Christine Ann Nelson, MD, has been named Interim Chief of the Department of Pediatrics at UCSF Fresno and Interim Vice Chair of Pediatrics at the UCSF School of Medicine. Dr. Nelson’s appointment is effective July 1, 2024. UCSF Fresno Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs Roger Mortimer, MD, made the announcement today (June 28).
Dr. Nelson is a Health Sciences Clinical Professor of Pediatrics. She joined the faculty at UCSF Fresno in 2017 and is an Inspire Health Medical Group (formerly Central California Faculty Medical Group) employee. She is also the medical director of Inpatient Pediatrics at Community Regional Medical Center (CRMC).
Dr. Nelson is an attending pediatrician and teaches UCSF Fresno pediatric residents and medical students at CRMC. Dr. Nelson spearheaded the development of a separate and routine newborn service and has worked with hospital and medical staff to enhance the care of newborns at CRMC. Since 2020, she has been active in a collaborative effort to improve the care of children and teens with mental health crises and issues at CRMC and in the County of Fresno.
Her areas of expertise include pediatric illnesses and emergencies, hospital pediatrics, adolescent medicine, non-accidental childhood trauma, child development, pain management, newborn care, mental health crises in teens, LGBTQ health care and equity, among many other areas of interest. In addition, she has a background in health care administration, hospital systems, and collaborative hospital care.
Dr. Nelson is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a member of the Fresno Madera Medical Society, and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ sections on Hospital Medicine and Seniors. She is the recipient of several awards, including a Teaching in Excellence Award in 2022 from the Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators at UCSF and Teacher of the Year Award in 2019 at UCSF Fresno. She is an invited speaker at several regional and state conferences.
She graduated with a bachelor’s in medical science and earned a medical degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, completed a rotating internship at Memorial Hospital Medical Center in Long Beach and Pediatrics residency training at UC Irvine. Her fellowship training was in Ambulatory Pediatrics and Neonatology at UC Irvine and Miller Children’s Hospital, Long Beach, respectively.
Dr. Nelson succeeds John Moua, MD, UCSF Associate Professor of Pediatrics at UCSF Fresno, who has successfully served as Chief of the UCSF Fresno Department of Pediatrics since May 2020. Dr. Moua was named Vice President, Chief Medical Officer of Community Health Partners.
A Fresno native, Dr. Moua helped establish the UCSF Fresno Cystic Fibrosis Center, the first and only combined adult and pediatric center in the Central Valley, which is accredited by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In addition, he played a pivotal role in obtaining California Children’s Services Specialty Care Center approval for five different sub-specialties at UCSF Fresno/CRMC. Dr. Moua represents the first Hmong physician to serve as chief of a department at UCSF Fresno.
UCSF and UCSF Fresno welcome Dr. Nelson to her new role and thank Dr. Moua for his dedicated service.
