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News from UC Davis Health System
June 2013
Evolution of an outbreak: complications from contaminated steroid injections
June 19, 2013 — A study of the patients who received injections of steroids contaminated with the fungus Exserohilum rostratum from the New England Compounding Center has found that some patients had fungal infections even though they did not experience a worsening of their symptoms and that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help detect spinal infections, especially among those individuals who received injections from highly contaminated lots. The study, along with an editorial by UC Davis Assistant Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology George R. Thompson, appears in the June 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
School of Nursing professor named director of new center devoted to boost women's numbers in academia
June 17, 2013 — Professor Mary Lou de Leon Siantz was recently appointed by UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi as director for the new Center for the Advancement of Multicultural Perspectives on Science (CAMPOS). The center is part of a new effort, led by Katehi, to increase the participation of women, especially Latinas, in academic science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers.
AMA awards $1 million to UC Davis-Kaiser Permanente partnership for innovative primary care training
June 14, 2013 — UC Davis School of Medicine in partnership with Kaiser Permanente has received a $1 million grant from the American Medical Association (AMA) for an innovative education program designed for an elite group of medical students committed to careers in primary care.
UC Davis nursing school celebrates 2013 graduation
June 14, 2013 — From the class representative to the keynote speaker at the 2013 Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing Graduation Celebration, the messages included a similar theme to the Master of Science in Nursing Science and Health-Care Leadership graduates: Be the nurses who lead improvements in health care.
LGBT questions to become standardized demographic elements in electronic health records
June 13, 2013 — UC Davis Health System will become the first academic health system in the country to incorporate sexual orientation and gender identity as standard demographic elements within the electronic health records for its patients.
Kiwanis Family House sets mini-golf fundraiser June 22-23
June 13, 2013 — It’s “miniature” in size but gigantic in purpose: a miniature-golf fundraiser, featuring prizes, at the Kiwanis Family House in Sacramento.
College student to receive scholarship for essay about her Dad's brain tumor on Father's Day
June 13, 2013 — Sacramento State student Kimberly Schmidt and her father, Bobby Schmidt, a brain tumor patient at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, 23 young athletes running in the 4K for Cancer event from San Francisco to Baltimore, MD to raise money for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.
Father's brain tumor treatment sparks essay, then college scholarship
June 12, 2013 — A Sacramento-area college student will receive a $2,500 college scholarship Sunday after being selected from hundreds of applicants based on an essay detailing her family’s experience following her father’s brain tumor diagnosis and treatment.
Top grad helps address health-care disparities
June 11, 2013 — The University of California, Davis, thinks Nicole Sitkin is going to go places and have an impact on the world — it has named her this year's University Medalist as the top graduating senior.
Reducing unnecessary and high-dose pediatric CT scans could cut associated cancers by 62 percent
June 10, 2013 — A study examining trends in X-ray computed tomography (CT) use in children in the United States has found that reducing unnecessary scans and lowering the doses for the highest-dose scans could lower the overall lifetime risk of future imaging-related cancers by 62 percent. The research by a UC Davis Health System scientist is published online today in JAMA Pediatrics. It is accompanied by a journal editorial. [en español]
UC Davis a longtime leader in appropriate CT scanning in children
June 10, 2013 — UC Davis has a long history of research pertaining to appropriate CT scanning in children with trauma, and the risks to children of unnecessary CT scans. This work has been performed through its leadership in the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN), the only federally funded pediatric emergency care research network in the U.S., co-founded by Nathan Kuppermann, chair of the UC Davis Department of Emergency Medicine and an internationally respected pediatric emergency medicine physician.
Researchers find diminished balance in those with poor vision
June 6, 2013 — UC Davis Health System Eye Center research has found that visually impaired individuals and those with uncorrected refractive error — those who could benefit from glasses to achieve normal vision but don’t wear glasses — have a significantly greater risk of diminished balance with their eyes closed on a compliant, foam surface than individuals with normal vision.
Epidemiology doctoral student wins award from American Telemedicine Association
June 6, 2013 — Nikki Yang, a Ph.D. candidate in the UC Davis Graduate Group in Epidemiology, recently won the 2013 Student Paper Award from the American Telemedicine Association.
UC Davis nursing school opens applications for new nurse practitioner, physician assistant programs
June 5, 2013 — The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis expands its graduate programs this summer to include master’s-degree offerings for aspiring nurse practitioners and physician assistants with a focus on preparing primary-care providers for rural and underserved communities.
Emergency medicine faculty honored at national meeting
June 4, 2013 — Three members of the UC Davis Department of Emergency Medicine were honored recently for their achievements and leadership at this year’s annual Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) meeting in Atlanta.
Lack of awareness limits use of flexible career policies in academia
June 3, 2013 — To attract and maintain a diverse, qualified academic workforce, institutions of higher education should have — and promote — policies to help balance career and family life, according to an article published by UC Davis researchers in the June 2013 issue of Academic Medicine.
Code Blue training initiative pulsates with innovation and success
June 3, 2013 — Working to improve cardiac arrest training — training for what are called “Code Blue” events — a multidisciplinary UC Davis Health System team has created a novel initiative that takes advantage of the university’s high-tech simulation facilities and equipment and its highly regarded emergency and trauma-care expertise.
May 2013
School-located vaccination programs could reduce flu cases and deaths among children
May 31, 2013 — Offering flu vaccines at elementary schools could expand vaccination rates and reduce costs, according to a new study reported in the scientific journal Vaccine by researchers from UC Davis Health System; the Monroe County, N.Y., Department of Public Health; University of Rochester Medical Center; and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
UC Davis School of Medicine celebrates commencement
May 30, 2013 — Ninety-nine medical students officially became physicians on Saturday, June 1, following commencement ceremonies for UC Davis School of Medicine.
UC Davis professors honored for excellence and achievement
May 30, 2013 — Two UC Davis School of Medicine faculty have been recognized with the C. John Tupper Prize for Excellence in Teaching and the Hibbard Williams Extraordinary Achievement Award as part of this year’s commencement events.
Mann designated Fellow of Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh and London
May 30, 2013 — Nirmal S. Mann, professor in the UC Davis Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, has been designated as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh and London.
Father and son to present their respective cancer research at ASCO
May 29, 2013 — What started as a dinner-table conversation between a teen and his father has become a bonafide cancer research study for Matthew Lara, a Davis High School sophomore and the son of UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center medical oncologist and researcher Primo (Lucky) Lara Jr.
Health differences explain most geographic variation in Medicare costs
May 28, 2013 — Wide geographic variation in Medicare costs is largely explained by health differences across communities rather than inefficient care delivery, according to a study published online today in the SAGE journal Medical Care Research and Review.
UC Davis hosts Veterans and Diversity Career Fair on June 3
May 28, 2013 — UC Davis will host its first Veterans and Diversity Career Fair on Monday, June 3, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the MIND Institute, 2825 50th St., Sacramento. The event is free and open to the general public.
Two UC Davis physicians honored as health-care heroes
May 24, 2013 — Two UC Davis Health System faculty were recognized today as 2013 Health Care Heroes by the Sacramento Business Journal for their outstanding achievements in making a difference in the health of the Sacramento region. Psychiatrist Robert Hales was recognized in the mental health practitioner category and cardiologist Amparo Villablanca was recognized in the researcher category.
Hales named Health Care Hero by Sacramento Business Journal
May 24, 2013 — Robert Hales, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, has been named a Health Care Hero by the Sacramento Business Journal. The honor was announced today.
UC Davis Latino mental health expert to appear on PBS documentary
May 23, 2013 — Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, a UC Davis physician and internationally renowned expert on mental health and other conditions that frequently impact underserved populations, will appear in a documentary titled “A New State of Mind: Ending the Stigma of Mental Illness,” set to air Thursday, May 30, at 9 p.m. on Sacramento PBS station KVIE-Channel 6.
UC Davis researchers receive grant to study neurodegenerative disease FXTAS
May 22, 2013 — Researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute and the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain have received a five-year, $3 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to conduct the first long-range study of the mental and psychological decline that accompanies the age-related neurological disorder fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome, or FXTAS.
Past trauma, poor understanding of health-care services common among Sacramento Iraqi refugees
May 20, 2013 — Past trauma and a lack of understanding of the U.S. health-care system are key factors affecting the mental and physical health of Iraqi refugees in Sacramento, according to a new report released by UC Davis’ Center for Reducing Health Disparities and Clinical and Translational Science Center, as well as Opening Doors Inc. and the Mesopotamia Organization (MESO) — two community groups that serve refugee populations.
Study identifies new approach to improving treatment for MS and other conditions
May 17, 2013 — Working with lab mice models of multiple sclerosis (MS), UC Davis scientists have detected a novel molecular target for the design of drugs that could be safer and more effective than current FDA-approved medications against MS.
One million dollar incentive program for rural e-health information exchange launched
May 16, 2013 — The California Health eQuality (CHeQ) program, managed by the UC Davis Institute for Population Health Improvement (IPHI), has launched a new $1 million Rural Health Information Exchange Incentive Program to help physicians, clinics and hospitals in rural California implement technologies that enable the secure and reliable exchange of health information to improve health-care quality, lower costs and achieve federal meaningful use criteria.
Fenton recognized for cancer research with the 2013 Joan Oettinger Memorial Award
May 15, 2013 — Joshua Fenton, a UC Davis associate professor of family and community medicine, is the recipient of the UC Davis School of Medicine’s 2013 Joan Oettinger Memorial Award for his research in cancer screening and prevention and his dedication to improving the quality of health-care services.
UC Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities receives $1 million grant from Covered California
May 15, 2013 — The UC Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities has received a $1 million grant from Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace, to provide outreach and education to underserved populations about obtaining health insurance.
Hertz-Picciotto and Baumler receive 2013 School of Medicine Research Award
May 15, 2013 — UC Davis faculty members Irva Hertz-Picciotto and Andreas Baumler have been selected to receive the 2013 UC Davis School of Medicine Research Award.
Unions resist pension reforms, call for strike May 21-22 at UC medical centers
May 14, 2013 — The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union announced on Friday (May 10) that it is asking UC patient care and service employees to strike at UC medical centers on May 21 and 22. The strike is scheduled to start at 4 a.m. on May 21 and continue until 3:59 a.m. on May 23.
Children's Hospital patient to appear on Animal Planet series
May 14, 2013 — Cable television channel Animal Planet was at UC Davis Children’s Hospital last week to produce an episode of the series “Monsters Inside Me” about Precious Reynolds, the Humboldt County grade-schooler who in 2011 became the third person in the United States known to have survived rabies infection.
UC Davis receives awards to study new treatments for childhood diseases
May 13, 2013 — Three researchers from the University of California, Davis, are among the scientists selected to receive Individual Biomedical Research Awards from The Hartwell Foundation this year. The awards recognize early-stage, innovative and cutting-edge biomedical research that has the potential to benefit children in the U.S. and beyond
Tailoring pulmonary rehabilitation could improve outcomes for women with COPD
May 10, 2013 — —One of the most effective treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — pulmonary rehabilitation — could potentially work even better if programs were designed based on gender, according to a UC Davis pulmonary physician.
Free hepatitis B screenings offered on May 19
May 10, 2013 — Asian Americans and adult children of foreign-born Asian Americans are invited to a free hepatitis B screening event Sunday, May 19 at the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Brodie is president-elect of American Neurotology Society
May 10, 2013 — Hilary Brodie, professor and chair of the Department of Otolaryngology, is the president of the American Neurotology Society. He began his term as president of the society May 1.
UC Davis researchers identify mechanism for controlling calcium influx in cells
May 8, 2013 — When brain cells are overwhelmed by an influx of too many calcium molecules, they shut down the channels through which these molecules enter the cells. Until now, the “stop” signal mechanism that cells use to control the molecular traffic was unknown. In the new issue of the journal Neuron, UC Davis Health System scientists report that they have identified the mechanism. Their findings are relevant to understanding the molecular causes of the disruption of brain functioning that occurs in stroke and other neurological disorders.
First UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Center distinguished lecture to explore artistry in dementia
May 7, 2013 — “Portraits of Artists with Dementia” is the topic of the first UC Davis Alzheimer’s Disease Center Distinguished Lecture, to be presented by Bruce L. Miller, director of the UC San Francisco Memory and Aging Center, on Thursday, May 23. The lecture will be presented from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the UC Davis MIND Institute, 2825 50th St., Sacramento. The discussion is free and open to the public; no reservations are required.
UC Davis radiation oncology chief leads development of new prostate cancer guideline
May 7, 2013 — Based on a major effort co-led by UC Davis prostate cancer expert Richard Valicenti, the nation’s leading urological and radiation oncology organizations today announced a new guideline for radiation therapy after prostatectomy.
UC Davis Medical Center named mother-baby friendly workplace
May 6, 2013 — UC Davis Medical Center has been named a recipient of the Mother-Baby Friendly Workplace Award from the Breastfeeding Coalition of Greater Sacramento, an affiliate of the California Breastfeeding Coalition. Each year, the coalition presents the award to local organizations that have been nominated by their employees to demonstrate appreciation for businesses that go 'above and beyond' to support their breastfeeding employees. The award will be presented on May 13 at 11 a.m. on the North Steps of the State Capital.
Ubiquitous engineered nanomaterials cause lung inflammation, study finds
May 6, 2013 — A consortium of scientists from across the country has found that breathing ultrafine particles from a large family of materials that increasingly are found in a host of household and commercial products, from sunscreens to the ink in copy machines to super-strong but lightweight sporting equipment, can cause lung inflammation and damage.
Lecture by University of Washington bioethics chair set for May 16
May 3, 2013 — Wylie Burke, professor and chair of the Department of Bioethics and Humanities at the University of Washington, will speak on Thursday, May 16, as part of the UC Davis Bioethics Distinguished Lecture series.
UC Davis recognized as a top school for family medicine
May 3, 2013 — The American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP) has recognized UC Davis School of Medicine as one of the nation’s top 10 schools for graduating medical students who go on to family medicine residencies.
UC Davis faculty awards reception set for May 14
May 3, 2013 — The Academic Senate and Academic Federation of UC Davis will come together on May 14 to present their highest faculty honors. Pain medicine specialist Scott Fishman and public health advocate Joy Melnikow of UC Davis Health System will be recognized for distinguished public service.
Mannis recognized for contributions to ophthalmology
May 2, 2013 — Mark J. Mannis, director of the UC Davis Eye Center, has been named to the University of Florida College of Medicine’s Wall of Fame.
April 2013
Commentary calls for greater transparency in highlighting social value of research
April 29, 2013 — In a commentary published in the May issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, UC Davis bioethicist Mark Yarborough proposes that more information about the social value of individual research studies be made available to patients during the informed consent process so they are more aware of the degree to which a study has the potential to improve health for all.
MIND Institute, Yale study finds abnormalities in the placentas of children at risk for autism
April 24, 2013 — A study by researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute and the Yale University School of Medicine has found that more than 95 percent of the placentas of infants who are among those at the greatest risk for developing autism contained abnormal cells, called trophoblast inclusions, suggesting that the abnormality may hold promise as a very early marker for autism risk.
Health-care worker visits increase hepatitis B screening rates for Hmong Americans
April 23, 2013 — In the first study of its kind, lay health workers increased screening rates for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and knowledge about the disease among a group of Asian Americans, known as the Hmong, UC Davis researchers have found. The study appears online today in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
UC Davis ophthalmology resident receives national fellowship award
April 23, 2013 — UC Davis ophthalmology resident Bobeck Modjtahedi has been awarded one of this year’s prestigious Heed Fellowships. A graduate of UC Davis and UC Davis School of Medicine, Modjtahedi will finish his residency training at the UC Davis Eye Center in June and then continue postgraduate training at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital in Boston.
Epidemiologist to give lecture on connections between autism risk factors and health-care claims
April 22, 2013 — Epidemiologist Craig Newschaffer of Drexel University will discuss "Autism Outcomes and Risk Factors: What Can We Learn from Health-Care Claims?” during the next UC Davis MIND Institute Distinguished Lecturer Series presentation.
Immunological factors, genes, and the environment in autism
April 18, 2013 — The UC Davis MIND Institute will host an update for parents and health-care professionals on research exploring the growing body of evidence suggesting associations between environmental mechanisms, immunological susceptibility and autism on Saturday, June 1.
Farmers market comes to UC Davis Health System
April 16, 2013 — UC Davis Health System launches a weekly farmers market on May 16, reflecting a national trend that expands access to fresh, locally grown produce sold directly to consumers.
Mammogram tool improves some breast cancer detection but also increases false alarms
April 15, 2013 — A costly and widely used mammography add-on increases detection of noninvasive and early-stage invasive breast cancer but also makes more mistakes than mammography alone, researchers from UC Davis and the University of Washington have found. [en español]
Women with advanced vascular disease have more complications but not common risks
April 12, 2013 — Research by UC Davis physicians has found that women with a severe arterial condition that restricts circulation to arms and legs are at greater risk than men of experiencing a heart attack or stroke yet are less likely to have a history of heart disease or diabetes — common risk factors for major cardiovascular events.
School of Nursing doctoral candidate wins prestigious Doris Duke Charitable Foundation fellowship
April 12, 2013 — Sheridan Miyamoto, a doctoral candidate in the Nursing Science and Health-Care Leadership Graduate Degree Program at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, was awarded a prestigious Doris Duke Fellowship for the Promotion of Child Well-Being. Miyamoto is one of just 15graduate students nationwide selected for the award this year.
Study finds physicians often receive no information about harmful effects of medicines
April 10, 2013 — More often than not, family doctors receive little or no information about the harmful effects of medicines during clinic visits by pharmaceutical sales representatives (“sales reps”), according to an international study involving physicians in the United States, Canada and France.
Growing Up Latino and Surviving to 25 slated for April 23
April 9, 2013 — “Growing Up Latino and Surviving to 25,” a panel discussion exploring the mental-health challenges faced by Latino youth in the United States, will be held at UC Davis on April 23 and moderated by award-winning journalist and host of the National Public Radio program “Latino USA" Maria Hinojosa. [en español]
Tian receives international investigator award for brain function studies
April 9, 2013 — Lin Tian, assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular medicine at UC Davis School of Medicine, is one of 28 scientists worldwide awarded a 2013 Young Investigator Grant from the Human Frontier Science Program to better understand the complex mechanisms of living organisms.
Small molecule unlocks key prostate cancer survival tactic
April 9, 2013 — The most recent in a series of studies from a team at the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center has shown that a single molecule is at the heart of one of the most basic survival tactics of prostate cancer cells.
Minocycline, an antibiotic, improves behavior for children with fragile X syndrome
April 8, 2013 — Minocycline, an older, broad-spectrum antibiotic in the tetracycline family, provides meaningful improvements as a therapeutic for children with fragile X syndrome, a study by researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute has found. The finding is important, the researchers said, because minocycline is readily available by prescription.
UC Davis neurosurgeons launch clinical trial for acute spinal cord injury
April 3, 2013 — Spinal surgeons at UC Davis Health System are enrolling individuals immediately following spinal cord injury in a multi-center clinical trial of an investigational compound that is being tested to determine whether it can protect and regenerate the spinal nerves after catastrophic injury.
Fatty acid metabolite shows promise against cancer in mice
April 2, 2013 — A team of UC Davis scientists has found that a product resulting from a metabolized omega-3 fatty acid helps combat cancer by cutting off the supply of oxygen and nutrients that fuel tumor growth and spread of the disease.
UC Davis MIND Institute's Rogers receives prestigious Autism Centers of Excellence award from the NIH
April 2, 2013 — Autism researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute have received a prestigious $13 million award from the National Institutes of Health to establish an Autism Center of Excellence and Treatment Network, making the MIND Institute one of only nine such centers in the United States.
March 2013
UC Davis researchers discover how cells distinguish friend from foe
March 31, 2013 — Researchers at UC Davis have shown how the innate immune system distinguishes between dangerous pathogens and friendly microbes. Like burglars entering a house, hostile bacteria give themselves away by breaking into cells. However, sensing proteins instantly detect the invasion, triggering an alarm that mobilizes the innate immune response. This new understanding of immunity could ultimately help researchers find new targets to treat inflammatory disorders. The paper was published in Nature on March 31.
Opposites attract: How cells and fragments move in electric fields
March 28, 2013 — Like tiny, crawling compass needles, whole living cells and cell fragments orient and move in response to electric fields — but in opposite directions, scientists at the University of California, Davis, have found.
Development of the brain's networks topic of next MIND Institute Distinguished Lecture
March 27, 2013 — Bradley L. Schlaggar of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis will discuss “Development of the Brain’s Functional Networks” during the next UC Davis MIND Institute Distinguished Lecturer Series presentation.
New insights into how genes turn on and off
March 27, 2013 — Researchers at UC Davis and the University of British Columbia have shed new light on methylation, a critical process that helps control how genes are expressed. Working with placentas, the team discovered that 37 percent of the placental genome has regions of lower methylation, called partially methylated domains (PMDs), in which gene expression is turned off. This differs from most human tissues, in which 70 percent of the genome is highly methylated.
UC Davis stem cell scientist wins elevator pitch challenge
March 27, 2013 — UC Davis stem cell researcher Paul Knoepfler has added a unique honor to his curriculum vitae: He is among the winners of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine’s (CIRM) first-ever Elevator Pitch Challenge, which were announced today.
Earl Wolfman, first Department of Surgery chair, dies at 86
March 26, 2013 — Earl Frank Wolfman, Jr., the first chair of the UC Davis Department of Surgery, died on March 3 in Elk Grove, Calif., at the age of 86.
Abbeduto receives grant to study language acquisition in fragile X syndrome and Down syndrome
March 26, 2013 — A team of researchers led by UC Davis MIND Institute Director Leonard Abbeduto will investigate the effectiveness of testing procedures to examine the spoken language development of people with fragile X syndrome and people with Down syndrome, through a new five-year, $3 million grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health.
Study shows that blocking an inflammation pathway prevents cardiac fibrosis
March 21, 2013 — New research from UC Davis published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that blocking an enzyme that promotes inflammation can prevent the tissue damage following a heart attack that often leads to heart failure.
UC Davis research advances efforts to prevent dangerous blood clots
March 20, 2013 — New research from the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, published in the Journal of Surgical Research, may help clinicians determine which patients are at highest risk for post-surgical blood clots in the legs or lungs.
UC Davis study calls for research on the efficacy and safety of vena cava filters
March 19, 2013 — An evaluation of practice patterns in California hospitals showed a large variation in the use of metal devices called inferior vena cava filters, or VCFs, despite little evidence of their safety and effectiveness. Led by UC Davis physicians, the study demonstrated that patients in larger, urban and private hospitals with more than 400 beds were most likely to be treated with one of the metal devices, which are placed intravenously to prevent pulmonary embolism.
UC Davis Medical Center named one of top hospitals with great oncology programs
March 19, 2013 — UC Davis Medical Center has been named one of “100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs” by Becker’s Hospital Review, a national publication geared to hospital and health system leaders.
UC Davis Medical Center awarded for efforts to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health care
March 18, 2013 — UC Davis Medical Center’s expansive, highly successful collection of race, ethnicity and language data from its patients has received a “Best Overall Project” award for 2012-13 from the Disparities Leadership Program.
Highest percentage of UC Davis School of Medicine graduates in a decade pursue primary-care residencies
March 18, 2013 — Nearly half of the 107 medical students graduating from UC Davis in June will enter primary-care medicine residency programs, the highest percentage in more than a decade, demonstrating the school’s ongoing commitment to alleviating the nationwide shortage of providers in the specialty.
