Sisters in scrubs: What it’s like to share shifts with a sibling

Sisters share a special bond. They often grow up swapping everything from clothes to secrets. But sharing a workplace is next-level sisterhood.

Meet three pairs of sisters who work together at UC Davis Health. Not only are they siblings but they’re also all nurses. Talk about family traditions!

Diana Saelee and Ada Kwong

“Ada and I used to carpool when we worked on the same unit. We were both on the night shift together and everyone would refer to us as ‘the sisters.’ The patients and staff found it wholesome to see us working side by side. It was a memorable experience that shaped the formative years when I started out as a new nurse.” – Diana Saelee, Nurse Manager, Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Care Clinic

“Diana and I both attended Sac State's nursing program, but in different years, so we were always at UC Davis for rotations. When Diana graduated her program, we were able to spend several years working together as she advanced from a new graduate nurse to an [assistant nurse manager] on the unit. It was so much fun.” – Ada Kwong, Clinical Resource Nurse, East 4 Accelerated Access Unit

Alina Okunev and Angelina Litvinov

“I started my career at UC Davis in 2012 and quickly discovered how wonderful it was to be part of the UC Davis Health system. I shared my experience with my sister, Angelina, and after hearing how much I enjoyed my work and the culture here, she decided she wanted to join too. She applied, and about a year later, she was hired. It’s a really neat thing to be working within the same health system, and we’re both proud to be part of the UC Davis family."  – Alina Okunev, RN, BSN, Cancer Center 

“Working with my sister means a lot to me. It’s really special to share this experience with her and be part of the same organization that’s making a difference in people’s lives. We support each other, and it’s nice knowing someone who really understands the work like we do. I’m proud of both of us for being part of UC Davis Health." – Angelina Litvinov, RN, BSN, Dermatology

Ava Lim and Menchu Barcenas

"Having my sister in some of my high-risk deliveries is something deeply comforting and knowing that no matter how challenging the day gets, I have my sister there-not just as a colleague, but as family.  The love of family woven into the fabric of our work makes everything more meaningful.  It’s not just about sharing a workplace -it’s about sharing dreams, laughter, and the quiet understanding that only siblings carry.  It’s a reminder of where we came from and how far we’ve come.  We get to build, learn, and grow side by side in a place that values love, compassion, courage, integrity, learning, and high-quality patient care.  I am so proud to be working alongside my sister." – Ava Lim, BSN, RNC, D3-University Birthing Suites

"When my family moved to Sacramento many years ago, my sister Ava brought me to UC Davis Medical Center. I was in search for my first nursing job. At that time, Ava had been working at UC Davis for a few years and she had told me that she enjoyed the work environment, her coworkers and the professional growth opportunities. She had also worked at a different hospital simultaneously and eventually stayed at UC Davis. It highly influenced my decision to work here. It’s been such an amazing experience to be able to work  along side with my sister at some of the high-risk pregnancies and deliveries."  – Menchu Barcenas, RNC-NICU, D5-NICU