Saadai, associate professor and fellowship-trained pediatric and fetal surgeon, is assuming leadership of the UC Davis Fetal Care and Treatment Center as well as the Center for Complex Colorectal Care in Children. Kohler, professor and medical director of pediatric trauma, is assuming leadership of the Level 1 Children’s Surgery Verification Program.
Jonathan Kohler, left, and Payam Saadai
Saadai first came to UC Davis Health in 2015 as the inaugural research fellow in the Center for Surgical Bioengineering and did initial research leading to the stem cell patch for fetal repair of spina bifida. He then went on to complete his surgical training at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, followed by specialty fellowship training at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. In addition to his current work at UC Davis Health, he directs the colorectal program at Shriners Children’s Northern California.
Kohler was recruited from the University of Wisconsin, where he was trauma medical director for its children’s hospital. At UC Davis Health, he has assumed the same role leading the pediatric trauma program. He also has started the novel Promoting Accessibility to Healthcare (PATH) program, which is aimed at improving the health care experience for neurodiverse children and their families. Saadai and Kohler succeed Shinjiro Hirose, who was recruited to develop a new fetal surgery program at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Diana Farmer, chair of the Department of Surgery, surgeon-in-chief emeritus at UC Davis Children’s Hospital and distinguished professor and Pearl Stamps Stewart Chair, will continue to work closely with the division during this transition