Sleep study reveals how the adolescent brain makes the transition to mature thinking
March 15, 2013 — A new study conducted by monitoring the brain waves of sleeping adolescents has found that remarkable changes occur in the brain as it prunes away neuronal connections and makes the major transition from childhood to adulthood.
“Come Out for Health Week” planned for March 25-28
March 12, 2013 — In honor of the 11th annual National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Health Awareness Week, UC Davis Health System will host its first "Come Out for Health" week March 25-28, targeting people from diverse backgrounds. This LGBT and diversity health awareness week will feature a lecture and film series, focusing on reducing health disparities and promoting health for all. All events are free of charge.
Researchers discover key biochemical step to heart failure, new therapies on horizon
March 12, 2013 — Some 5.8 million Americans suffer from heart failure, a currently incurable disease. But scientists at Temple University School of Medicine's Center for Translational Medicine and UC Davis Health System have discovered a key biochemical step underlying the condition that could aid the development of new drugs to treat and possibly prevent it.
Study to examine mental-health effects of Mexican parents' deportation on their American children
March 12, 2013 — How the deportation of undocumented Mexican migrants affects their American-born children, who are faced with either going with their parents to Mexico or remaining in the land of their birth without them, is an issue of paramount importance as the nation engages in discussion of comprehensive immigration reform ― and is the subject of groundbreaking new research by The University of Texas, Austin, UC Davis Health System and the National Institute of Psychiatry, Mexico. [en español]
U.S. News & World Report ranks UC Davis School of Medicine among nation's best
March 12, 2013 — U.S. News & World Report has ranked UC Davis School of Medicine among America's best medical schools for the quality of its educational programs in primary care and research. The news magazine's annual listing appeared today on the publication's website and will be published in its 2014 guidebook, “America's Best Graduate Schools.”
Large study finds that physician gender does not affect patient-care costs or mortality
March 11, 2013 — Female doctors’ patients do not use health-care services more or die less frequently than patients treated by male doctors, a prospective, observational study by researchers at UC Davis Health System has found.
Gun retailers take a hard line on illegal firearm sales, UC Davis survey finds
March 11, 2013 — A scientific survey of more than 1,600 gun retailers in the U.S. has found that gun buyers frequently try to make illegal purchases and that gun retailers take a dim view of fellow sellers who engage in illegal activity — regardless of whether they are actively breaking the law or simply looking the other way.
New firearms law and mortality study fails to guide next steps
March 6, 2013 — In an invited commentary, Garen Wintemute, an emergency medicine physician and director of the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California, Davis, discusses important limitations of a new firearms and crime study linking firearms laws with lower firearm-related deaths.
UC Davis MIND Institute holds National Autism Awareness Month activities
March 5, 2013 — April is National Autism Awareness Month and the UC Davis MIND Institute, an institute respected internationally for its groundbreaking research into therapies for autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, is holding a series of free, inclusive events in recognition of the month-long observance. The events also mark the 15-year anniversary of the MIND Institute, founded in 1998.
Rogers honored for "Breaking the Glass Ceiling"
March 5, 2013 — Sally J. Rogers, UC Davis professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, was honored on Monday during the Breaking the Glass Ceiling Awards of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus. The awards celebrate the successes of California women in breaking barriers in the fields of science, technology, the arts, the judiciary and beyond. The ceremony was part of the Assembly’s celebration of Women’s History Month during the Floor Session.
UC Davis scientist wins prestigious grant to explore cancer spread and stem cell function
March 1, 2013 — Frederic A. Troy, II, professor and chair emeritus of biochemistry and molecular medicine, has received a globally competitive research grant from the Mizutani Foundation for Glycoscience to better understand structural changes associated with metastasis of adult cancer cells and stem cells.
February 2013
Nurse scientist Nilda Peragallo to speak at annual UC Davis nursing school lecture
February 28, 2013 — Nurse scientist Nilda (Nena) Peragallo, one of the nation’s foremost researchers in HIV/AIDS risk reduction and prevention in Latinos, will discuss health disparities and the recruitment and retention of minority scientists as the featured speaker at the 2013 Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis Lecture Series: Leading Change, Advancing Health from 4 to 5 p.m. March 6 at the UC Davis Sacramento campus.
Sacramento leaders come together as champions of women's heart health
February 26, 2013 — Crystal Ching has no family history of heart disease. She is under 50. Her cholesterol is low. She maintains a healthy weight. Yet she has heart disease.
A new role for microglia
February 26, 2013 — In a surprise breakthrough, researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute and their colleagues have found that microglia remove healthy neural progenitor cells (NPCs) through phagocytosis to control neuron production during brain development. This newly discovered mechanism keeps neuron numbers in check, preventing brain overgrowth. The discovery could open up new avenues for brain research and lead to therapies for a variety of neurological conditions.
Neurobiologist Paul Patterson to give lecture on gut-brain-immune connections in autism
February 25, 2013 — Neurobiologist Paul Patterson, the Anne P. and Benjamin F. Biaggini Professor of Biological Sciences at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, will discuss “Gut-Brain-Immune Connections: Modeling an Environmental Risk Factor for Autism,” during the next UC Davis MIND Institute Distinguished Lecturer Series presentation.
Cake marks end of therapy for pediatric cancer patient
February 21, 2013 — The UC Davis Pediatric Infusion Center started a new tradition Wednesday with the presentation of a beautifully frosted cake in honor of the end of therapy for one young cancer patient.
Carmichael receives $100,000 grant to study vascular brain disease, Alzheimer's
February 21, 2013 — Beginning in midlife, heart disease leads to subtle blood-flow problems in the brain that develop insidiously, gradually damaging neurons and contributing to cognitive decline. Knowledge of clinically silent blood-flow problems in the brain has led to the “healthy heart, healthy mind” hypothesis that preventing or treating heart disease also may help prevent age-associated cognitive decline.
Background checks, permanent records needed for all firearm transfers, not just gun sales by retailers
February 20, 2013 — Gun violence in the United States can be substantially reduced if Congress expands requirements for background checks on retail gun sales to cover firearm transfers between private parties, a new report by the director of the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program concludes.
First-year student wins Virginia Toombs, M.D. Memorial Scholarship
February 20, 2013 — Karina Chavez, a first-year student at the UC Davis School of Medicine, is the 2012-13 recipient of the Virginia Toombs, M.D. Memorial Scholarship.
Mushroom-supplemented soybean extract shows therapeutic promise for advanced prostate cancer
February 20, 2013 — A natural, nontoxic product called genistein-combined polysaccharide, or GCP, which is commercially available in health stores, could help lengthen the life expectancy of certain prostate cancer patients, UC Davis researchers have found.
First-year student wins Julita A. Fong Scholarship
February 19, 2013 — A first-year student has been named as the winner of an annual scholarship provided to women medical students at the UC Davis School of Medicine.
Pharmacologist to test new therapy for protecting diabetics from heart failure
February 15, 2013 — A UC Davis pharmacologist has been awarded a two-year, $95,000 Innovation Award from the American Diabetes Association to find out if blocking the pancreatic hormone amylin can reduce diabetic heart failure.
Gershwin honored by international immunology association
February 12, 2013 — UC Davis researcher M. Eric Gershwin has been recognized with the first Vasco da Gama Award for Explorations in Autoimmunity by Medinterna Association, an international organization dedicated to improving therapeutic strategies for immune-system diseases.
Dennis Matthews elected SPIE fellow
February 12, 2013 — Dennis Matthews, professor emeritus at UC Davis and director of the NSF Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology, was elected a SPIE fellow for achievements in biophotonics innovation and commercialization. SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 to advance light-based technologies.
Children's Hospital, Cancer Center get major boost for Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department
February 11, 2013 — A program that provides children with support through education, play, music and art received a big boost Friday with the gift of $56,360 from the Spirit of Halloween Superstores.
Gun violence prevention experts call for more physician involvement
February 11, 2013 — A new commentary in the Annals of Internal Medicine from researchers with The Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research and University of California, Davis, calls for more physician engagement in the current gun policy dialogue.
Vascular brain injury greater risk factor than amyloid plaques in cognitive aging
February 11, 2013 — Vascular brain injury from conditions such as high blood pressure and stroke are greater risk factors for cognitive impairment among non-demented older people than is the deposition of the amyloid plaques in the brain that long have been implicated in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, a study by researchers at the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at UC Davis has found.
Scientists find key to growth of "bad" bacteria in inflammatory bowel disease
February 7, 2013 — Scientists have long puzzled over why “bad” bacteria such as E. coli can thrive in the guts of those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), causing serious diarrhea. Now UC Davis researchers have discovered the answer—one that may be the first step toward finding new and better treatments for IBD.
Experimental gene therapy treatment for duchenne muscular dystrophy offers hope for youngster
February 7, 2013 — Jacob Rutt is a bright 11-year-old who likes to draw detailed maps in his spare time. But the budding geographer has a hard time with physical skills most children take for granted ― running and climbing trees are beyond him, and even walking can be difficult. He was diagnosed with a form of muscular dystrophy known as Duchenne when he was two years old.
UC Davis enhances nurse practitioner, physician assistant program to offer master's degrees
February 6, 2013 — Already, a majority of UC Davis nurse practitioner and physician assistant graduates go on to work as primary-care providers in underserved areas and with hopes of further increasing these rates, the program will offer master’s degrees beginning with classes that enroll this summer.
Are deaf and hard of hearing physicians getting the support they need?
February 5, 2013 — Deaf and hard of hearing (DHoH) people must overcome significant professional barriers, particularly in health care professions. A number of accommodations are available for physicians and other health providers, such as electronic stethoscopes and closed-captioning technologies, but are these approaches making a difference?
Generous, hungry donors get an early taste of National Pancake Day
February 1, 2013 — Generous – and hungry – donors at UC Davis Children’s Hospital were treated on Feb. 1 to a great breakfast on the run as a preview of IHOP National Pancake Day and to benefit the children's hospital and Children's Miracle Network (CMN).
Needless abdominal CT scans can be avoided in children, study says
February 1, 2013 — A study of more than 12,000 children from emergency departments throughout the country in the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) has identified seven factors that can help physicians determine the need for a computed tomography (CT) scan following blunt trauma to the abdomen. Because CT scans pose radiation hazards for youngsters, the findings may enable doctors to determine which children do not need to be exposed to such tests after a traumatic injury.
Second-year student wins Habbas Scholarship
February 1, 2013 — Gaber Saleh, a second-year medical student, has won the 2012-13 Amin and Nancy Habbas Scholarship, established to help high-achieving students of Arab origin enrolled at the UC Davis School of Medicine. Saleh has received a $1,000 scholarship.
New radiation oncology device reduces treatment times, increases safety
February 1, 2013 — With radiation oncology treatments, the goal is to hit the tumor with as much ionizing X-ray energy as possible, while sparing adjacent, healthy tissue.
January 2013
Catherine Lord, internationally respected autism researcher, to give Distinguished Lecture
January 31, 2013 — Catherine Lord, director of the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain, will discuss “Longitudinal Studies of Autism Spectrum Disorder” during the next UC Davis MIND Institute Distinguished Lecturer Series presentation.
A quilt for life
January 30, 2013 — Quilts are often given to celebrate a life change such as a marriage or the birth of a baby. Marilyn Jackson’s latest quilt celebrates much more: a life saved. On January 30, she presented UC Davis cardiothoracic surgeon David Cooke with a quilt she made for his 3½ year old daughter, Audrey.
Muscular dystrophy group awards neuromuscular research grant to UC Davis team
January 28, 2013 — A New Jersey-based nonprofit organization, the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), has awarded UC Davis physician Craig McDonald $175,000 to expand ongoing international research into better understanding the progression of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and determine the benefits of current standards of care that have been established by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Three UC Davis recipients awarded fellowships from UC innovation center
January 28, 2013 — Three UC Davis researchers are among the 10 new recipients of fellowships awarded by the University of California’s Center for Health Quality and Innovation. Representing five UC campuses, the recipients received the fellowships to support projects to improve the quality and value of care delivered by UC Health.
