kreutzer J, Leahy R, Murphy J, Lock JE, Cheatham JP, Bergersen L. Balloon angioplasty and stenting of branch pulmonary arteries: adverse events and procedural characteristics: results of a multi-institutional registry. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2011 Jun;4(3):287-96. doi:10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS.110.961029. Epub 2011 Apr 26. PMID:21521836.
Bergersen L, Gauvreau K, Foerster SR, Marshall AC, McElhinney DB, Beekman RH 3rd, Hirsch R, Kreutzer J, Balzer D, Vincent J, Hellenbrand WE, Holzer R, Cheatham JP, Moore JW, Burch G, Armsby L, Lock JE, Jenkins KJ. Catheterization for Congenital Heart Disease Adjustment for Risk Method (CHARM). JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2011 Sep;4(9):1037-46. doi:10.1016/j.jcin.2011.05.021. PMID:21939947.
Holzer R, Qureshi S, Ghasemi A, Vincent J, Sievert H, Gruenstein D, Weber H, Alday L, Peirone A, Zellers T, Cheatham J, Slack M, Rome J. Stenting of aortic coarctation: acute, intermediate, and long-term results of a prospective multi-institutional registry--Congenital Cardiovascular Interventional Study Consortium (CCISC). Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2010 Oct 1;76(4):553-63. doi:10.1002/ccd.22587. PMID:20882661.