Sheila Neroda received her bachelor's degree in nursing and her public health nurse certification from California State University, Sacramento in 1979, and another bachelor's degree in zoology from the University of California, Berkeley in 1977.

Starting out as a staff nurse at the UC Davis Medical Center in 1979, Neroda has worked with a socio-economically diverse population of patients facing a wide variety of operative procedures. From oncology, trauma, plastics, orthopedics, head and neck, and gastrointestinal surgery to cardiac and vascular surgery, Neroda has a broad base of experience from which she offers information regarding best practices in patient care.

In the1980s, Neroda established herself as the first preoperative screening nurse in the Department of Anesthesiology. This role required an ability to quickly identify patients scheduled to undergo elective operations who may not be in optimal condition for their planned surgery. Her thoughtful approach to patient care, along with attention to detail made Neroda ideally suited for this position.

Currently, Neroda functions as a resource nurse for Vascular Center Clinic patients. Alongside surgeons and interventionalists, Neroda greets newly referred patients and their families, assists in planning logistics of any needed intervention and provides pre- and post-intervention patient education for Vascular Center patients. Patients are urged to call Neroda with their questions and concerns; successful outcomes are dependant upon patients' understanding of their condition and options for treatment.

Neroda has been recognized by the Division of Surgery as well as her peers with multiple "Employee of the Year" and "Excellence in Nursing" awards during her career at UC Davis Health System.