Inside VMTH

Updates & Announcements

Noteworthy Around the VMTH

VMTH Staff Forums

Thank you to everyone who completed the survey — we received 140 responses! Your feedback is guiding improvements to our hospital communication strategy. We’ve responded to individual queries and will share key action items soon.

VMTH Updated Organizational Chart

The updated VMTH organizational chart is now available. It reflects current leadership roles and reporting structures to better support hospital operations.

CVMO Office Update

We want to share that Nicole Adams is no longer working at the VMTH. She has been a valued member of the CVMO office and supported the hospital through many transitions over the past year. We thank her for her contributions and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

With both Niki and Simon having moved on, Sarah Bloom will be assisting the CVMO office 50% of the time while continuing her work with the One Health Institute. Looking ahead, we plan to post a revised position that combines key functions from both former roles as part of our ongoing staffing and budget alignment.

Budget Season

It's budget planning time! Think of it as planting seeds now to ensure a strong and sustainable future for the VMTH. Thank you for helping prioritize wisely and support the hospital's growth. Thank you, Anissa and Monique!

Scrub Color Transition

Transition to navy-blue scrubs across hospital areas is underway.

Dr. Bret McNabb Reappointed

Dr. McNabb has been reappointed to a five-year term as Director of the Large Animal Hospital, recognized for his steady leadership and contributions to hospital operations and growth.

Welcome Sarah Bloom

Sarah (sbjgeorge@ucdavis.edu) joins the CVMO admin team via a dual appointment with One Health Institute to assist during staff leaves. She will be onsite Mondays and Thursdays. Thank you, Sarah and One Health!

Spotlight on Technicians

We celebrate our amazing animal health technicians with spotlights of Erin Johnston, Amiel Sagpao, Sarah Blasczynski, and Danielle Randall. Read the feature

New Reusable Patient Folders – Effective April 8 (see link to email)

To reduce waste and costs, Small Animal and CAPE now use navy-blue reusable folders, effective Tuesday, April 8. These replace pre-labeled folders and can be reused after each patient visit. All signed documents will continue to be scanned into VMACS. Estimated cost savings: $37K/year in Small Animal folders. Questions? Contact Traci Zalasky.

Urine Culture Update – Now in Effect

The “culture if” option (Procedure 7400) has been retired. Please order directly using Procedure 8031.

Custodial Services Update - Effective April 1

Custodial staff no longer empty office trash. Please use communal bins. Liners are available at Central Service.

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Career Opportunity in Davis

Supervisor (ANML CARE HOSP SUPV 1) - Companion Exotic Animal Medicine & Surgery Service. Application deadline: June 27.
 

Career Opportunities in San Diego

These positions are excellent opportunities for individuals passionate about advancing veterinary medicine. Please help us spread the word! For more details or to apply, click the links provided or contact Dr. Mison (mmison@ucdavis.edu) or Martin Durham (mwdurham@ucdavis.edu):

Veterinary Medical Director– UC Davis Veterinary Medical Center (Southern California):
Lead the development and strategic growth of a state-of-the-art specialty referral hospital in Southern California. This role focuses on strategic planning, clinical program management, and team building in collaboration with UC Davis leadership.

Veterinary Internist (VETERINARIAN 4)- Responsible for the development, management and oversight of the Internal Medicine Service. Responsible for the diagnosis and management of small animal patients presented or referred. In addition, to assist in the teaching and professional training and development of veterinary student externs and house officers.

Veterinary Medical Oncologist (VETERINARIAN 4) - Responsible for the development, management and oversight of the medical oncology service. Responsible for the diagnosis and management of small animal cancer patients presented or referred. Additionally, to assist in the teaching and professional training and development of veterinary student externs and house officers.

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Continuing Education

On-Demand Staff CE Library

Access a full year of curated CE, including webinars, articles, and podcasts. Many are RACE-approved and free for staff. Visit our staff Canvas site to explore the growing on-demand CE library. For assistance with accessing any of our free CE accounts, contact jpnugent@ucdavis.edu.

