UC Davis Health
UC Davis Children's Hospital
Year in review: 2024-2025
Emilio and respiratory therapist Audrey Chikalla
Specialties

Emilio and respiratory therapist Audrey Chikalla.

Pulmonology

“I’m very blessed to have UC Davis in our lives. They’ve always been there for my son at every turn. They’ve helped us maneuver through his health and his life. I absolutely love them.”

– Shannon Vallejo, whose son Emilio was treated for sleep apnea.

  • US News & World Report nationally ranked in children’s pulmonology badge

    Nationally ranked

    Our pediatric pulmonology program ranked 41st nationally in the 2025–2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals survey.

  • First pediatric home sleep study program

    With funding support from Children’s Miracle Network (CMN), our pediatric pulmonary and sleep medicine clinic established the first pediatric home sleep study program for children ages 3 to 18 years. The program improves availability to home sleep studies to patients with suspected sleep disordered breathing, including obstructive sleep apnea, and can help with timely access to appropriate treatments.

  • New cryotherapy used to retrieve foreign body in child

    UC Davis Health pediatric and interventional pulmonologists successfully removed a stick from a pediatric patient’s airway, with the innovative use of cryotherapy. The technique is used to remove mucous plugs, blood clots and foreign bodies in the airway, and can prevent life threatening and chronic complications.

  • Disposable bronchoscopes help critical pulmonary patients

    Thanks to disposable bronchoscope equipment funded by Children’s Miracle Network (CMN), we are able to perform emergency bronchoscopies in our pediatric and neonatal intensive care units. Unlike reusable bronchoscopes, the disposable equipment is readily available and easy to transport and assemble.