We are housed within the largest University-led integrated health system in the United States. University of California Health includes six academic health centers, 20 health professional schools and a Global Health Institute. It also includes systemwide support services from the University of California Office of the President that improve the health and wellbeing of students, faculty and employees. 

UCSF Health, the academic health system across UCSF, is recognized globally for innovative treatments, advanced technology and pioneering research applied to patient care. Our physicians and researchers collaborate across the University of California system to improve diagnosis and treatment options for patients in California and beyond. Our family of care at UCSF Health includes UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center at Parnassus Heights and UCSF Medical Centers at Mount Zion and Mission Bay. It also includes UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals (Oakland, San Francisco and other satellite locations) and Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital and Clinics. 

Under the leadership of Dean Talmadge E. King, Jr., the UCSF School of Medicine advances health worldwide through excellence in education, research, healthcare and public service, and seeks to become the most inclusive academic institution in the country.  

The strategic plan for Dr. King’s vision is built on seven pillars central to UCSF: 

1. Optimizing operations and infrastructure to advance collaboration, curiosity, and excellence  
2. Creating and disseminating new knowledge  
3. Educating and preparing medical and scientific leaders  
4. Partnering to improve health  
5. Recruiting, retaining, and supporting diverse talent  
6. Nurturing a culture of kindness, respect, and integrity  
7. Fostering well-being and belonging 

Faculty Achievements

The UCSF School of Medicine is consistently ranked among the nation's top medical schools, earning distinction from outstanding faculty, including:  

• 6 Nobel Laureates  
• 114 National Academy of Medicine members     
• 81 American Academy of Arts and Sciences members     
• 62 National Academy of Sciences members     
• 22 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators 

Our faculty promote the health and well-being of every child through a commitment to excellence in four areas of focus: research, education, patient care, and access. 

Research

Our dedicated investigators lead impactful projects that translate new ideas into improved clinical care, earning global recognition as leaders in pediatric research. Our strong mentorship programs and investment in early career faculty leads to a high rate of career development K awards from the NIH, a key step in establishing an independent research career.

Education

With 20 fellowship programs and two distinct residencies, one in San Francisco and one in Oakland, we consistently attract talented and dedicated trainees poised to become leaders in pediatric medicine. Faculty support their journey and have access to their own developmental programs to hone their skills as effective educators.

Patient Care

Our faculty tackle some of the most challenging medical issues to improve health outcomes for child patients with complex needs. We push innovation forward by translating research into world-class, individualized care.

Access

We are committed to examining medical practices and breaking down structural barriers that exist in research, education, and healthcare. Faculty and trainees are encouraged to pioneer solutions that solve problems in the community through an understanding of the broad range of childhood experiences and how those experiences influence a child’s medical and mental health. 

• The UCSF Department of Pediatrics is nationally recognized for clinical excellence, research, and intradisciplinary collaboration.   
• UCSF was recognized as a tier 1 medical school for research and primary care by U.S. News & World Report.   
• The department ranks 12th nationally in NIH funding among pediatric departments, receiving nearly $33 million in 2024. UCSF is the leading public institution in NIH funding. 
• UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals are ranked among the nation’s best in all 11 specialties by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals. 

Our faculty hold significant positions in national and international societies and are recognized for their impact through awards. Their work is respected and recognized by prominent organizations around the world.  

Notable Positions

• Leadership positions with the World Health Organization 
• Chair positions for specialist groups, including the Children’s Oncology Group 
• Presidency of specialist groups, including the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance 
• Scientific Advisors for the NIH

Notable Awards

• Joseph W. St. Geme, Jr. Leadership Award 
  Elected by the 7 organizations making up the Federation of Pediatric Organizations in recognition of a pediatric leader and role model.
• Society for Pediatric Research (SPR) Awards   
  Society members are recognized for distinguished service, innovative research, and outstanding mentorship.
• Community –Engaged Health Care Delivery Award 
  Awarded by the Academic Pediatric Association for positively impacting the delivery of health care for vulnerable patients and families.
• Nemours Child Health Services Research Award 
  Presented by Academy Health to rising scholars within 10 years of entry into the field of child health services research.

We are transforming child health through a broad research program with a deeply ingrained culture of collaboration. Our physician-scientists regularly reach across disciplines and institutes to advance knowledge and translate findings into new treatments and improved care. Below are some examples of our faculty pioneering groundbreaking research. 

• Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute leads the development of next-generation insights that advance precision medicine and address society’s most pressing health challenges.   
• The Cil Lab develops new drugs, repurposes approved drugs and studies disease pathogenesis mechanisms for renal, pulmonary and ocular diseases. 
• The Feeney Lab strives to understand the human immune response to malaria to improve vaccines, prevention strategies and immunomodulatory therapies 
• The Sweet-Cordero Lab identifies and applies novel therapeutic approaches for cancer by targeting genetic mutations and altered signaling networks specific to cancer cells. 
• The Piao Lab focuses on how cells in the brain communicate with each other during development and how disruption of these processes can lead to neurodevelopmental conditions. 

A broad network of over 15 hospitals and clinics allow our faculty to deliver patient-centered care to a far-reaching and diverse population, making us the leading provider of care for children with complex needs in the Bay Area. By taking a multidisciplinary approach to health care, we coordinate expertise with advanced technology for the best possible outcomes while pushing innovation. 

• UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals 
  With hospitals in San Francisco and Oakland, our world-class experts tackle some of the most challenging medical issues to improve outcomes for individual patients. 
• UCSF at Zuckerburg San Francisco General 
  UCSF pediatric clinicians provide comprehensive pediatric urgent care 7 days per week, children’s health services and on-site pediatric specialty care for patients from birth to age 21. 
• UCSF Medical Center 
  Made up of three medical centers at the Parnassus, Mount Zion and Mission Bay campuses, the 600-bed UCSF Medical Center serves as both a tertiary and quaternary referral center and a community hospital. All attendings are full-time UCSF faculty members. 
• UCSF San Mateo Primary Care Clinic 
  Our San Mateo location is home to primary care and a range of specialty clinics for children and adults. Pediatric clinics include asthma and lung care, cardiology, orthopedics, urology, and more. 
• UCSF Benioff Walnut Creek Outpatient Center 
  Contra Costa County's only full-service medical center dedicated to children. Experts provide care in more than 20 pediatric specialties, along with lab services, an infusion center and diagnostic imaging, all in one state-of-the-art facility designed for kids. 

Some of UCSF’s specialized programs supply exceptionally high concentrations of expertise and related resources. These centers lead innovative research programs and deliver comprehensive, interdisciplinary care centered on high-impact medical areas, affording great benefits to the populations they serve. 

• Center of Excellence for Immigrant Child Health and Wellbeing 
  Serves as the infrastructure for collective action to address the health of children in immigrant families. 
• Neonatal Cardiovascular Center of Excellence 
  Dedicated to integrated care for premature and critically ill babies with congenital heart defects. 
• Sickle Cell Center of Excellence 
  Provides culturally responsive medical care and innovative research across the lifespan. 
• Juvenile Myositis Center of Excellence 
  Offers wraparound care for families and lead translational research to create better therapeutic options. 

Partnerships at UCSF and Beyond

Faculty in the Department of Pediatrics maintain strong collaborations across UCSF and other institutions, frequently working through Interdisciplinary Centers and Organized Research Units to address complex medical challenges. Key partnerships include:   

• Gladstone Institutes 
• Chan Zuckerberg Biohub 
• Cardiovascular Research Institute 
• Center for Reproductive Sciences 
• Diabetes Center at UCSF 
• Institute for Human Genetics 
• Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center 
• Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases 
• Phillip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies 

To uphold our commitment to a clear, transparent, and equitable career advancement process, we offer a variety of mentorship and coaching opportunities designed to support you at every step of your professional journey: 

Early Career Mentorship Program 

Each faculty member at the instructor or assistant level creates a dedicated mentorship committee to support long-term career planning and advancement through our online portal. 

Peer Mentorship Program  

These faculty-led groups offer support and strategies around shared interests and challenges, such as parenthood or clinical leadership. 

Faculty Coaching Program 

Provides access to certified physician coaches who offer guidance on topics like time management and faculty well-being to help achieve specific goals. 

Faculty Incentive Plan 

We are proud to offer a faculty incentive plan that provides extra compensation to those who exceed expectations in clinical work, research, and education.  

The plan's primary focus is to reward faculty who surpass clinical productivity benchmarks; it also provides payments to research faculty for significant grant funding and compensates educators for select time-consuming teaching activities. 

All faculty members are eligible for the following benefits and privileges: 

• Homebuying navigation and education support through Landed 
• Comprehensive health and retirement plans from UC 
• Pay for family care and bonding 
• Family care resources, including accredited childcare centers 
• Mental health support 
• Discounted fitness center access 
• Development opportunities 

We are dedicated to improving the health of all children by addressing the unique needs of our local populations. Through our community-focused programs, we develop practical solutions and new standards of care that can be adopted by medical institutions worldwide.  

This work is driven by dedicated initiatives that empower our faculty and trainees to form partnerships with community organizations and lead innovative projects that improve long-term health and disease prevention. 

• Center for Child and Community Health  
  Develops and strengthens partnerships with community organizations and governmental bodies. 
• CARE: Collaborative Approach to Building Resilience in Everyone  
  Resilience-promoting interventions for children with adverse childhood experiences.  
• PLUS: Pediatric Leaders Advancing Health Equity Program  
  Trains pediatric residents to lead advances in health equity for children.  
• Pediatric Asylum Clinic  
  Provides free forensic medical exams for children seeking asylum. 

The San Francisco Bay Area offers exceptional access to culture, dining, and outdoor experiences. Golden Gate Park, larger than Central Park, features expansive meadows, trails, and major attractions. The city holds a variety of renowned music festivals such as Outside Lands and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass each year.  

The Mission District, San Francisco’s oldest neighborhood, is known for its vibrant cultural history, street art, and nightlife. Additionally the Bay Area is a global culinary destination with over 170 Michelin-starred restaurants across San Francisco and Oakland. Renowned museums, including the California Academy of Sciences, the Asian Art Museum, and SFMOMA, further enrich the region’s cultural landscape.  

Away from the city, residents enjoy spending time in some of the Bay Area’s most scenic destinations. Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe offer incredible alpine landscapes with year-round recreational activities. Napa Valley features hundreds of hillside vineyards and prime culinary experiences. Big Sur is regarded as one of the most scenic coastlines in the world. These cultural, culinary, and outdoor offerings make the Bay Area an exceptional place to live, work, and explore year-round.  

Learn more about the Bay Area 

Did you know?

• The hottest month of the year in San Francisco is September. Oakland is typically 10 degrees warmer.
• Oakland has over 80 parks, including two with redwoods. Explore nature within city bounds.
• 80% of San Francisco was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake. The city still has over 40,000 Victorian houses.
• San Francisco and Oakland host over 50 film festivals a year. The International Film Festival in April is the largest.
• San Francisco is only 7 by 7 miles and has less than 1 million residents. The compact city is easy to explore.