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David Tom Cooke: Celebrating Valerie Kuderer’s 28 Years of Outstanding Service at UC Davis Health

David Tom Cooke/LinkedIn

Jun 24, 2025, 00:20

David Tom Cooke: Celebrating Valerie Kuderer’s 28 Years of Outstanding Service at UC Davis Health

David Tom Cooke, Physician-In-Chief at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“We’re celebrating the retirement of Valerie Kuderer, RN, OCN, after an outstanding 28 years at UC Davis Health and UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center including 17 years as our UC Davis Health Department of Surgery General Thoracic Surgery nurse coordinator and patient navigator.

Valerie joined University of California, Davis as a nursing student in the 1990s and spent her early career in medical and surgical oncology. As our thoracic surgery program grew, she stepped in, bringing compassion, expertise, and seamless coordination across the entire patient journey: from initial clinic consult through diagnostics, surgery, post-op care, wound management, medication oversight, and even support-group and lodging coordination.

In part due to her expertise, what once was a boutique practice blossomed into the largest complex and comprehensive general thoracic surgery program in our region, and a top 25 program by U.S. News and World Report rankings. She played a key role in our evolution—from practice to section to division—elevating our performance on every level.

Valerie’s contributions include:

Ensuring continuity of care and patient guidance during deeply stressful health journeys

Facilitating national clinical trials and contributing to our The Society of Thoracic Surgeons national database for quality improvement

Supporting new service accreditations and coordinating participation in a lung tissue bank

Her blend of clinical skill, human-centered care, and tireless dedication has touched countless patients, families, and colleagues. We’re grateful for her pivotal role in restoring health, and hope to so many.

Join us in honoring Valerie as she begins her next chapter.”