Making policy changes to reduce gun violence
January 28, 2013 — Research by Garen Wintemute, director of the Violence Prevention Research Program and professor of emergency medicine at UC Davis, forms the basis for several recommendations put forward earlier this month at the summit on Reducing Gun Violence in America, an event organized by the Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health that brought together 20 of the world’s leading gun-policy experts representing the fields of law, medicine, public health, advocacy and public safety to summarize relevant research and its implications for policymakers and concerned citizens.
Biggest weight losers don stylish clothing after doffing pounds
January 25, 2013 — When it comes to weight-loss surgery, Rafael Torres is happy to be a role model for others, even when it means becoming a model for the latest in fashion. The 41-year old Sacramento resident plans to proudly show off his new, healthy physique at UC Davis Medical Center’s 10th annual bariatric fashion show.
Enhanced training in primary care thanks to state support
January 25, 2013 — The California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) has awarded more than $300,000 to UC Davis training programs to help ensure a robust primary health-care workforce in California.
Oxford immunologist to discuss the potential of HIV vaccines
January 24, 2013 — Professor Sir Andrew McMichael of the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom will be the UC Davis School of Medicine’s 2013 Nelson Scientific Lecturer. He will speak on “T-cell immune responses against HIV-1: Can they be harnessed by vaccines?”on Wednesday, Feb. 6, at noon in Davis and at 5 p.m. in Sacramento.
UC Davis scientist receives funding from Shriners Hospitals for Children for juvenile arthritis research
January 18, 2013 — Iannis Adamopoulos, a researcher dedicated to studying diseases of the immune and skeletal systems, has received $1 million in grants from Shriners Hospitals for Children to find new treatment targets for juvenile arthritis — the most common cause of orthopaedic disability among children.
UC Davis nursing school dean appointed to statewide primary care committee
January 18, 2013 — Heather M. Young, associate vice chancellor for nursing at UC Davis and founding dean at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, joined more than a dozen health-care leaders in San Jose Jan. 15 to launch the California Advanced Primary Care Institute (CAPCI), a multi-pronged effort to improve the appeal of primary care as a career choice for health professionals and also elevate the performance of primary-care teams.
UC Davis' CHeQ program awards contract to better manage state's electronic immunization records
January 17, 2013 — The California Health eQuality (CHeQ) program, managed by the UC Davis Institute for Population Health Improvement (IPHI), has awarded a $417,011 contract to Scientific Technologies Corporation (STC), a population health informatics service company based in Tucson, Ariz.. STC, in collaboration with CHeQ and the California Department of Public Health, will develop an immunization “gateway” that allows health-care providers throughout most of California to electronically submit patient immunization records for routing to state regional immunization registries and ultimately will enable secure access by doctors, schools, day-care centers and parents who need the information.
UC Davis medical student honored with national leadership award
January 16, 2013 — Olivia Marie Campa, a third-year medical student at UC Davis, will receive the American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation’s 2013 Leadership Award for outstanding non-clinical leadership skills in advocacy, community service and education at the annual Excellence in Medicine Awards ceremony on February 11, 2013 in Washington, D.C. [en español]
Low levels of common flame-retardant chemical damages brain cells
January 16, 2013 — A common ingredient in flame retardants, BDE-49 accumulates in human blood, fat and breast milk. Despite these concentrations, little research has been done on the chemical’s potential health risks. However, a study by scientists at the UC Davis MIND Institute is shedding new light on BDE-49’s potential danger to brain health. The study showed that even tiny amounts of the compound damage neural mitochondria, the energy plants that power our cells. The chemical, quite literally, reduces brain power.
Philip Palmer, founding faculty member of UC Davis medical school, internationally known advocate of broad access to radiology, dies at 91
January 11, 2013 — Dr. Philip E.S. Palmer, emeritus professor of radiology and the first director of diagnostic radiology at the UC Davis School of Medicine, died on Jan. 3. He was 91 years old.
MIND Institute researchers receive grants from Autism Speaks
January 11, 2013 — Two internationally respected UC Davis MIND Institute researchers have received grants from Autism Speaks, a national autism advocacy and science organization, to study autism from two different perspectives.
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Joaquin Community Hospital affiliate for cancer care
January 11, 2013 — Residents of Kern County, where cancer rates overall are higher than the state average, will now have access to the expertise and experience of UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers and clinicians through a new hospital affiliation. [en español]
UC Davis study deflates notion that pear-shaped bodies more healthy than apples
January 10, 2013 — People who are “apple-shaped” — with fat more concentrated around the abdomen — have long been considered more at risk for conditions such as heart disease and diabetes than those who are “pear shaped” and carry weight more in the buttocks, hips and thighs. But new research conducted at UC Davis Health System published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism provides further evidence that the protective benefits of having a pear body shape may be more myth than reality. [en espanol]
Students to hold first Davis Dance Marathon
January 10, 2013 — A dance craze that is sweeping the nation and will benefit sick children is coming to UC Davis for the first time.
School of Nursing hosts leadership event with award-winning journalist Suzanne Gordon
January 10, 2013 — Suzanne Gordon, an award-winning journalist and author and a visiting professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, spoke to more than 100 students, faculty and community members Wednesday evening at a leadership event at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis.
Knoepfler Lab names Roman Reed "Stem Cell Person of the Year"
January 10, 2013 — UC Davis stem cell researcher Paul Knoepfler has named Roman Reed as his first "Stem Cell Person of the Year" awardee.
Researchers to scale Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for fragile X research
January 10, 2013 — UC Davis Professors Paul and Randi Hagerman have devoted their lives to finding cures for a host of disorders that all spring from an inherited defect on the X chromosome that causes lifelong intellectual disability in children, tremors in older men and reproductive problems in women.
UC Davis reproductive health leader honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
January 9, 2013 — Jeanne Conry, associate clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and an alumna of the UC Davis School of Medicine, today was honored by United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson as an environmental health champion for her national leadership to advance understanding of the risk to reproductive health of exposures to environmental toxins.
Next Minds Behind the MIND lecture to focus on Down syndrome
January 7, 2013 — Recent estimates place the prevalence of Down syndrome at 1 in 691 births, making it the leading known genetic cause of intellectual disability. During the January UC Davis MIND Institute “Minds Behind the MIND” presentation, researchers will provide an update on what is known about Down syndrome, its impact on the individual and their family, and possible treatments.
UC Davis study links low wages with hypertension, especially for women and younger workers
January 3, 2013 — Workers earning the lowest wages have a higher risk of hypertension than workers with the highest wages, according to new research from UC Davis. The correlation between wages and hypertension was especially strong among women and persons between the ages of 25 to 44.
Tiny infant has a big impact on his community
January 3, 2013 — Though nicknamed “Tiny” by his family, an infant treated at UC Davis Children’s Hospital in 2011 is having a big effect on the lives of children with congenital heart disease in Sacramento and on his community.
MIND Institute lecture explores gap between autism detection and intervention
January 3, 2013 — Wendy L. Stone, director and Susan & Richard Fade Endowed Chair at the University of Washington Autism Center in Seattle, will discuss “From Early Detection to Early Intervention: Bridging the Gap in Autism Services” during the next UC Davis MIND Institute Distinguished Lecturer Series presentation.
Gary Small, New York Times best-selling author, to speak on Alzheimer's disease
January 2, 2013 — New York Times best-selling author Gary Small, professor of psychiatry at UCLA and one of the world's leading physician/scientists in the fields of memory and longevity, will present a special lecture titled "Alzheimer’s Prevention Strategies for Keeping Your Brain Healthy," on Monday, Jan. 7, at 5:30 p.m. in the UC Davis MIND Institute auditorium.
UC Davis Medical Center welcomes area's first baby born in 2013
January 1, 2013 — Allison Donecker and her husband Brian rang in the new year in memorable fashion. Their new son, John, was born at 12:20 a.m. at UC Davis Medical Center, making him the Sacramento area’s first baby of 2013.
December 2012
UC Davis Chancellor Emeritus Vanderhoef discharged from hospital
December 28, 2012 — Chancellor Emeritus Larry Vanderhoef was discharged from UC Davis Medical Center today after nearly four weeks of acute rehabilitation for a Dec. 1 ischemic stroke. He will continue to work with specialists as an outpatient to maintain and improve skills.
Broader background checks and denial criteria could help prevent mass-shooting catastrophes
December 27, 2012 — Garen Wintemute, a leading authority on gun violence prevention and an emergency medicine physician at UC Davis, believes broader criteria for background checks and denials on gun purchases can help prevent future firearm violence, including mass shooting catastrophes such as those that occurred at Sandy Hook, Aurora, Virginia Tech and Columbine. Wintemute’s views posted in the Online First section of the New England Journal of Medicine website as a Perspective article, entitled “Tragedy’s Legacy,” on December 26, 2012. It also will appear in the journal's January 31, 2013 print edition.
Former children's hospital patient returns to share 100 'smiles'
December 26, 2012 — Hailee Cunha, who has been treated at UC Davis Children’s Hospital since a fall during a gymnastics event three years ago, last week returned to bring holiday smiles to the place where she has spent many hours as a patient.
Genetic defect that causes fragile X-related disorders more common than thought
December 21, 2012 — A single genetic defect on the X chromosome that can result in a wide array of conditions — from learning and emotional disabilities to primary ovarian insufficiency in women and tremors in middle-aged men — occurs at a much greater frequency than previously thought, research led by the UC Davis MIND Institute has found.
UC Davis MIND Institute studies among the world's best in 2012
December 21, 2012 — Three UC Davis MIND Institute research studies are included in the Top 10 Autism Research Achievements of 2012 as identified by Autism Speaks, the world’s largest autism advocacy and research organization.
Business Journal names UC Davis leaders as two of its "40 Under 40"
December 19, 2012 — The Sacramento Business Journal’s most recent list of “40 Under 40” includes UC Davis Health System leaders Joseph Galante and Toby Marsh.
Polls Open for "Stem Cell Person of the Year" Vote
December 18, 2012 — UC Davis stem cell researcher Paul Knoepfler has finalized the list of nominees for his first-ever "Stem Cell Person of the Year" award. Now he needs some help deciding on the winner.
New policy brief examines the impact of occupational injuries and illnesses among low-wage workers
December 17, 2012 — Low-wage workers, who make up a large and growing share of the U.S. workforce, are especially vulnerable to financial hits that can result from on-the-job injuries and illnesses, according to a policy brief released by researchers at The George Washington University and based on a study conducted at the University of California, Davis.
Farmer to receive Wellesley's top alumnae recognition
December 14, 2012 — Diana Farmer, chair and Pearl Stamps Stewart Professor in the UC Davis Department of Surgery and surgeon-in-chief of UC Davis Children’s Hospital, has been selected to receive a 2013 Alumnae Achievement Award from Wellesley College.
UC Davis expert available to comment on Conn. elementary school shootings
December 14, 2012 — Garen Wintemute, an emergency medicine physician and director of the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program, is available to comment about issues related to gun violence prevention in response to the Connecticut elementary school shootings.
The HER2 paradox: HER2-positive stem cells found in HER2-negative breast cancer
December 14, 2012 — A multicenter study led by researchers at UC Davis describes new, paradoxical characteristics of the most common type of breast cancer.
National nursing association honors MSICU with award of excellence
December 14, 2012 — The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recently conferred a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence on the Medical Surgical Intensive Care Unit (MSICU) at UC Davis Medical Center.
UC Davis Medical Center recognized for electronic medical records achievements
December 13, 2012 — HIMSS Analytics, the research arm of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), has recognized UC Davis Medical Center with its Stage 7 Award.
UC Davis dermatologist receives grant to find new ways of treating chronic skin wounds
December 12, 2012 — The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), the state’s stem cell agency, today approved a $3 million research grant for Emanual Maverakis, a UC Davis dermatologist who is exploring the development of a synthetic biomaterial that would enable stem cells to be used as effective therapies for chronic skin ulcers.
