University of California President Hospitalized

DAVIS, CA -- University of California President Janet Napolitano, who has been undergoing treatment for cancer the past five months, has been hospitalized due to side effects from the ongoing treatments, university officials said Jan. 17.

This is the second fight against cancer for Napolitano, 59. She was most recently diagnosed in August 2016, but is nearly finished with her treatment, according to a statement from the university.

The statement said that she has kept the UC Board of Regents informed throughout the course of her treatment and that she has "consistently performed her wide range of duties at full capacity, without interruption or impact."

However, on Jan. 16, she experienced unspecified side effects that required her to be hospitalized.

According to the UC system, Napolitano's doctors say she's doing "extremely well" and expect her to be discharged "in the next day or so" and back to her normal duties at full capacity "very soon."

"While she is recuperating, UC's senior leadership will continue to support President Napolitano in the management of the UC system and in advancing the university's key priorities," university officials said in the statement.

Napolitano was governor of Arizona and the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama before she was hired to lead the UC system in 2013. In 2000, while a U.S. Attorney, she spoke at the Democratic National Convention just three weeks after having a mastectomy due to breast cancer.

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