Ratna Behal, MD

Ratna Behal, MD

  • Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Care

About

Dr. Behal is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and serves as Medical Director of the Pediatric Pain and Palliative Care Division at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital. She is triple board-certified in General Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Behal earned her Bachelor of Arts at Georgetown University and received her medical degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine. She completed her pediatric residency at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. Thereafter, she completed her fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at the combined program between Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City.

In addition, she completed a second fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Prior to joining the faculty at UCLA, Dr. Behal founded and developed the first formal pediatric palliative care service at New York-Presbyterian Komansky Children's Hospital in New York City. In her current role as Medical Director of Pediatric Pain and Palliative Care at UCLA, she serves on an inter-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals who provide an additional layer of support to pediatric patients and their families who are dealing with the symptoms and stress of serious illness.

Languages

English

Education

Medical Board Certification

Hospice and Palliative Medicine, American Board of Pediatrics, 2018

Fellowships

Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 2017
Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College (Internship/Fellow/Resident), 2016

Residency

Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College (Internship/Fellow/Resident), 2013

Degree

MD, Georgetown University School of Medicine, 2010

Hospital Affiliations

Research

Interests

Dr. Behal's research and clinical interests center around early integration of pediatric palliative care within a child's disease trajectory and enhancing well-being for healthcare professionals. In addition to her clinical duties, she serves as co-chair of the Wellness Committee in the Department of Pediatrics and is a member of the Schwartz Rounds Planning Committee. She attends on the inpatient pediatric wards as a consultant at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital and UCLA Medical Center Santa Monica. She also provides out-patient Pediatric Pain and Palliative Care services via tele-health.

Insurance

  • Aetna
  • Anthem Blue Cross
  • Blue Shield of California
  • Centivo
  • Cigna
  • First Health
  • Health Net of California
  • Interplan (part of HealthSmart)
  • L.A. Care
  • Medicare Advantage
  • MultiPlan
  • UFCM Health System
  • Prime Health Services
  • Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
  • TRICARE
  • UnitedHealthcare

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