Felix Battistella, professor and chief of trauma and emergency surgery at UC Davis Medical Center, died from cancer Jan. 22 at his home. He was 48.

"Dr. Battistella's unselfish dedication to his field, his colleagues and to the UC Davis Health System community was widely known," said Claire Pomeroy, vice chancellor for Human Health Sciences and dean of the UC Davis School of Medicine.

Promoted organ donation

An avid cyclist, he volunteered for Team DonateLife, a group of surgeons and physicians from UC Davis Health System that competed in the 3,047-mile, 24th annual Insight Race Across America bike race in 2005 as a way to promote organ donation. Battistella's father had died while waiting for an organ transplant.

A son of Italian immigrants, Battistella was born on Sept. 13, 1959, in Monterey. After graduating from Monterey High School in 1977, he received a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Santa Clara, where he graduated magna cum laude.

He received his medical degree from the UC Davis School of Medicine in 1985. For his postgraduate training, Battistella continued his association with UC Davis, completing an internship in the Department of Surgery in 1986 and finishing his residency in the department in 1990. He served as chief resident in the department from 1990 to 1991.

Battistella joined UC Davis faculty in 1991. In addition to serving as professor and chief of trauma and emergency surgery, he was the director of the department's residency program. He also served as the chief of staff from 2004 to 2006.

In 1991, the senior class at the School of Medicine selected Battistella for its Outstanding Resident Teaching Award. That same year, he was voted Outstanding Chief Resident by his fellow residents in the Department of Surgery. In 1997, the Friends of Nursing at UC Davis Medical Center chose him as its Physician of the Year.

Carol Robinson, senior associate director, Patient Care Services Administration, said, "Dr. Battistella will be remembered most by nurses as the kindest, most compassionate surgeon. He was a skilled surgeon, but what set him apart was that he treated every one of his patients with compassion and caring."

Cheryl Wraa, manager of the UC Davis Trauma Program, said, "Dr. Battistella was a great teacher. In working with him and watching him with residents and students, you could see he had a passion for teaching and mentoring. And he truly cared about the well-being of his patients."

Battistella is survived by his wife, Christine; daughters Claire and Mary; mother, Amalia; and sister, Nedra.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Battistella Nursing and Medical Student Scholarship Fund at UC Davis Health System, payable to the UC Regents and sent to Beth Abad, 4900 Broadway, Suite 1150, Sacramento, CA 95820.

David Ong is a senior public information representative for the UC Davis Health System.