Stefan Friedrichsdorf, MD

Stefan Friedrichsdorf is the medical director of the Center of Pain Medicine, Palliative Care and Integrative Medicine at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals in Oakland and San Francisco – one of the most comprehensive programs of its kind in the country.

The interdisciplinary pain program is devoted to prevent and treat acute, procedural, neuropathic, total, visceral, and chronic pain for pediatric patients in close collaboration with all clinicians and subspecialties at the Benioff Children’s Hospitals. The palliative care team provides holistic care for pediatric patients with life-limiting diseases and adds an extra layer of support to the care of children with serious illness and their families. Integrative Medicine provides and teaches safe evidence-based integrative therapies (such as massage, acupuncture/acupressure, biofeedback, aromatherapy, self-hypnosis) to provide care that promotes optimal health and supports the highest level of functioning in all individual child's activities. In 2020 the Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco received the prestigious ChildKind International pain relief certification and the Joint Commission Palliative Care Certification.

Dr. Friedrichsdorf received the 2016 “Elizabeth Narcessian Award for Outstanding Educational Achievements in the Field of Pain” by the American Pain Society and the 2011 “Hastings Center Cunniff-Dixon Physician Award”. He was the medical director of the department of pain medicine, palliative care & integrative medicine at Children’s Minnesota from 2005-2020 and under his leadership the department grew into one of the largest and most comprehensive in the country. It received the “Circle of Life Award” by the American Hospital Association in 2008 and was the 2013 recipient of the “Clinical Centers of Excellence in Pain Management Award” by the American Pain Society. and in 2018 the Albert Bandura Influencer Award from VitalSmarts.

He was the associate editor of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management until 2020, the principal investigator of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) / National Cancer Institute (NCI) multisite study on the creation, implementation and evaluation of the Pediatric Palliative Care Curriculum “Education in Palliative and End-of-Life Care (EPEC)-Pediatrics”, which so far trained >1,100 clinicians from 86 countries. In 2008 he founded and since then directs the annual Pediatric Pain Master Class, a unique week-long intensive course for interdisciplinary health professionals, which trained more than 600 clinicians from 40 countries.

Dr. Friedrichsdorf has presented more than 750 lectures about pediatric pain medicine, palliative care and integrative medicine in 30 countries on all six continents and has a track record of research and publications in the field, including more than 60 peer-reviewed articles and contributions to more than 25 books on the subject. He is president-elect of the Special Interest Group on Pain in Childhood of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP).

Dr. Friedrichsdorf received his MD degree from the Medical University of Lübeck, Germany, completed his pediatric residency at the University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany (Children’s Hospital Datteln), and undertook his fellowship in Pediatric Pain Medicine and Palliative Care at the University of Sydney, Australia (Children's Hospital at Westmead). He is double boarded in Pediatrics in Germany and the United States, a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics, and trained in pediatric clinical hypnosis.
Education
01/2005 - Pediatric Pain Medicine and Palliative Care, University of Sydney, Children's Hospital at Westmead
06/2003 - Pediatrics, University of Witten/Herdecke, Vest Children's Hospital
M.D., 04/1998 - Medicine, University of Lübeck Medical School
Honors and Awards
  • Albert Bandura Influencer Award, VitalSmarts, 2018
  • Winner of the 2017 Quality and Patient Safety Improvement Award (Large Hospital Category), Minnesota Hospital Association, 2017
  • 2016 Elizabeth Narcessian Award for Outstanding Educational Achievements in the Field of Pain, American Pain Society, 2016
  • Leaders in Health Care Awards: Interior Design/Architecture Project, Minnesota Business Magazine, 2015
  • Cunniff-Dixon Physician Award, Hastings Center, 2011
  • Immigrant of Distinction Award, Minnesota/Dakotas American Immigration Lawyers Association Chapter, 2011

  1. Luthy SK, Friedrichsdorf SJ. Postoperative pain treatment in children with severe neurological impairment: We must do better. Journal of hospital medicine 2024. PMID: 39616540


  2. Roessler De Angulo N, Postier AC, Purser L, Ngo L, Sun K, Friedrichsdorf S. Assessment and Treatment of Pain in Hospitalized Children at a Tertiary Children's Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Mixed Methods Survey. Children (Basel, Switzerland) 2024. PMID: 39062323


