A National Hub for Training and Innovation: UCSF's Pediatric Pulmonary Center
How do you improve the lung health of children across the United States? You do more than treat the patient in front of you — you invest in the people, systems, and discoveries that will shape care for generations to come.
As one of only six federally funded Maternal and Child Health Pediatric Pulmonary Centers (PPC) in the United States, the UCSF Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine has been entrusted with a mandate to advance the standard of respiratory care for children across the nation.
"It is a tremendous honor and responsibility being a federally funded PPC,” says Ngoc Ly, MD, MPH, Chief of the Division. "This designation establishes our center as a training ground and an innovation hub, tasked with shaping the future of pediatric pulmonary care."
More Than a Clinic: An Interdisciplinary Training Ground
Training the next generation of leaders is core to the PPC mission, and at UCSF, leadership is inherently collaborative.
The division’s training model reflects the reality of modern medicine: complex care requires an interdisciplinary team. The program builds the nation’s pediatric pulmonary workforce by training graduate students across nursing, nutrition, social work, and pharmacy alongside pediatric pulmonary fellows.
This integrated approach ensures every provider understands the full ecosystem of care required for children with respiratory conditions and fulfills the program’s federal mandate to prepare leaders in this specialized field. As these trainees go on to lead programs at other institutions, they bring UCSF’s collaborative approach to elevate the standard of care far beyond the Bay Area.
Many trainees, such as Sanaz Vaziri, MD, a pediatric sleep medicine specialist and now an assistant professor, choose to stay at UCSF after fellowship to continue their impactful work. With structured mentorship and leadership training, fellows collaborate with faculty on research and clinical innovations to develop skills needed to lead the next era of advancements in pulmonary medicine.
Improving Access for All Children
A key charge of the PPC is to ensure expert care is accessible. The division is pioneering new models to reach children where they are, breaking down barriers for rural and hard-to-reach communities.
Through partnerships with community providers and telehealth consultations, UCSF brings specialized pulmonary expertise directly to families who might otherwise travel hundreds of miles for treatment. The team also emphasizes family-centered care models that empower parents and caregivers through education and shared decision-making, positioning them as essential partners in managing their child's chronic condition.
A Leader in Research and Discovery
This commitment to care is matched by a relentless drive for discovery. UCSF is also a designated Therapeutics Development Center (TDC) for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, positioning it at the forefront of the world’s largest clinical trials network for the disease.
"Our combination of federal and foundation designations uniquely positions UCSF at the forefront of discovery," says Ly. "Our dual leadership as both a PPC and a TDC means our patients often have early access to cutting-edge therapies and translational science that can fundamentally change the trajectory of their disease."
UCSF is doing more than treating the patients within its walls; it is shaping the landscape of pediatric pulmonary medicine. Through training, clinical innovation, and collaboration, the Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine is building a future where every child can access expert care to help them breathe easier.