AVMC Gets Peds Director

Antelope Valley Medical Center in Lancaster has named Suraj Batish as its new pediatric medical director. Batish leads the Antelope Valley’s only hospital-based pediatric unit.

Batish replaces Lynne Ellison as pediatric medical director; Ellison and her family moved to Las Vegas during the summer due to her husband’s military career.

Batish actually took over the post at that time, but the hospital only announced his appointment earlier this month. 

This is Batish’s first administrative post; previously, he was an assistant professor of pediatrics at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda. Prior to that, he completed his resident service at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital. He earned a medical degree from the Northeast Ohio Medical University in 2017, and went on to earn his Master of Public Health degree from George Washington University in Washington D.C. 

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Batish to AVMC as our pediatric medical director,” Edward Mirzabegian, the medical center’s chief executive, said in the announcement. “His expertise and passion for pediatric medicine align with our commitment to delivering the highest standards of care to our community, and (we) are confident with his leadership that our pediatric services will continue to thrive and grow.”

Antelope Valley Medical Center’s pediatric unit is the only such facility in the 1,500-square-mile desert service territory covered by the medical center. The unit has 14 pediatric beds and has the ability to double that capacity in emergency situations.

“I’m honored to be part of AVMC, and I look forward to working with a talented and loyal team of healthcare professionals,” Batish said in the announcement. “My goal is to provide the best possible care to children in the Antelope Valley, ensuring their well-being and health.”

That care includes collaborations between the medical center’s own pediatricians and other pediatric practitioners who are available 24 hours a day. There is also a “child life program” that assists children and their families to ensure a child’s emotional well-being with age-appropriate play therapy, stories, games, music and other activities.

Besides having the only pediatric unit in the Lancaster-Palmdale area, Antelope Valley Medical Center also has the only level 2 trauma center and the only level 3b neonatal intensive care unit that’s capable of handling most neonatal care except for major surgeries.