Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine | Department of Internal Medicine | UC Davis Health

No function is more important to the human body than breathing. The lungs, heart and blood vessels work together to transport oxygen to the cells throughout our body, and to remove carbon dioxide waste. From the moment a baby draws its first breath, pulmonary function — breathing — remains essential to sustain life. Many sleep disorders involve problems with respiration — inhaling and exhaling. Lung and heart function are often the most urgent concerns in emergency and critical care cases. Most of our physicians care for patients in the UC Davis Medical Center Intensive Care Unit as well as in our clinics. The UC Davis Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine is Northern California’s premier source for preventive as well as chronic and urgent respiratory system care.

Minimally invasive techniques to help you breathe better

Physicians in our division are continually researching and putting into practice the most advanced treatments, using minimally invasive techniques, for people with a broad spectrum of pulmonary disorders. Our key role in California’s response to COVID-19 included conducting Phase II/III clinical trials of the Pfizer vaccine four months before its approval.