At a glance

In 2023–2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked UC Davis Children’s Hospital among the nation’s best in three pediatric specialties, diabetes & endocrinology, nephrology, and orthopedics. The orthopedics ranking was awarded in collaboration with Shriners Children’s Northern California, our longstanding partner in caring for children with burns, spinal cord injuries, orthopedic disorders and urological issues.

JoAnne Natale, M.D., UC Davis Vice Chair of Quality and Safety, was appointed associate chief medical officer for children’s health at UC Davis Health. Natale’s duties include providing expertise for high quality and safe patient care, coordinating care and services for patients throughout the health system, and reviewing and providing physician perspective for policies that relate to care coordination, care progression and patient access.

Pediatric gastroenterologist Daphne Say, M.D., was appointed to the new position of vice chair of ambulatory operations at UC Davis Children’s Hospital, where she serves as a physician-administrator to lead pediatric ambulatory care. Her duties include engaging in administrative oversight of physician provider issues at the UC Davis Glassrock Clinic, pediatric subspecialty clinics, Sacramento Native American Health Center and Sacramento County Health Center.

Tiffani Johnson, M.D., M.Sc., was named president-elect of the Academic Pediatric Association (APA). Her responsibilities include chairing board meetings, representing the APA at regional, society and programmatic meetings, and serving on the APA Executive Committee. Johnson serves as a national mentor for the APA Young Investigator Award and New Century Scholars programs and co-chairs the APA Race in Medicine Special Interest Group, which seeks to bring awareness to the role of race in the practice of medicine and provide youth development support.

James Marcin, M.D., M.P.H., director of the UC Davis Center for Health and Technology, vice chair for pediatric clinical research and professor of pediatrics, returned home after spending three months in Ireland sharing best practices in telehealth with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and Children’s Health Ireland (CHI). Marcin’s time overseas was sponsored by the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, which offers college and university faculty, as well as artists and professionals, the opportunity to teach, conduct research and pursue professional projects worldwide. Marcin was selected as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar for 2022–2023, joining the ranks of more than 400,000 Fulbright U.S. Scholars who have made new connections around the globe.

UC Davis Health’s family medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics & gynecology residency programs were awarded $950,000 in CalMedForce funding for 2023. Administered by Physicians for a Healthy California, CalMedForce program’s goal is to expand the physician workforce in the state while addressing shortages and providing care in medically underserved areas.

The UC Davis Fetal Care and Treatment Center and UC Davis Health Prenatal Diagnosis Center of Northern California were awarded an ultrasound practice accreditation from the Ultrasound Practice Accreditation Council of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM). Both centers were accredited in the areas of obstetrics standard and detailed second trimester OB ultrasound.

Pediatric hospitalist Michelle Hamline, M.D., Ph.D., M.A.S., received the 2023 Eli Gold Prize. The award is given to faculty members who have achieved prominence in clinical, teaching, research and/or community service. Hamline is recognized for her work and leadership in growing the community partnership between UC Davis Children’s Hospital and Adventist Health Lodi Memorial so rural families can receive the most innovative care.