  3. McNeil MJ, Garcia Quintero X, Gonzalez M, Zheng Y, Ugaz Olivares C, Morales R, Boldrini E, Rebollo de Campos D, Ferreira D, Coopasamy K, Caneba J, Padernilla ML, Friedrichsdorf S, Baker JN, Friedrich P. Preventing and Treating Pain and Anxiety during Needle-Based Procedures in Children with Cancer in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Cancers 2024. PMID: 38473383


  4. Postier AC, Root MC, O'Riordan DL, Purser L, Friedrichsdorf SJ, Pantilat SZ, Bogetz JF. The Pediatric Palliative Care Quality Network: Palliative Care Consultation and Patient Outcomes. Hospital pediatrics 2023. PMID: 38044667


  5. Postier AC, Foster LP, Remke S, Simpson J, Friedrichsdorf SJ, Brearley SG. Predictors of Improvement in Parental Stress After the First Three Months at Home with a Medically Fragile Infant. Maternal and child health journal 2023. PMID: 37923907


  6. Friedrichsdorf SJ. Prevention and treatment of pediatric pain and anxiety caused by botulinum neurotoxin A injections: Inadmissible without nitrous oxide analgesia and sedation? Developmental medicine and child neurology 2022. PMID: 36089662


  7. McNeil MJ, Ehrlich B, Yakimkova T, Wang H, Mishkova V, Bezler Z, Kumirova E, Madni A, Movsisyan N, Williams K, Baizakova B, Borisevich M, Chatman G, Erimbetova I, Quintero XG, Golban R, Kirby B, Nunez P, Ranadive R, Sakhar N, Sonnenfelt J, Volkova A, Moreira D, Friedrichsdorf SJ, Wolfe J, Remke S, Hauser J, Devidas M, Baker JN, Agulnik A. Regional adaptation of the education in palliative and end-of-life Care Pediatrics (EPEC-Pediatrics) curriculum in Eurasia. Cancer medicine 2022. PMID: 36073348


  8. Benini F, Papadatou D, Bernadá M, Craig F, De Zen L, Downing J, Drake R, Friedrichsdorf S, Garros D, Giacomelli L, Lacerda A, Lazzarin P, Marceglia S, Marston J, Muckaden MA, Papa S, Parravicini E, Pellegatta F, Wolfe J. International Standards for Pediatric Palliative Care: From IMPaCCT to GO-PPaCS. 2022. PMID: 35031506


  9. Postier AC, Wolfe J, Hauser J, Remke SS, Baker JN, Kolste A, Dussel V, Bernadá M, Widger K, Rapoport A, Drake R, Chong PH, Friedrichsdorf SJ. Education in Palliative and End-of-Life Care-Pediatrics: Curriculum use and dissemination. 2021. PMID: 34896279


  10. Johnson LM, Kaye EC, Sawyer K, Brenner AM, Friedrichsdorf SJ, Rosenberg AR, Antommaria AHM. Opioid Management in the Dying Child With Addiction. Volume 147 of Issue 2. Pediatrics 2021. PMID: 33446508


  11. Friedrichsdorf SJ, Goubert L. [Pediatric pain treatment and prevention for hospitalized children]. Volume 35 of Issue 3. Schmerz (Berlin, Germany) 2020. PMID: 33337532


  12. Moga FX, Lo Galbo MD, Overman DM, Friedrichsdorf SJ. Post-Cardiotomy Parasternal Nerve Block with Bupivacaine may be Associated with Reduced Post-Operative Opioid Use in Children: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Volume 7 of Issue 3. Children (Basel, Switzerland) 2020. PMID: 32168944


  13. Postier AC, Chambers C, Watson D, Schulz C, Friedrichsdorf SJ. A descriptive analysis of pediatric post-tonsillectomy pain and recovery outcomes over a 10-day recovery period from 2 randomized, controlled trials. Volume 5 of Issue 2. Pain reports 2020. PMID: 32440612


  14. Friedrichsdorf SJ, Goubert L. Pediatric pain treatment and prevention for hospitalized children. Volume 5 of Issue 1. Pain reports 2019. PMID: 32072099


