UCLA Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine

“I used to have asthma as a child and had numerous visits to the emergency room,” says Dr. Sande Okelo, associate professor of pediatrics and division chief of UCLA Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine. “As a physician I understood there was a great opportunity out there to help patients [...]

“My husband was a carrier for a very rare mutation of cystic fibrosis,” says Stacey Armato, whose son Massimo Armato is now 2 years old and sees Dr. Marlyn Woo at UCLA Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine. “At five days old Massimo had surgery to remove a burst intestine. [...]

“Having a child with asthma can be frightening,” says Brian, father to 2-year-old Finn, who brought his son to see UCLA pediatric pulmonologist Sande Okelo, MD. “There have been some nights were we were really unsure about what to do. The one really positive aspect of our care at [...]

Food is a gateway for a lot of emotions and it’s a way that a lot of families show love,” says Suzanne Hollander, MS, RD, a pediatric and adult dietician for the cystic fibrosis clinic and pulmonology clinic at UCLA Health. “I work with patients who have pulmonology disorders, [...]

“I think one of the most sensitive and challenging times are when our newborn babies are first diagnosed with cystic fibrosis,” says Sabah Akmal, LSCW,  a pediatric clinical social worker with UCLA Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine. “The parents are overwhelmed when they have a healthy baby, but their [...]

"It’s hard to explain, but when you feel so frustrated and worried, and then you have support, it eases the worry a little bit,” says Trang Ngo-Beteta, mother to Theo Beteta, a patient of UCLA pediatric pulmonologist Diana Chen, MD. “All the nurses and doctors in the Neonatal Intensive [...]

“Gavin was born with micrognathia, which is a small jaw, and had trouble breathing. So, at 3 weeks old, he was transferred to UCLA Health to have surgery,” says Deanna Steinrad, mother to now 2-year-old Gavin Steinrad, who came in for a visit with Dr. Marlyn Woo at UCLA [...]