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Facilities/Construction

• CCAH Facility Work – June 4–5: Facilities will be working on heating, cooling, and fume hoods in CCAH. Exhaust fans will cycle off for 10–15 minutes before restarting. Facilities will coordinate directly with CCAH staff. No major impacts expected.
• Equine Isolation Renovations: Equine Isolation Renovations – Exterior concrete replacement of eroded concrete on the east and west sides of isolation, and painting/repairs of isolation stalls. Expected completion 6/30
  • The east side stalls (E2, E3, E4) are now open for normal usage.

  • The west side stalls (E5, E6, E7) are closed until 7/3

    Impact: E5, E6, E7, and office are not during concrete replacement. Overflow isolation cases will be housed in C-barn (C-1 & C-2) if needed. Before accepting a potential isolation case, contact Dr. Magdesian (IDC Officer) regarding space

• Sidewalk & Accessibility Work: Construction continues between VMTH and VM2 and in the LA Clinic parking lot. Please expect minor walkway impacts.
• Room 2232 Remodel: The former DOSS suite is being converted into a Neurology Service room. Expected completion is late April.
• South Radiology Room Equipment Upgrades: Impact: South Room temporarily out of service.
• B-Barn North Treatment Room: (5/2-5/23) The North Treatment Room will close Saturday 5/3 for 3 weeks to begin replacing wall paneling, painting, and floor mat repair/replacement. Impact: B-Barn North Treatment Room not available.
• B-Barn South: Replacement of wall paneling, painting, and repair/replacement of floor mats. Expected completion 6/13 Impact: B-Barn South Treatment Room not available.
• B-Barn Renovations: (as of 4/25) Stalls B24-B29 are now available for use. (4/25-5/9) Stalls B34-B35,B38-B41 and B44-B48 are closed for renovation. B42 – B46 will will close after 5/30. Stall B33 may have limited access during this time. Impact: Sections of B-Barn will be closed for renovations, reducing capacity by 4-7 stalls at a time. Please use C-Barn stalls near LA Ultrasound for outpatients.
• Wifi Upgrades in LAC: Ongoing, wifi installation/upgrades will begin with the Farrier Shop/arena, B-Barn, Equine ICU, and C-Barn. Impact: Periodic, short-term, limited access to aisles and stalls as needed.
• Estimated Completion for All Species Imaging: (building complete by May 2025) New imaging equipment is expected to be fully operational in July. Impact: Traffic, noise, and dust.
• B-Barn Lawn Replacement: Sod has been laid down, but is not yet ready for use. The lawn will be established and ready for use by the end of May.  Impact: No access to B-Barn Lawn
• Asphalt Demolition and Paving in the Large Animal Clinic: 6/19 – 6/20
• Asphalt will be replaced on the north side of C-Barn and the south side of B-Barn, between B-Barn, Farrier Shop, and Vet Med 2.

• Demolition and re-paving are expected to be completed in 1 day (6/19)

  Impact: This is will happen on a University holiday to minimize impact. No access to the paving areas for 24 hours (6am Thursday – 6am Friday). More details to come

• Saturday, June 14: The east side of VM2 will be pressure washed. Please plan accordingly if you work or park nearby.

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Reminders

• Lab Updates: Moving forward, we will begin using the VMACS Bulletin to send updates regarding modified hours rather than via email.
• Nuclear Medicine Camera Out of Service: The camera is non-repairable. This affects Bone Scans, PSS Studies, and Thyroid Scintigraphy. Replacement is underway with an estimated 8–10 week timeline. Large Animal PET studies are not affected.
• Mobile Student Assessment App Now Live: After a successful pilot program with five clinical services, we are rolling out the mobile application for direct student assessments across the VMTH. This tool will enhance real-time evaluations and streamline feedback. See the attached email from Dr. Watson for details.
• Cardiology consults are available Monday – Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM; urgent cases will be triaged. Bring consult forms to 103 VM2 and include contact info & patient weight. After-hours consults should go through the on-call cardiology resident. For questions on cardiology referrals, contact Dr. Ames (mkames@ucdavis.edu).
• SA Ultrasound: Two additional midday time slots have been added. Oncology & Internal Medicine slots remain. Please remove patient info at least one hour before the appointment time if a slot will not be used.
• Pet Loss Support Group: The Pet Loss Support Group is now being offered in-person on the 3rd Thursday of every month from 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM. Postcards with information are available at all receptions.
• DOSS Consultation Requests: Services requesting an in-house consultation from the DOSS should follow these steps:
  • Submit a consult and text (530) 760-9295 to notify the DOSS of the request.
  • Include details such as sedation needs or time constraints for the patient.
  • The DOSS will contact the person listed on the consult to arrange a suitable time for the exam.
  • We’re happy to discuss patient-related questions, but please do not bring the patient to the service without prior notification.
• Referrals to Orthopedic Surgery: To ensure efficient and accurate processing of internal referrals to Orthopedic Surgery, please note that all referrals must be submitted through the standard online referral process using the Orthopedic Surgery Referral Form located at [Surgery Referral Form]. For any questions or concerns regarding this process, please do not hesitate to reach out to smallanimalorthopedics@ucdavis.edu or contact Lori Kibbe, Orthopedic Surgery Service Coordinator, at lfkibbe@ucdavis.edu.