UC Davis research is number five in TIME magazine's Top 10 Medical Breakthroughs for 2012
December 11, 2012 — Autism research by UC Davis MIND Institute Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Sally Rogers has been named number five among the Top 10 Medical Breakthroughs of 2012 by TIME magazine.
Multiple departments collaborating on improvement of hospital discharges
December 11, 2012 — To improve the hospital discharge process, three departments at UC Davis Medical Center are collaborating on projects that incorporate central roles for residents
Nelson lecturer to discuss the potential of HIV vaccines
December 7, 2012 — Professor Sir Andrew McMichael of the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Oxford will be the UC Davis School of Medicine’s 2013 Nelson Scientific Lecturer. There are two opportunities to hear McMichael's address, which is titled "T-cell immune responses against HIV-1: Can they be harnessed by vaccines?” He will speak on Wednesday, Feb. 6, at noon in Davis and at 5 p.m. in Sacramento.
Update on CMS response
December 7, 2012 — UC Davis Medical Center Chief Executive Officer provides additional details about the Plan of Correction sent to CMS. A copy of her letter to health system employees also appears here on the health system's public websites.
A message from Ann Madden Rice
December 6, 2012 — UC Davis Medical Center Chief Executive Officer discusses the on-site CMS survey conducted in late August and the leave of absence of neurosurgeon J. Paul Muizelaar. A copy of her letter to health system employees appears here and on other health system public websites.
UC Davis Chancellor Emeritus Vanderhoef recovering from stroke
December 6, 2012 — Chancellor Emeritus Larry Vanderhoef is making good progress in his recovery from a Dec. 1 stroke, according to his UC Davis Medical Center physicians.
UC Davis Health System leading the way in reducing LGBT health disparities
December 4, 2012 — UC Davis Health System is poised to become the first academic health system in the nation to have its physicians ask sexual orientation and gender identity questions as part of a patient’s routine clinical assessment.
Chong Pan wins national investigator leadership award
December 4, 2012 — Chong Pan has been recognized by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) with a Cancer Clinical Investigator Team Leadership Award. Pan, associate professor of medicine and leader of the cancer center’s urothelial carcinoma initiative, was one of 11 award recipients for FY 2011. Formal recognition of the recipients took place recently at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD.
UC Davis Medical Center named 2012 Leapfrog Top Hospital
December 4, 2012 — UC Davis Medical Center ranks among The Leapfrog Group's list of Top Hospitals for 2012, a distinction that places UC Davis among the top 10 percent of hospitals participating in the national survey. The award recognizes hospitals for their exceptional performance in critical areas of patient safety and quality, including mortality rates for certain common procedures, infection rates, established policies and procedures to prevent errors, and measures of efficient use of resources.
Live auction and wine tasting event will benefit UC Davis School of Medicine's community clinics
December 4, 2012 — Tickets are now on sale for the 33rd annual Wine Tasting and Auction Benefit at the UC Davis School of Medicine, set for Saturday, Jan. 12, from 5:30-9 p.m. in the Education Building on the UC Davis Sacramento campus, 4610 X Street
UC Davis study shows that treadmill testing can predict heart disease in women
December 3, 2012 — Although there is a widespread belief among physicians that the exercise treadmill test (ETT) is not reliable in evaluating the heart health of women, UC Davis researchers have found that the test can accurately predict coronary artery disease in women over the age of 65. They also found that two specific electrocardiogram (EKG) indicators of heart stress during an ETT further enhanced its predictive power.
UC Davis study shows statins protect lungs from damage caused by smoking
December 3, 2012 — Every four minutes, someone in the U.S. dies from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD --the incurable pulmonary disorder usually caused by smoking. COPD is the third highest cause of death in the U.S. after heart disease and cancer.
November 2012
Development of language and communication in autism the topic of next MIND Institute Lecture
November 30, 2012 — Boston University Professor and President of the International Society for Autism Research Helen Tager-Flusberg will give a presentation titled "On the Origins and Development of Language and Communication in Autism Spectrum Disorder" for the next UC Davis MIND Institute Distinguished Lecturer Series presentation.
Five health system faculty elected as AAAS fellows
November 29, 2012 — Five UC Davis Health System faculty members have been elected as fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). They are among 702 new fellows -- including a total of 17 at the University of California, Davis -- honored for their scientifically distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications. The AAAS will formally recognize new fellows on Feb. 16 during the association's annual meeting in Boston.
General thoracic surgeons emerge as leading providers of complex, noncardiac thoracic surgery
November 28, 2012 — A UC Davis study has found that general thoracic surgeons, especially those at academic health centers, perform the vast majority of complex noncardiac operations, including surgeries of the esophagus and lungs. The authors said their results, published in the October issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, support the designation of general thoracic surgery as a distinct specialty, which will benefit patients when selecting surgeons for specific procedures.
WeCARE! Peer Navigator Program expands to Central Valley
November 28, 2012 — The UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center's WeCARE! Cancer Peer Navigators program is expanding to the Central Valley.
Experts recommend closer scrutiny of radiation exposure from CT scans
November 28, 2012 — Amid increasing fear of overexposure to radiation from CT scans, a panel of experts has recommended more research on the health effects of medical imaging and ways to reduce unnecessary CT tests, as well as industry standardization of CT machines.
UC Davis Children's Hospital offers holiday gift-giving drive-up and drop-off event
November 26, 2012 — To make the donation of toys and other gifts easier for generous businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals who would like to make the season brighter for hospitalized infants, children, teens and other pediatric patients, UC Davis is offering donors the opportunity to drive-up and drop-off donations for the holidays.
UC Davis physician plans to fast in solidarity with dysphagia patients
November 21, 2012 — A UC Davis physician is calling on colleagues who treat swallowing disorders to join him in a Thanksgiving fast as a way to raise awareness and show solidarity for patients who suffer from dysphagia, a condition that makes swallowing food difficult or impossible.
For Thanksgiving, Redding parents are grateful for son's life, care at UC Davis Children's Hospital
November 21, 2012 — This Thanksgiving, Erin and Nick Ciapponi are spending their holiday in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit/Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PICU/PCICU) at UC Davis Children's Hospital. The Ciapponis will be seated at the bedside of their beautiful newborn baby boy, Guy, now a little more than two weeks old.
UC Davis researcher recognized as distinguished scientist by the American Heart Association
November 20, 2012 — Donald Bers, the Joseph Silva Endowed Chair for Cardiovascular Research and chair of the Department of Pharmacology at UC Davis, was recognized as a Distinguished Scientist at the American Heart Association's 2012 Scientific Sessions, which were held in Los Angeles Nov. 3-7.
More than 115 UC Davis physicians top 'Best Doctors' list
November 19, 2012 — More than 115 UC Davis physicians have been included on a list of the Sacramento region's best doctors by an organization that bases its selections on surveys of other physicians. The story is featured in the December 2012 issue of Sacramento Magazine and currently available on news stands.
Claire Pomeroy to step down in June
November 19, 2012 — Claire Pomeroy, vice chancellor for human health sciences and dean of the School of Medicine at the University of California, Davis, has announced that she will leave the university on June 30, at the end of the academic year.
International team of investigators discovers likely basis of birth defect causing premature skull closure in infants
November 18, 2012 — An international team of geneticists, pediatricians, surgeons, and epidemiologists from 23 institutions across three continents have identified two areas of the human genome associated with the most common form of non-syndromic craniosynostosis ― premature closure of the bony plates of the skull. [en español] [中文 Chinese]
Rosie's Toy Drive to benefit UC Davis Children's Hospital Child Life program
November 16, 2012 — The UC Davis Children's Hospital Child Life Department this year will be the beneficiary of the Rosie Carollo Christmas Lights Toy Drive, an annual toy drive held in memory of Rosie Carollo, who was born at UC Davis Children's Hospital in 2002 and passed away in 2004 from a rare form of childhood epilepsy.
UC Davis Medical Center and Dameron Hospital form joint venture
November 16, 2012 — UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento and Dameron Hospital in Stockton will be forming a joint venture that will allow Dameron Hospital to strengthen its core medical services while delivering more care locally, and advances UC Davis' historic land-grant mission to identify and help meet important societal needs.
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center marks Lung Cancer Awareness Month
November 16, 2012 — The UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center will host a Tweet chat to discuss the latest approaches to lung cancer treatment on Nov. 27 at 1 p.m. in recognition of Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Twitter users are invited to log in and join the conversation about new medical, surgical and radiation oncology approaches to the disease from cancer center experts. To join, follow #UCDcancerchat.
Call for nominations: Knoepfler Lab seeking "Stem Cell Person of the Year"
November 16, 2012 — Borrowing a thematic page from Time magazine and its annual tradition of identifying an individual or idea that has influenced the events during the year, UC Davis stem cell researcher Paul Knoepfler is seeking nominees for what he's dubbed the "Stem Cell Person of the Year" award.
Study finds high exposure to food-borne toxins
November 13, 2012 — In a sobering study published in the journal Environmental Health, researchers at UC Davis and UCLA measured food-borne toxin exposure in children and adults by pinpointing foods with high levels of toxic compounds and determining how much of these foods were consumed.
Pathology resident receives national award for leadership
November 8, 2012 — Third-year pathology and laboratory medicine resident Rebecca Jung-Hee Sonu received a 2012 Resident Representative Leadership Award from the American Society for Clinical Pathology on Nov. 2 at the society's annual meeting in Boston.
Medical student receives national recognition for leadership in tackling health disparities
November 5, 2012 — Olivia Marie Campa, a third-year medical student at the UC Davis School of Medicine, is one of five students nationwide receiving a 2012 Herbert W. Nickens Medical Student Scholarship award today at the annual meeting of the Association of American Medical Colleges in San Francisco.
Higher anxiety is associated with poorer functioning in children with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome
November 5, 2012 — UC Davis researchers have found that for children with the genetic disorder known as chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome anxiety ― but not intelligence ― is linked to poorer adaptive behaviors that affect daily life. The developmental syndrome, which is associated with a constellation of physical, cognitive and psychiatric problems, usually is apparent at birth or early childhood, and leads to lifelong challenges. [en español] or [中文 Chinese]
DeCarli named to first Victor and Genevieve Orsi Endowed Chair in Alzheimer's Disease Research
November 2, 2012 — Charles DeCarli, director of the UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Center and an internationally renowned expert on behavioral neurology, degenerative dementias and neuroimaging, is the first Victor and Genevieve Orsi Endowed Chair in Alzheimer's Research at UC Davis Health System.
UC Davis Health System's Institute for Population Health Improvement releases first-of-its-kind buyers' guide for health information exchange
November 1, 2012 — The UC Davis Health System's Institute for Population Health Improvement (IPHI) today released the first edition of its "HIE Ready Buyers' Guide" to facilitate health information exchange (HIE), especially in California.
"Sharing Knowledge, Improving Lives" conference to address Latino mental-health issues
November 1, 2012 — Community and mental-health leaders from across California will participate in a daylong conference to explore effective and culturally and linguistically appropriate solutions to mental illness among the nearly 40 percent of the state's population that identifies as Latino.
UC Davis scientists identify new target for lung cancer treatment
November 1, 2012 — A team of UC Davis investigators has discovered a protein on the surface of lung cancer cells that could prove to be an important new target for anti-cancer therapy. A series of experiments in mice with lung cancer showed that specific targeting of the protein with monoclonal antibodies reduced the size of tumors, lowered the occurrence of metastases and substantially lengthened survival time. The findings will be published in the November issue of Cancer Research.
Free community workshops to help seniors avoid falls
November 1, 2012 — UC Davis Health System's Trauma Prevention Program and its Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation are seeking participants for a new community health initiative designed to reduce falls among older adults.
UC Davis Health System's partnership with ValleyCare concludes
November 1, 2012 — UC Davis Health System's Cancer Care Network has concluded its four-year partnership with ValleyCare Health System and Regional Cancer Center.
