Semkiw and Duns receive Children’s Miracle Achievement Award

Karen Semkiw, program manager of the UC Davis Children’s Surgery Center, and Kandice Duns, assistant nurse manager of the UC Davis Newborn Nursery, were named the recipients of the UC Davis Children’s Miracle Achievement Award.

The Children’s Miracle Achievement Award honors caregivers who have significantly elevated the care of children and have specifically been impacted by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ (CMN) funds.

Semkiw was nominated for her work improving quality and leading initiatives that improve the care of children. She reviews approximately 5,000 medical records each year and monthly reports, providing insight into system issues which drive quality improvement efforts within the children’s hospital. Due to Semkiw’s efforts, UC Davis Children’s Hospital was the fourth hospital nationwide and the first hospital on the West Coast to receive Level I children’s surgery verification by the American College of Surgeons. Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis is also helping to raise funds for a new Children’s Surgery Center, scheduled to open late 2018.

Duns was nominated for her work improving the quality of care provided to obstetric and newborn patients. She was also recognized for her leadership in developing an initiative to improve safe sleep practices for children, particularly those in Sacramento County who have some of the highest sleep-related deaths in California. Duns approached the Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis to purchase sleep sacks for all babies to receive at discharge.

“We are proud to recognize Karen Semkiw and Kandice Duns with a Children’s Miracle Achievement Award,” Michelle Thompson, associate director of the Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. “They have been advocates of Children’s Miracle Network and have made the lives of countless children better through their everyday work. It was a well-deserved recognition.”

Semkiw and Duns, recipients of the UC Davis Children’s Miracle Achievement Award, were recognized on “Sac & Co.” during ABC10’s Give4Kids telethon on Aug. 18.