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VMTH Communications

• State of the VMTH Update, presented on 8/20/24.
• VMTH Prospectus 2024-25: highlights key hospital achievements, caseload statistics, personnel breakdowns, clinical trials, and upcoming facilities.
• VMTH Quarterly Communications & Marketing Report (2025 Q1): Enjoy these quarterly highlights of marketing/communications initiatives at the VMTH. For questions or ideas, please contact Rob Warren at rjwarren@ucdavis.edu.
• SVM Quarterly Communications Report (2025 Q1): See how our school is making waves across the media and SVM campus with the latest highlights. 

Newsletters

VMTH Voice (internal) and VMTH Heartbeat (external to referring veterinarians) newsletters
VMTH Safety newsletter
SVM News & Events

VMTH Weekly Roundup Emails

Email Archive (BOX)

Hospital Staffing

• Are you looking for a change in your career? Does working in a different VMTH service interest you? Stay up to date on all staff positions at the hospital on the university's job site. New jobs are posted almost every week, so check back often if you do not immediately find a position that interests you. Any questions, contact Harmony Lindberg.
   
• Have you visited the VMTH Staff Training website recently?  Each month, there are new posts of continuing education courses, webinars, podcasts, and articles/blogs that cover a wide range of topics in large, small, and exotic animal medicine. Any questions, contact Jody Nugent-Deal. 
   
• VMTH has seen increases in average length of service (75%) and total FTEs (25%) for veterinary technicians over the past 5 years.
   

House Officers

2024 – 25 House Officer Educational Series

• May: Scientific Writing Workshop (for house officers, junior faculty, and graduate students) presented by Drs. Kevin Keel, Patty Pesavento and Paco Uzal. In-person only. Registration opens Monday, May 12.
  Saturday, May 31, 8am-5pm
  Light breakfast & lunch provided

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2024 – 25 Chief House Officers

Dr. Emmy Hirsch and Dr. Elise Lenske as our 2024-2025 Chief House Officers

Additional Resources
House Officer resources on Canvas

• House Officer Wellness Services (mental health resources and more).
• Contact House Officer Affairs co-directors: Dr. Jamie Burkitt and Dr. Amandine Lejeune.
• Contact House Officer Affairs chief house officers: Dr. Emmy Hirsch and Dr. Elise Lenske.
• Contact House Officer Affairs coordinator: Audra Johnson.

Pharmacy/Central Services

Wellness Resources

VMTH leadership places a tremendous amount of importance on the emotional and physical well-being of all faculty, staff, and students working and learning in the hospital. Your physical and emotional wellness is a top priority.

Beyond the many dedicated resources the university has established, VMTH leadership will continually seek opportunities to improve your surroundings with a goal of creating an environment that is the most conducive to an optimal acceptance and well-being for all. We will continue to push for and advance mental health and wellness initiatives throughout the VMTH and beyond.

Please utilize these resources should you need assistance, and see all hospital wellness resources available.

• Faculty/Staff Wellness Resources
• House Officer Wellness Service
• Student Wellness Resources

Comments & Suggestions

Your Voice Matters!

We welcome your comments, suggestions, and feedback to improve our hospital and services. Please share your thoughts with us by emailing us at VMTHLeadership@ucdavis.edu.

Want to Add Something?

If you would like to propose any additions to this page please reach out to us at VMTHLeadership@ucdavis.edu.

Contact VMTH Leadership

Contact VMTH Leadership at VMTHLeadership@ucdavis.edu
See full VMTH Leadership page