October 2012
Large, multi-ethnic study finds that adding soy to the diet does not affect onset of menopausal hot flashes
October 31, 2012 — A team of investigators led by UC Davis found that eating soy products such as soy milk and tofu did not prevent the onset of hot flashes and night sweats as women entered menopause. [en español]
High blood pressure damages the brain in early middle age
October 31, 2012 — Uncontrolled high blood pressure damages the brain's structure and function as early as young middle age, and even the brains of middle-aged people who clinically would not be considered to have hypertension have evidence of silent structural brain damage, a study led by researchers at UC Davis has found. [en español] [中文 Chinese]
Controlling depression is associated with improved health for heart-failure patients
October 30, 2012 — Controlling depression in patients with heart failure can improve health status, social functioning and quality of life, according to a new study by psychiatrists and cardiologists at the UC Davis and Duke University schools of medicine. [en español]
MIND Institute ADHD program receives $3 million grant from NIMH
October 29, 2012 — Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects the brain's ability to assert self-control, of particular concern during adolescence when the negative consequences of poor self-control can result in choices that can diminish lifetime possibilities for achievement, such as dropping out of school, substance abuse, driving while under the influence or engaging in unprotected sex.
"What's Good for the Body is Good for the Brain" the topic of Alzheimer's Disease Center symposium
October 29, 2012 — The UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Center will hold its first annual research symposium and poster session, titled "What's Good for the Body is Good for the Brain," on Thursday, Nov. 1, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in lecture hall 2222 in the Education Building, 4610 X St., Sacramento, Calif.
Anthropological perspectives on autism the topic of the next MIND Institute lecture
October 29, 2012 — R. Richard Grinker, professor of anthropology, human sciences and Iiternational affairs at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., will discuss "Culture and Autism: Anthropological Perspectives on the U.S., Korea, and South Africa" during the next UC Davis MIND Institute Distinguished Lecturer Series presentation.
Autism early intervention found to normalize brain activity in children as young as 18 months
October 26, 2012 — An intensive early intervention therapy that is effective for improving cognition and language skills among very young children with autism also normalizes their brain activity, decreases their autism symptoms and improves their social skills, a nationwide study has found. The researchers said that the study is the first to demonstrate that an autism early intervention program can normalize brain activity. [en español]
UC Davis researchers develop new drug delivery system for bladder cancer using nanoparticles
October 25, 2012 — A team of UC Davis scientists has shown in experimental mouse models that a new drug delivery system allows for administration of three times the maximum tolerated dose of a standard drug therapy for advanced bladder cancer, leading to more effective cancer control without increasing toxicity.
Immune activation in pregnant mice affects brains of offspring
October 25, 2012 — A brief kick to the immune system of a pregnant mouse can cause persistent changes in the brains of the offspring, according to new research from the University of California, Davis, Center for Neuroscience.
Consumers again rate UC Davis Medical Center as the region's best
October 23, 2012 — For the 14th consecutive year, UC Davis Medical Center has been selected as a Consumer Choice Award winner by the National Research Corporation (NRC). The 2012 award recognizes a single hospital in each of 300 markets nationwide that health-care consumers choose as providing the highest-quality health care.
UC Davis physician honored for distinguished service in medicine
October 19, 2012 — Nathan Kuppermann, a pediatric emergency medicine physician and a nationally recognized expert in emergency medical services for children, has been honored with the 2012 Jim Seidel Distinguished Service Award by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Emergency Medicine.
UC Davis nursing school opens applications for fall 2013 classes
October 18, 2012 — Applications are now open for fall 2013 classes in the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy Nursing Science and Health-Care Leadership Degree Programs offered through the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis. All admitted students receive generous financial support to ensure outstanding graduate students who share the vision to transform health care through nursing education and research are prepared as future leaders in health care, health policy, education and research.
UC Davis researchers clarify process controlling night vision
October 17, 2012 — On the road at night or on a tennis court at dusk, the eye can be deceived. Vision is not as sharp as in the light of day, and detecting a bicyclist on the road or a careening tennis ball can be tough. New research reveals the key chemical process that corrects for potential visual errors in low-light conditions. Understanding this fundamental step could lead to new treatments for visual deficits, or might one day boost normal night vision to new levels.
"Sharing Knowledge, Improving Lives" conference to address Latino mental-health issues
October 17, 2012 — Community and mental-health leaders from across Northern California will converge on UC Davis for a daylong conference to explore effective and culturally and linguistically appropriate solutions to mental illness among the nearly 40 percent of the state's population that identifies as Latino.
Assistant Secretary for Health speaks at Dean's Lecture Series
October 16, 2012 — Howard K. Koh, assistant secretary for health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will speak in Sacramento on "Best Practices in Public Health Leadership for a Healthier Nation."
People with severe psoriasis have nearly twice the risk of diabetes
October 15, 2012 — An analysis of 27 studies linking psoriasis in 314,000 individuals with diabetes has found strong correlation between the scaly skin rash and the blood sugar disorder that predisposes patients to heart disease, say UC Davis researchers who led the review.
Internationally respected neonatologist to lead UC Davis Department of Pediatrics
October 15, 2012 — Robin H. Steinhorn, an internationally recognized neonatologist, has been named chair of the Department of Pediatrics in the UC Davis School of Medicine. The department provides state-of-the-art clinical care and conducts research into disease conditions affecting infants, children, adolescents and young adults. As chair of the Department of Pediatrics, Steinhorn also serves as director of UC Davis Children's Hospital, the only nationally ranked pediatric hospital in inland Northern California.
Murin selected to lead pulmonary medicine at UC Davis
October 10, 2012 — Susan Murin, a nationally recognized expert in pulmonary medicine, has become chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine and the Gordon A. Wong Professor in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at UC Davis. She replaces Timothy Albertson, who led the division for 23 years and recently became chair of the UC Davis Department of Internal Medicine.
Kizer named UCLA medical school's Alumnus of the Year
October 9, 2012 — Kenneth W. Kizer, founding director of the UC Davis Institute for Population Health Improvement and a distinguished professor at the School of Medicine and the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, received the Alumnus of the Year award from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA on Oct. 6 in Los Angeles.
UC Davis part of Stand Up To Cancer and Prostate Cancer Foundation research dream team
October 9, 2012 — Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) and the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF), along with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), SU2C's scientific partner, announced the formation of a second Dream Team project dedicated to prostate cancer research -- "Targeting Adaptive Pathways in Metastatic Treatment-Resistant Prostate Cancer."
$2.5 million grant boosts scholarships for UC Davis medical students
October 8, 2012 — Talented students who dream of becoming physicians but worry about the high cost of attending medical school have a new and promising opportunity at the UC Davis School of Medicine. [en español]
Scleral lenses benefit patients with corneal irregularities, severe dry eyes
October 8, 2012 — A UC Davis Health System Eye Center study found that scleral lenses, which rest beyond the limits of the cornea and cover the white part of the eye (sclera), were a good alternative for patients with corneal abnormalities whose vision could not be corrected with other types of contact lenses or glasses. The study was published in the journal Eye & Contact Lens.
Study promoting sale of healthy foods by catering trucks receives national recognition
October 5, 2012 — Desiree Backman, chief prevention officer with the Institute for Population Health Improvement at UC Davis Health System, received a 2012 Best Great Educational Material (GEM) award for a study that showed signs, labeling and promotional apparel can increase the sale of healthful entrees offered at catering trucks serving workers in low-income communities. She received the award at the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior's annual conference in Washington, D.C., earlier this summer. [en español]
UC Davis will establish clinic for parents who decline to vaccinate their children
October 4, 2012 — Pediatric infectious disease experts at UC Davis will establish a new clinic where parents who decline to vaccinate their children because of their personal beliefs can receive immunization information, in response to a new state law requiring a signature from a health-care professional before such children enter school. [en español]
UC Davis bone health expert to lead new research initiative
October 3, 2012 — Nancy E. Lane, professor of internal medicine and the endowed chair of Healthy Aging and Geriatrics at the UC Davis School of Medicine, has been awarded a $7.2 million federal grant to establish a specialized research center at UC Davis' Sacramento campus to explore the sex differences related to osteoporosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis, and kyphosis (a condition causing over-curvature of the upper back).
UC Davis establishes prestigious new NIH-funded research center for aging Latinos
October 2, 2012 — Assembling a nationally respected team of nurse, physician and mental-health leaders with broad expertise in brain health and minority aging, UC Davis has established the Latino Aging Research Resource Center (LARRC), through a prestigious five-year, $3 million grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA). [en español]
UC Davis graduate nursing student selected for competitive faculty internship program
October 1, 2012 — Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis graduate student Patricia Gonsalves is one of only 20 students chosen to participate in the Los Rios Community College Faculty Diversity Internship Program, which provides hands-on training and experience working in a classroom setting at the community -college level. The competitive program, within the second largest community college district in California, was created to support the development of a diverse pool of future community-college instructors.
September 2012
UC Davis School of Medicine students recognized as outstanding young achievers
September 29, 2012 — The Observer Media Group recognized UC Davis School of Medicine students Geneva White and Kevin Mullins today at its annual "30 Under 30" tribute to the region's most outstanding young achievers.
UC Davis student receives IHS Health Professions scholarship
September 28, 2012 — Laura Jordan, a third-year medical student at UC Davis, received a Health Professions scholarship from the Indian Health Service (IHS), a federal health program for American Indians and Alaska natives, last month.
UC Davis researchers find multiple similarities between cancer cells and induced pluripotent stem cells
September 28, 2012 — UC Davis investigators have found new evidence that a promising type of stem cell now being considered for a variety of disease therapies is very similar to the type of cells that give rise to cancer.
Protein holds promise for drug therapy for central nervous system diseases
September 27, 2012 — Researchers at UC Davis have identified previously unrecognized properties of a naturally occurring protein, finding that it enhances brain cell growth and survival and helps regenerate the protective covering around nerve cells, making it a "strong candidate" for drug development for people with neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
Kizer awarded for contributions to occupational and environmental medicine
September 26, 2012 — Kenneth W. Kizer, director of the UC Davis Institute for Population Health Improvement, received the Rutherford T. Johnstone Award for outstanding contributions to the field of occupational and environmental medicine at the Western Occupational Health Conference held in San Francisco last week.
Kimberly-Clark awards medical center for VAP reduction
September 26, 2012 — UC Davis Medical Center has received a Partners in Prevention Award from Kimberly-Clark for its initiative to prevent ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP).
UC Davis' Institute for Population Improvement launches California Health eQuality
September 25, 2012 — UC Davis Health System has established the California Health eQuality (CHeQ) program, leaders at the Institute for Population Health Improvement announced today. CHeQ seeks to improve health-care quality and the coordination of care by using health information exchange (HIE) technology to facilitate the rapid flow of information among physician offices, hospitals and other health-care providers.
Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis conducts student information session
September 25, 2012 — The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing will conduct a free information session at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, for students interested in the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy degree programs.
Oropharyngeal cancer patients with human papillomavirus (HPV) have a more robust response to radiation therapy
September 25, 2012 — UC Davis cancer researchers have discovered significant differences in radiation-therapy response among patients with oropharyngeal cancer depending on whether they carry the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted virus.
UC Davis awarded for work-life balance practices for academic physicians
September 24, 2012 — UC Davis School of Medicine received a $25,000 innovator award from the American Council on Education and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to support national efforts aimed at increasing career flexibility for faculty at medical schools nationwide. UC Davis is one of seven schools in the U.S. to receive an award at ACE's Board of Directors meeting in Washington, D.C. today.
MIND Institute 2012-2013 Distinguished Lecturer Series begins Oct. 10
September 21, 2012 — The UC Davis MIND Institute begins the 11th year of its Distinguished Lecturer Series on Wednesday, Oct. 10. Series presenters include nationally and internationally recognized researchers in autism spectrum disorder and Down syndrome, among other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Newly admitted classes welcomed to the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis
September 21, 2012 — A nurse researcher who leads the nationwide nursing campaign to improve health care and a Japanese-American nurse who cared for thousands in a World War II internment camp were both honored at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing 2012 Welcoming Ceremony Thursday evening. The school conducted the annual event to recognize the newly admitted graduate nursing students.
