UC Davis Health

Abdominal aortic aneurysms can be deadly, but they are often underdiagnosed and, or, undertreated in women. To help address this disparity, our researchers have harnessed powerful artificial intelligence (AI) software to show how these aneurysms can grow faster in women and may require more rigorous surveillance. “There is not a lot of data about aneurysm growth in women,” said Misty Humphries, interim chief of Vascular Surgery and senior author on the study. “So, there's not a lot of information about when women’s aneurysms should be fixed or reimaged or even how they grow compared to men’s. This is the first time this data has become available.” Learn more about this new study: https://lnkd.in/du6NS7PJ

People recently released from incarceration are among the most vulnerable populations in society. To better support these individuals, our Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Digital CoLab are now providing digital resources and support for people reentering communities after incarceration. The new program is called Digital SAFE-T and is built on a partnership between Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and WellSpace Health (the largest federally qualified health center or FQHC in Sacramento). It provides personalized case management for recently incarcerated individuals. “We are proud to have developed the Digital SAFE-T Program to help incarcerated and released individuals access resources and critical care in the palm of their hand,” said Ashish Atreja, CIO and chief digital health officer. “By re-imagining how we can support this vulnerable patient population, we are thinking beyond the walls of our hospital to provide care through technology.” Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gckszzTT

As we approach the Fourth of July holiday, I want to thank all of our employees at UC Davis Health for their professionalism and hard work on behalf of our patients and community. Every day, I see how our employees cultivate health and well-being throughout families, communities and the region. At the core of our success is the conviction that each person who walks through the doors of our health system is a very special person, inclusive of their background, orientation, and material circumstance. Equitable access to quality health care is a key priority as we build the future of health care. I recall the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who made America stronger by making America just and inclusive. He once said, “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” Our “uplifting” health system does this type of human-oriented, patient-focused care on a daily basis – and more than ever, people far and wide are recognizing our accomplishments. We couldn’t do it without each and every one of you – physicians, nurses, staff, students, and our health allies. Thank you for everything that you do, and Happy Fourth of July!

To help hospitals across the United States better prepare for the next patient surge emergency, we recently worked with the Department of Defense to create a temporary structure model. Our team designed and created a 56-bed modular surge facility, or MSF, to address a future patient surge event. The structure includes everything from a pharmacy to a radiology suite with X-ray and ultrasound capabilities. “When a catastrophic event hits a community, there is often a large influx of emergency patients,” explained Pranav Shetty, our medical director of disaster management. “In events such as a natural disaster, mass shooting, overseas war or terror attack, hospitals have to make rapid decisions on how to appropriately manage the large influx of patients while providing high quality medical care for existing as well as incoming patients.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/g68Vebp2

We're excited to share that we've named Joseph Galante as our Hospital Chief Medical Officer and Debbie Aizenberg as our Ambulatory Chief Medical Officer! Joe Galante will oversee Hospital Clinical Care Services (HCCS), where he will lead and direct the professional portion of the medical center’s clinical delivery system. He is the liaison between the hospital, School of Medicine and the self-governed medical staff for UC Davis Medical Center. As such, he is a key partner in all of the operations of the medical center. Debbie Aizenberg will lead Ambulatory Clinical Care Services (ACCS), where she will be responsible for providing leadership and direction to the ambulatory enterprise. Her role will include oversight of all ambulatory care practices, which includes more than 75 clinics at 32 locations both in Sacramento and throughout Northern California. “Dr. Galante’s and Dr. Aizenberg’s extraordinary leadership experience, knowledge of UC Davis Health, and dedication to patient care deeply align with our goals of cultivating the health and well-being of all patients and families throughout Northern California. They will play pivotal roles in shaping our strategic directions, enhancing the quality of our medical services, and fostering a culture of excellence and innovation at UC Davis Health. I am thrilled to continue to work alongside them as we develop a model health system that merges technology, efficiency, quality, and compassion for those whom we serve,” said Chief Clinical Officer Bruce Hall. Congratulations, both!

As this #PRIDE month closes, our support for the LGBTQIA community never stops. We are proud to support this community during June and the rest of the year. This year’s Sacramento Pride Festival saw one of the strongest turnouts to date of University of California, Davis and UC Davis Health employees and students coming together to celebrate love, diversity, and equality. We will continue to advocate for the needs of others and empower our LGBTQIA employees to develop their own supportive social network of colleagues, collaborators, peers and allies. #HappyPride! 💛🏳️🌈💙 Video description: A compilation of clips from the Sacramento Pride March which includes individuals gathered waving, cheering, and participating in the parade around Sacramento. “True Colors” by XO Cupid ft. May Avedis plays in the background.

Congratulations to hematology-oncology physician Mehrdad Abedi, who received a $4.6M grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) for their project titled “Superior forward-oriented b-globin vector for treating Sickle Cell Disease”! This funding will support the project through all stages of clinical trial development.

We are thrilled to share that Michael Condrin has been appointed as the System Chief Operating Officer (System COO) and Chief Administrator for the UC Davis Medical Center! As the inaugural System COO, Mike will be responsible for driving the vision and strategy for our clinical enterprise, encompassing the medical center, the cancer center, and our expanding network of multispecialty clinics, surgery centers, imaging centers, and outpatient clinical affiliations. "Throughout this last year, Mike has served as the Interim Chief Administrator for UC Davis Medical Center and Chief Operating Officer for the Hospital Division, and he has truly excelled. Before serving in the interim role, Mike did an exceptional job serving as the Chief Operating Officer for Ambulatory Care, managing outpatient services across 74 clinics at 32 locations. Under his leadership and experienced guidance, we launched the Patient Contact Center, expanded telehealth capabilities and usage by patients, and opened the Ernest E. Tschannen Eye Institute and the Edwards Family Athletic Center for sports medicine clinic. Additionally, he successfully completed the initial programming for the 48X Complex/Ambulatory Surgery Center as well as the Folsom Medical Office Building," said CEO David Lubarsky. Congratulations, Mike!

The UC Davis Health community will recognize Juneteenth tomorrow on June 19. Also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day and Emancipation Day, Juneteenth is an opportunity to come together and realize the promise of America – a promise of freedom, liberty, and justice, not for some, but for all. On June 19, 1865 – two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been enacted – Black slaves in Galveston, Texas, were finally told they were free. Since then, Juneteenth has been commemorated in communities across the United States, and it became a federal and a UC holiday in 2021. The historical legacy of Juneteenth shows the value of never giving up hope in uncertain times, and it marks an intrinsic moment in the ever-evolving American project of democracy. With the Principles of Community at UC Davis Health as our guide, we encourage every member of our health system to use this day to consider what they can do to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and genuine belonging for all. This is a day of profound meaningfulness, so let us resolve to build a future defined by our greatest ideals, our highest values, and our best selves.

We are to share that we've been awarded a $5.6 million grant through the Coast-to-Coast Consortium to advance our pioneering work with the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) All of Us Research Program! "The All of Us Research Program provides an unprecedented opportunity to include diverse populations in large-scale genomic research,” Alexander Borowsky, a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine said. “By including individuals from historically underrepresented communities, we can uncover insights into genetic variations that may have been overlooked in the past, ultimately leading to more equitable health care for all." Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g4JAxKiA