UC Spotlight: August 2024
![Person holding puppy](https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/dog-cvet_feature.jpg)
August 14, 2024
Our monthly UC Spotlight celebrates the UC locations, teams and individual staff members who are helping to make UC a great place to work.
Four weeks spent in the ICU inspired Mithun Mahinda’s career
![Mithun Mahinda stands in the hospital hallway](https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/UCnet-feature.jpg)
August 13, 2024
UCLA Clinical Nurse Mithun Mahinda experienced the power of patient-centered care while hospitalized as a teen. He’s since received international recognition.
UCLA lactation consultants support low-income moms with breast pumps
![Mom Eliana Cantu and her daughter, Marleen, visit with baby Ian](https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Eliana-Cantu.jpg)
August 12, 2024
Patients in the WIC program can receive a free, hospital-grade breast pump to help establish their milk supply while they are apart from their babies in the UCLA NICU.
Kimmi Gutierrez on her career as a labor and delivery nurse
![Adult person holding baby's feet](https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/uc-davis-baby-feet.jpg)
August 9, 2024
Kimmi talks about about her career, delivering babies and how no two workdays days are ever alike.
A UCLA doctor shares skin-friendly sunscreen tips
![Man applying sunscreen in a mirror](https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/sunscreen_ucnet-feature.jpg)
August 1, 2024
Besides seeking shade, one of the best ways to protect against skin cancer is by using sunscreen properly. Dr. Esther S. Yu explains how.
UC academic health centers earn national honors for environmental sustainability
![Doctor consulting notes at UC Davis](https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2-ucd-sustainability-1024x576.jpg)
July 26, 2024
UC academic health centers were honored in the 2024 Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Awards, which recognize environmental stewardship and sustainability achievements.
UC Davis Health emergency department receives prestigious Lantern Award
![Exterior of UC Davis Medical Center](https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/UCD-Medical-Center-original.jpg)
July 26, 2024
UC Davis Medical Center is the only emergency department in Sacramento and just one of two hospitals in Northern California to receive the recognition this year.
Training tomorrow’s public health leaders
![Students talking at UC Irvine School of Public Health](https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/uci-soph-sz-3.jpg)
July 23, 2024
Grounded in community engagement, UC Irvine’s new health professional school will strengthen public health infrastructure in Southern California and beyond.
UC is recognized with 38 CASE Circle of Excellence Awards
![Whale in front of a container ship](https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Whale-Safe-Thumbnail-1200x600-1.jpg)
July 16, 2024
The awards recognize exceptional achievement in advancement services, alumni relations, communications, fundraising and marketing.
Kayla Kafka-Peterson on bringing oncology nursing training to the world
![Kayla Kafka-Peterson at UCLA](https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/0024ucla-kayla-06112024-js.jpg)
July 9, 2024
When Kayla needed a brachytherapy training program for her team, she developed one — and soon discovered that her work could impact a significantly larger audience.