UC Davis researchers receive grant to test new strategy for advanced prostate cancer treatment
September 21, 2012 — A team of UC Davis investigators, led by Christopher P. Evans, professor and chair of the Department of Urology, has received a $660,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to study a promising new approach for treating advanced prostate cancer.
New study analyzes smoking trends in Mexico and among Mexican-Americans
September 20, 2012 — Led by UC Davis researchers, the first-ever transnational study of Mexico-U.S. migration and smoking has found that U.S.-born Mexican-Americans start smoking at an earlier age but are more likely to quit than their counterparts in Mexico. [en español]
UC Davis Medical Group ranks among top-performing physician organizations
September 20, 2012 — The UC Davis Medical Group ranks among the Top Overall Performing Physician Organizations in California for 2012, the Integrated Healthcare Association announced today at its annual Pay for Performance Program meeting in Los Angeles.
New targeted drug for treating fragile X syndrome, potentially autism, is effective
September 19, 2012 — An investigational compound that targets the core symptoms of fragile X syndrome is effective for addressing the social withdrawal and challenging behaviors characteristic of the condition, making it the first such discovery for fragile X syndrome and, potentially, the first for autism spectrum disorder, a study by researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute and Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, has found. [en español] [中文 Chinese]
Japanese-American internment camp nurse and national leader honored by UC Davis nursing school
September 19, 2012 — A Japanese-American nurse who cared for thousands in a World War II internment camp and a nurse researcher who leads a nationwide nursing campaign to improve health care will both be honored at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing 2012 Welcoming Ceremony Thursday evening. The school conducts the annual event to recognize the newly admitted graduate nursing students.
New study identifies large gaps in lifetime earnings of specialist and primary-care physicians
September 18, 2012 — A national study has found that earnings over the course of the careers of primary-care physicians averaged as much as $2.8 million less than the earnings of their specialist colleagues, potentially making primary care a less attractive choice for medical school graduates and exacerbating the already significant shortage of medical generalists.
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center to open major new wing
September 17, 2012 — After 10 years of planning, the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center will open its spacious new wing to patients on Sept. 24. [en español]
Carter honored as Mental Health Champion by Sacramento County
September 13, 2012 — Cameron Carter, director of the UC Davis Center for Neuroscience, has been honored by the Division of Behavioral Health Services of the Sacramento County Department of Health and Human Services as a Mental Health Champion.
UC Davis ear, nose and throat specialist honored for service, leadership
September 12, 2012 — Travis Tollefson, associate professor of otolaryngology at UC Davis Health System, received an Honors Award from the American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery yesterday at the academy's 2012 annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
UC Davis researcher receives $1.3 million to develop biopacemaker from stem cells
September 12, 2012 — Deborah K. Lieu, a stem cell scientist in cardiovascular medicine at UC Davis Health System, has received a $1.3 million research grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to develop stem cells that could serve as a biological alternative to the electronic pacemakers that people now use to regulate heart rhythm.
UC Davis physician recognized for bringing lifesaving heart surgery to Russian children
September 11, 2012 — UC Davis cardiac surgeon Nilas Young will receive the 2012 World of Children Health Award for his international humanitarian efforts to improve pediatric heart care. The award is given each year to a leader in health, medicine or science who has made significant contributions to improving the lives of children. [Russian]
Telescopic implant restores vision in patient with advanced macular degeneration
September 11, 2012 — Surgeons at UC Davis Medical Center have successfully implanted a new telescope implant in the eye of a patient with end-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most advanced form of the disease and a leading cause of blindness in older Americans. [en español]
MIND Institute researchers study ADHD and methamphetamine addiction
September 10, 2012 — Why people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at greater risk of substance dependence, particularly methamphetamine dependence, and have greater difficulty overcoming their addiction is the subject of a new study by researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute.
Gun dealers, pawnbrokers say it's too easy for criminals to get guns
September 10, 2012 — The majority of U.S. firearms dealers and pawnbrokers believe it is too easy for criminals to get guns in America, results from the UC Davis Firearms Licensee Survey reveal. [en español]
School of Medicine alumni honored for service, humanitarian efforts and leadership
September 10, 2012 — Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the founding of the UC Davis School of Medicine, the school's Alumni Association honored three of its distinguished graduates on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012.
Task force sets new clinical practice guidelines for triglycerides
September 7, 2012 — Although treatment strategies for high triglyceride levels in the blood are well established, new clinical practice guidelines from the Endocrine Society released today in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism recommend that more attention should be paid to the ways each person's unique history, physiology and lifestyle interact to affect risk. [en español]
Three international visiting professors join School of Nursing this fall
September 4, 2012 — The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis welcomes three international visiting professors who will teach, contribute content to courses and serve as a resource for students and faculty beginning this fall.
August 2012
2012 Northern California Premium Sake Fest slated for October
August 31, 2012 — Sake aficionados may taste the best offerings from Japan's leading sake makers, as well as Japanese beer, shochu (a distilled equivalent of sake), sushi and other specially prepared foods from local Japanese restaurants, at the 2012 Northern California Premium Sake Fest, Wednesday Oct. 10 at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel.
UC Davis eye surgeon brings vision to El Salvador
August 29, 2012 — The humanitarian act of cornea donation -- a gift from a donor to recipient -- went worldwide recently, with the help of Mark J. Mannis, Ocular Director for Sierra Donor Services, and its parent company, DCI Donor Services. Mannis is also professor and chair of ophthalmology & vision science and director of the Eye Center at UC Davis Health System. [en español]
UC Davis-led conference promotes new collaborations in Brazil
August 28, 2012 — An interdisciplinary delegation of researchers and educators, led by UC Davis, met this month at the Integrated Biological Networks Driving Disease Outcomes conference in Uberlândia, Brazil, to explore new opportunities for collaboration with the Brazilian Research Network in the biomedical and translational sciences.
Three young UC Davis researchers receive prestigious national grants to study schizophrenia
August 28, 2012 — Each addressing the disease from different and unique perspectives, three young UC Davis researchers have received one of the most prestigious mental-health grants in the world to investigate one of the least understood and devastating psychiatric disorders: schizophrenia.
Diagnosis often missed for Hispanic children with developmental delay, autism
August 27, 2012 — Hispanic children often have undiagnosed developmental delays and large numbers of Hispanic and non-Hispanic children who first were thought to have developmental delay actually had autism, researchers affiliated with the UC Davis MIND Institute have found. [en español]
UC Davis expert available to comment on Empire State Building shootings
August 24, 2012 — Garen Wintemute, an emergency medicine physician and director of the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program, is available to comment on the stray-bullet shooting incident that occurred outside the Empire State Building today.
St. Baldrick's Foundation awards $100,000 to UC Davis scientist
August 21, 2012 — For the second consecutive year, Paul Knoepfler, associate professor of cell biology and human anatomy at UC Davis School of Medicine, has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the St. Baldrick's Foundation to pursue his novel research into the molecular causes of brain tumors in children.
Pediatric quality-improvement efforts advance resident education, patient care
August 20, 2012 — From screening new mothers for post-partum depression to ensuring that children receive regular dental health check-ups, quality-improvement efforts by residents at UC Davis Children's Hospital have been highly effective at improving both resident education and patient outcomes, a study by pediatric medical education faculty has found.
E-health house calls, novel probiotics among new research funded at UC Davis Health System
August 17, 2012 — UC Davis Health System faculty are among the principal investigators and collaborators awarded funding from the new Research Investments in Sciences and Engineering (RISE) program to conduct innovative, multidisciplinary research in areas of strategic importance to California, the nation and the world.
Aguilar-Gaxiola appointed to lead statewide autism task force
August 16, 2012 — Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, director of the UC Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities, has been appointed by state Senate Pro-Tempore Darrell Steinberg to co-chair a task force to investigate the equitable distribution of autism services to diverse communities in California. [en español]
UC Davis Trauma Prevention Program receives more than $300,000 donation from Kohl's
August 16, 2012 — The UC Davis Injury and Trauma Prevention Program has received a grant for $306,381 from Kohl's Cares® to support its child and adolescent injury prevention efforts in the Sacramento region.
Time for new books, backpacks -- and a visit to the doctor for immunizations
August 15, 2012 — As another school year begins, it is important for all school-aged children to be up-to-date with all of their immunizations, because they will be interacting with a larger group of children and therefore at greater risk of exposure to preventable infectious diseases.
UC Davis, Shriners to study using magnets to correct "sunken chest"
August 14, 2012 — UC Davis Children's Hospital and Shriners Hospitals for Children-Northern California have embarked on a groundbreaking study of a device that uses magnets to correct sunken chest, the most common congenital chest-wall abnormality, in the same way that orthodontic braces correct teeth. [en español]
Pavilions shopping center hosts Fashion's Night Out to benefit UC Davis Children's Hospital
August 14, 2012 — Pavilions Shopping Center in Sacramento will host its second Fashion's Night Out, an evening of shopping and a fashion show featuring clothing from Pavilions' specialty stores, on Sept. 6.
Chemical widely used in antibacterial hand soaps may impair muscle function
August 13, 2012 — Triclosan, an antibacterial chemical widely used in hand soaps and other personal-care products, hinders muscle contractions at a cellular level, slows swimming in fish and reduces muscular strength in mice, according to researchers at the University of California, Davis, and the University of Colorado.
UC Davis researchers identify cellular basis for how anti-aging cosmetics work
August 13, 2012 — A team of investigators from UC Davis and Peking University have discovered a mechanism that may explain how alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs) ― the key ingredient in cosmetic chemical peels and wrinkle-reducing creams ― work to enhance skin appearance. An understanding of the underlying process may lead to better cosmetic formulations as well as have medical applications. [ 中文 (Chinese)]
UC Davis Children's Hospital gains international recognition for lifesaving program
August 10, 2012 — UC Davis Children's Hospital has received the Excellence in Life Support Award from the international Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) for its Extracorporeal Life Support Program. The program provides lifesaving support for failing organ systems in infants, children and in some cases, adults.
Research shows gene defect's role in autism-like behavior
August 10, 2012 — Scientists affiliated with the UC Davis MIND Institute have discovered how a defective gene causes brain changes that lead to the atypical social behavior characteristic of autism. The research offers a potential target for drugs to treat the condition.
Leaders gather to develop competencies for pain management education
August 10, 2012 — A team of 30 pain and education experts from throughout North America gathered for an intensive two-day summit at UC Davis Health System last week to develop competencies in pain management education for new clinicians across the health professions.
Ramsey Badawi awarded prestigious "Provocative Questions" grant from NCI
August 9, 2012 — Ramsey Badawi, UC Davis associate professor of biomedical engineering, has won a groundbreaking grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to address whether tumors can be detected when they are two to three times smaller than those detectable using current imaging methods.
UC Davis medical student receives 2012 Physicians of Tomorrow award
August 8, 2012 — Kabir Matharu, a fourth-year student at UC Davis School of Medicine, received a 2012 Physicians of Tomorrow award from the American Medical Association Foundation for his leadership and strong commitment to promoting social justice through use of the performing arts. Matharu is one of only 18 students in the nation to receive the scholarship, which recognizes academic excellence and provides $10,000 for medical school tuition.
$17 million grant to fund seizure, neurotoxin research
August 8, 2012 — A new $17 million research center dedicated to identifying medical countermeasures for neurotoxic chemicals that cause seizures in humans has been established by the U.S. National Institutes of Health at the University of California, Davis.
New, interprofessional course on quality improvement to launch this fall
August 8, 2012 — With a focus on the health system's commitment to interprofessional education and the goal of preparing well-qualified health-care professionals for the future, two professors from the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing collaborated to develop a new, interprofessional course that opens this fall.
