Ratna Behal, MD

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.