Prepared for the Real World: UCSF Trains Residents for the Complexities of Modern Pediatrics
What does it take to become a pediatrician who can handle anything? Training that goes beyond the textbook and immerses you in the complexities of child health.
At UCSF and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, our pediatric residency programs are built to prepare you for these real-world challenges, offering comprehensive training grounded in experience and a curriculum designed for today’s child health landscape.
There are two UCSF-affiliated programs: one based in San Francisco and governed by the UCSF Department of Pediatrics, and the other in Oakland and governed by UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. They each offer opportunities across all aspects of child health and provide a structure that helps you refine your career vision, sharpen your skills, and achieve your professional goals.
Learning from the Communities We Serve
As a leading referral center, UCSF is where children with some of the most complex health conditions come for care. Residents are integral members of multidisciplinary teams managing the health of these children, handling cases including extreme prematurity, rare genetic diseases, post-transplant recovery, and complex cardiac or oncologic needs. This advanced care is delivered across our clinical sites throughout the Bay Area, providing a rich and varied training experience.
UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco is a leading center for advanced subspecialty care where over 55% of patients are on public insurance – a testament to our commitment to serving all children who need our expertise.
At Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco’s pediatric safety-net hospital, rotations offer hands-on experience in caring for patients and families with some of the greatest needs and addressing social determinants of health in the process.
Across the bay at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, a safety-net, major referral, and Level 1 pediatric trauma center, residents provide outstanding care for a patient population that reflects the vibrant communities of the East Bay.
Whether you’re in our San Francisco or Oakland-based program, you will learn to extend your impact beyond the clinic walls and gain the experience you need to build a successful career anywhere.
A Curriculum Designed for Today's Needs
Recognizing youth mental health needs, our programs have developed new and enhanced rotations that give residents critical skills to proactively identify and manage behavioral and emotional health as an integrated part of their practice.
“We see our charge as caring for the entire patient. Attending to the behavioral and developmental needs of children is paramount, and we provide opportunities for our residents to become a generation of pediatricians equipped to advance children’s health in all domains, especially mental health and well-being,” says Duncan Henry, MD, program director for the UCSF Pediatric Residency Program (San Francisco-based).
Our programs also include an emphasis on managing chronic diseases in outpatient subspecialty settings, a crucial area of modern pediatric care.
As advances in medicine allow more children to survive major illnesses, experience with complex, long-term conditions has become an essential skill for all pediatricians. Early and in-depth exposure is often how residents discover a passion for a specific field, providing them with a strong foundation and mentorship to pursue a subspecialty fellowship.
Guided by Committed and Supportive Faculty
Our faculty are consistently praised by our trainees for their dedication to teaching, willingness to take time to deepen understanding, and guidance in advancing residents’ ability to care for patients and families. They are leaders in the field who openly share their knowledge and connections to help residents pursue their ideas and passions.
“Whether on the wards or in the clinic, in the exam room or the cath lab, our faculty get to know our trainees as individuals, creating the open communication and trust needed to help residents confidently grow into skilled, independent pediatricians,” says Celeste Allen, MD, program director for the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland Residency Program.
Residents consistently report feeling comfortable calling their supervisors with questions, knowing they will be met with professionalism and support as they navigate through challenges.
In our programs, residents feel empowered to take personal responsibility for the care of their patients, knowing they have attentive faculty assistance at the ready.
Graduate with Confidence, Ready to Make a Difference
The challenges facing children today are complex, but our mission is clear: to train physicians who can meet those challenges with skill, compassion, and confidence. At UCSF, you will learn to be an advocate, a partner, and a force for positive change in the community you choose to serve.
To learn more about these pediatric residency programs and opportunities available to residents, visit our Graduate Medical Education webpage.