UC Davis launches new program to help students navigate medical school
August 7, 2012 — UC Davis has launched an innovative new effort to help its students navigate the rocky shoals of medical education by engaging some of their biggest and most ardent and important supporters: their families and friends. [en español]
Fructose consumption may impact development of metabolic syndrome
August 7, 2012 — Prolonged fructose consumption may contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome, a combination of medical disorders that, when occurring together, increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. [en español]
UC Davis osteoporosis specialist recognized for contributions to medicine, science
August 7, 2012 — Nancy E. Lane, professor of internal medicine and holder of the endowed chair of Healthy Aging and Geriatrics at UC Davis School of Medicine, received the Remodeling in Bone (RIB) Award from the International Sun Valley Workshop on Musculoskeletal Biology group on August 5 in Sun Valley, Idaho. She also delivered a lecture on the "Wnt signaling pathway: the bone and joint connection."
White children more likely to receive CT scans than Hispanic or African-American children
August 6, 2012 — White children are more likely to receive cranial (head) CT scans in an emergency department following minor head trauma, compared with African-American or Hispanic children, a study published by researchers at UC Davis has found. [en español]
UC Davis Health System's Research Volunteer Registry receives 2012 Sautter Golden Award
August 6, 2012 — UC Davis Health System's Research Volunteer Registry project received the 2012 Larry L. Sautter Golden Award for Innovation in Information Technology. The project is one of nine -- and the only one from UC Davis -- to receive a Sautter Award, and it is one of only three to be recognized with a Golden Award within the entire UC system.
July 2012
New class of UC Davis medical students noted for leadership, diversity
July 31, 2012 — Six years ago, Leopoldine Matialeu didn't speak English that well and was living in a shelter with her younger sister after her mother had lost her job. Today, she is one of 109 UC Davis medical students dedicated to improving health who will begin classes on Aug. 6. [en español]
Graduate student wins top research fellowship
July 31, 2012 — Andrea Ferrero, a UC Davis PhD candidate in biomedical engineering, has been awarded a 2012 Howard Hughes Medical Institute International Student Research Fellowship for his work on use of PET/CT scanning to monitor the effects of breast cancer treatment.
When I Grow Up event to encourage children with heart conditions to dream about their futures
July 30, 2012 — When I Grow Up, an event that encourages children with heart conditions to dream about jobs they may have when they become adults, will be held on Saturday, Aug. 4 at the UC Davis MIND Institute on UC Davis' Sacramento campus, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. About 150 children and their families are expected to attend.
UC Davis Medical Center ranks among the nation's Most Connected Hospitals
July 27, 2012 — UC Davis Medical Center ranks among U.S. News & Worlds Report's 2012-13 list of Most Connected Hospitals, a distinction that only 156 of the 5,300 American hospitals included in the survey qualified for as of July 2012. Only 16 California hospitals met Most Connected criteria, and UC San Diego was the only other UC medical center campus to receive the designation.
Increasingly popular medical school applicant interview process favors extroverts
July 27, 2012 — Although conscientiousness is the personality factor that predicts better performance in medical school and physician practice, a new UC Davis study has found that extroversion is the only personality type associated with better performance in the Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) process, an increasingly popular method for interviewing and selecting medical students.
UC Davis stem cell researchers awarded $53 million
July 26, 2012 — UC Davis Health System researchers who are working to speed therapies to patients suffering from critical limb ischemia, osteoporosis and Huntington's disease received approval today for three separate research grants from the state's stem cell agency totaling more than $53 million. [en español]
$14 million to UC Davis for stem cell research in vascular disease
July 26, 2012 — UC Davis Health System researchers working to speed therapies to patients suffering from critical limb ischemia (CLI) received approval today for a $14.1 million grant from the state's stem cell agency, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).
Stem cell grant to UC Davis targets osteoporosis
July 26, 2012 — Researchers at UC Davis Health System in Sacramento have received approval for a $20 million grant proposal to refine a stem cell therapy for osteoporosis patients and test its effectiveness in clinical trials over the next four years.
Huntington's disease research fueled by $19 million from stem cell agency
July 26, 2012 — In what scientists and patients advocates say is an exciting development in the area of Huntington's disease (HD) research, California's stem cell agency today approved a grant proposal worth nearly $20 million that is designed to propel researchers at UC Davis Health System toward preparing for the first FDA-approved cellular therapy for HD patients.
UC Davis dermatologist among scientists honored with Presidential award
July 23, 2012 — Emanual Maverakis, assistant professor of dermatology at UC Davis School of Medicine, joins a highly select group later this month in a White House ceremony honoring recipients of this year's Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on outstanding scientists and engineers in the early stages of their independent research careers.
Chong Porter appointed to new Associate Vice Chancellor position at UC Davis Health System
July 23, 2012 — Chong Porter has joined UC Davis Health System as the institution's first associate vice chancellor for Health Sciences Development and Alumni Relations.
UC Davis researcher seeks to improve the self-care skills of patients with depression and diabetes
July 20, 2012 — With a $700,000 grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), a UC Davis researcher will determine if primary-care physicians can use specific interviewing techniques to improve the self-care skills of patients with depression and diabetes.
UC Davis School of Medicine student receives ThinkSwiss scholarship
July 19, 2012 — Annahita Sarcon, a fourth-year medical student at UC Davis, received a 2012 ThinkSwiss Research Scholarship to study takotsubo cardiomyopathy at the University Hospital Zurich, one of the largest teaching hospitals in Europe.
Blood condition is highly predictive of graft failure in pediatric kidney transplant
July 19, 2012 — For children receiving kidney transplants, a potentially correctable blood condition present in about one in four recipients is associated with a moderately increased risk of the graft's later failure, suggesting that clinicians should weigh whether transplant is advisable when the condition is present, according to UC Davis research presented today at the 24th International Congress of the Transplantation Society in Berlin.
UC Davis Health System welcomes the community to a free outdoor concert Aug. 16
July 18, 2012 — UC Davis Health System and its Community Advisory Board will host the popular dance band Mercy Me! (Band) at their sixth annual outdoor concert on Thursday, Aug. 16, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Two new endowments support violence prevention research at UC Davis Health System
July 18, 2012 — Two new endowments established with anonymous gifts to UC Davis Health System will further advance the innovative work of the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program.
Gorin named to chair UC Davis Department of Neurology
July 17, 2012 — Internationally respected neuroscientist Fredric A. Gorin, whose investigations of novel therapies for brain cancer, traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular disease and stroke have resulted in four U.S. patents, has been appointed chair of the Department of Neurology in the UC Davis School of Medicine. Gorin's appointment became effective July 1.
UC Davis Medical Center recognized as Top 10 Hospital in America for Service Excellence
July 17, 2012 — UC Davis Medical Center has been designated as a Top 10 Hospital in America for Service Excellence by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers (AAHCP), signifying it as one of America's most customer-friendly hospitals.
New study reveals racial disparities in voice box-preserving cancer treatment
July 16, 2012 — A new epidemiological study led by UC Davis researchers reveals significant racial disparities in the use of non-surgical larynx-preservation therapy for locally advanced laryngeal cancer.
Institute of Medicine report recommends improving access to care and outcomes tracking for PTSD
July 16, 2012 — An Institute of Medicine report released Friday examining U.S. Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs (VA) programs for preventing, identifying and treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) recommends that service members and veterans receive more timely access to evidence-based care, including PTSD screening at least once a year.
Health system signs agreement for collaborative projects, exchanges with Swedish medical school
July 13, 2012 — UC Davis Health System and the Lund University School of Medicine in Sweden have entered into an agreement to pursue collaborative projects in research, medical education and clinical care.
School of Nursing doctoral student awarded prestigious predoctoral fellowship
July 12, 2012 — Lori Kennedy Madden, a doctoral student at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, received a prestigious fellowship from the National Institute of Nursing Research to hone her skills as a nurse scientist as she conducts doctoral research on traumatic brain injury. Madden, a member of the school's inaugural class of doctoral students, is the first School of Nursing student to receive this competitive award.
UC Davis and Yoursphere.com launch online community for kids with cancer
July 12, 2012 — UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center and Yoursphere.com have teamed up to create the first of its kind interactive web community that allows young cancer patients and survivors to connect with peers all over the world. [en español]
UC Davis scientist receives a $1.5 million grant for rheumatoid arthritis research
July 11, 2012 — UC Davis researcher Iannis Adamopoulos has received a $1.5 million grant from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases to study the causes of rheumatoid arthritis -- a chronic disease that affects people of all ages and leads to permanent bone and joint damage.
New parking structure at UC Davis Medical Center promotes ease of use, environmental sustainability
July 11, 2012 — A new parking structure set to open at UC Davis Medical Center will provide much-needed spaces near the hospital, and features elements that will make it easier for patrons to use and promote environmental sustainability.
Kawatu to lead pediatric gastroenterology at UC Davis Children's Hospital
July 10, 2012 — David Kawatu, a specialist in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders in children, has joined the faculty of the UC Davis School of Medicine as chief of the Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology in the Department of Pediatrics.
UC Davis Health System among the nation's most wired
July 10, 2012 — For the second consecutive year, UC Davis Health System has been designated as one of the nation's information technology leaders, according to the 2012 "Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study" that appears in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine.
Precautions urged during heat wave
July 10, 2012 — Soaring temperatures can be extremely dangerous, particularly for seniors or for anyone who works or exercises outdoors. UC Davis physicians offer several suggestions to prevent heat stroke and severe dehydration, which can lead to hospitalization and even death on scorching summer days.
UC Davis researchers demonstrate usefulness of a novel PET/CT device in inflammatory arthritis
July 10, 2012 — UC Davis researchers have shown that their specially constructed PET/CT scanner enables better monitoring of the course of inflammatory arthritis - a costly and painful disease.
UC Davis study finds stray-bullet shootings frequently harm women and children
July 9, 2012 — Most people killed or wounded in stray-bullet shootings were unaware of events leading to the gunfire that caused their injuries, and nearly one-third of the victims were children and nearly half were female, according to a new nationwide study examining an often-overlooked form of gun violence
Renowned endocrinologist and sugar expert to speak at UC Davis Health System
July 9, 2012 — Robert Lustig, the physician whose lecture titled "Sugar: The Bitter Truth" went viral on YouTube with more than 2.5 million hits, will speak on the Sacramento campus of UC Davis as part of the Pioneers in Integrative Medicine speaker series.
Patients trust doctors but consult the Internet
July 6, 2012 — Patients look up their illnesses online to become better informed and prepared to play an active role in their care -- not because they mistrust their doctors, a new University of California, Davis, study suggests.
UC Davis study finds that above-normal weight alone does not increase the short-term risk of death
July 6, 2012 — An evaluation of national data by UC Davis researchers has found that extra weight is not necessarily linked with a higher risk of death.
UC Davis program addresses California's need for diverse physician workforce
July 5, 2012 — An innovative physician education program that combines psychiatry with either family practice or internal medicine training has received $1.2 million in additional funding from the California Department of Mental Health to extend the program through 2014. [español]
New vice chair of research joins the pathology and laboratory medicine department
July 3, 2012 — Yu-Jui Yvonne Wan, a national leader in the study of liver diseases whose work focuses on the role of retinoids and their receptors in control of liver function, joined the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine as professor and vice chair of research on July 1.
Health system's advertising campaign honored by Telly Awards
July 3, 2012 — UC Davis Health System's television advertising campaign won a Commercial Silver award in the 2012 Telly Awards.
National neuroscience research project now under way at UC Davis
July 2, 2012 — UC Davis Health System researchers who want to investigate new approaches to treating neurological diseases now have an unprecedented set of tools for making clinical trials more efficient, getting results more rapidly and, ultimately, enabling them to bring innovative and effective treatments to people with debilitating disorders.
UC Davis researchers find biomarker that predicts response to chemotherapy for osteosarcoma
July 2, 2012 — Knowing whether a patient's tumor has this protein biomarker could help doctors determine if a patient should undergo standard treatment or if a more aggressive or alternative therapy may be more effective. [en español]
