Obstetric Anesthesiology

Many faculty members in the Department of Anesthesiology are involved in the care of Labor and Delivery (L&D) patients. UCLA anesthesiologists work at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (RRUMC) in Westwood Village and at the Santa Monica - UCLA Medical Center. The Obstetric Anesthesiology Service includes faculty members who specialize in obstetric anesthesiology, and devote time to teaching and research in the field in addition to patient care.

At the RRUMC, faculty members typically work with and educate UCLA anesthesiology residents. Anesthesiologists remain in the hospital around the clock to provide labor analgesia and handle emergencies. In the new Westwood L&D unit, there are 12 rooms for laboring patients alongside a six-bed fetal diagnostic/triage area and a 13-room maternity suite. We expect an annual volume of 2000+ births/year, including a wide variety of high-risk pregnancies. The majority of laboring women receive labor epidurals from our service, but UCLA offers various pain management therapies for the labor and birth experience. We support each mother’s choices for pharmacologic and/or non-pharmacologic pain management.

UCLA anesthesiology residents rotate in other hospitals locally to gain a broader perspective on obstetric anesthesiology, including the Olive View – UCLA Medical Center and Long Beach Memorial Hospital. 

Obstetric Anesthesiology Fellowship >

Cesarean E-Book >

Epidural E-Book >

Physicians

Directors:

• Richard Hong, MD, FASA
• Catherine Cha, MD (Medical Director, UCLA Santa Monica Hospital Obstetrical Anesthesia)

Faculty:

• Lynn Choi, MD
• Nir Hoftman, MD
• Joe Hong, MD
• Judi Turner, MD, PhD
• Cristianna Vallera, MD