  15. Velazquez Cardona C, Rajah C, Mzoneli YN, Friedrichsdorf SJ, Campbell F, Cairns C, Rodseth RN. An audit of paediatric pain prevalence, intensity, and treatment at a South African tertiary hospital. Volume 4 of Issue 6. Pain reports 2019. PMID: 31984294


  16. Friedrichsdorf SJ, Postier AC. Recent advances in pain treatment for children with serious illness. Volume 9 of Issue 6. Pain management 2019. PMID: 31735116


  17. Friedrichsdorf SJ, Remke S, Hauser J, Foster L, Postier A, Kolste A, Wolfe J. Development of a Pediatric Palliative Care Curriculum and Dissemination Model: Education in Palliative and End-of-Life Care (EPEC) Pediatrics. Volume 58 of Issue 4. Journal of pain and symptom management 2019. PMID: 31220594


  18. Friedrichsdorf SJ. From Tramadol to Methadone: Opioids in the Treatment of Pain and Dyspnea in Pediatric Palliative Care. Volume 35 of Issue 6. The Clinical journal of pain 2019. PMID: 30985399


  19. Friedrichsdorf SJ, Eull D, Weidner C, Postier A. A hospital-wide initiative to eliminate or reduce needle pain in children using lean methodology. Volume 3 of Issue Suppl 1. Pain reports 2018. PMID: 30324169


  20. Friedrichsdorf SJ, Bruera E. Delivering Pediatric Palliative Care: From Denial, Palliphobia, Pallilalia to Palliactive. Volume 5 of Issue 9. Children (Basel, Switzerland) 2018. PMID: 30200370


  21. Postier AC, Eull D, Schulz C, Fitzgerald M, Symalla B, Watson D, Goertzen L, Friedrichsdorf SJ. Pain Experience in a US Children's Hospital: A Point Prevalence Survey Undertaken After the Implementation of a System-Wide Protocol to Eliminate or Decrease Pain Caused by Needles. Volume 8 of Issue 9. Hospital pediatrics 2018. PMID: 30076160


  22. Widger K, Wolfe J, Friedrichsdorf S, Pole JD, Brennenstuhl S, Liben S, Greenberg M, Bouffet E, Siden H, Husain A, Whitlock JA, Leyden M, Rapoport A. National Impact of the EPEC-Pediatrics Enhanced Train-the-Trainer Model for Delivering Education on Pediatric Palliative Care. Volume 21 of Issue 9. Journal of palliative medicine 2018. PMID: 29782212


  23. Palermo TM, Kashikar-Zuck S, Friedrichsdorf SJ, Powers SW. Special considerations in conducting clinical trials of chronic pain management interventions in children and adolescents and their families. Volume 4 of Issue 3. Pain reports 2018. PMID: 31583334


  24. Namisango E, Allsop MJ, Powell RA, Friedrichsdorf SJ, Luyirika EBK, Kiyange F, Mukooza E, Ntege C, Garanganga E, Ginindza-Mdluli MN, Mwangi-Powell F, Mondlane LJ, Harding R. Investigation of the Practices, Legislation, Supply Chain, and Regulation of Opioids for Clinical Pain Management in Southern Africa: A Multi-sectoral, Cross-National, Mixed Methods Study. Volume 55 of Issue 3. Journal of pain and symptom management 2017. PMID: 29155288


  25. Friedrichsdorf SJ, Postier AC, Andrews GS, Hamre KE, Steele R, Siden H. Pain reporting and analgesia management in 270 children with a progressive neurologic, metabolic or chromosomally based condition with impairment of the central nervous system: cross-sectional, baseline results from an observational, longitudinal study. Volume 10. Journal of pain research 2017. PMID: 28831272


  26. Friedrichsdorf SJ, Kohen DP. Integration of hypnosis into pediatric palliative care. Volume 7 of Issue 1. Annals of palliative medicine 2017. PMID: 28866891


  27. Friedrichsdorf SJ. Nitrous gas analgesia and sedation for lumbar punctures in children: Has the time for practice change come? Volume 64 of Issue 11. Pediatric blood & cancer 2017. PMID: 28585713


  28. Friedrichsdorf SJ. Multimodal pediatric pain management (part 2). Volume 7 of Issue 3. Pain management 2017. PMID: 28103764


  29. Friedrichsdorf SJ. Contemporary Pediatric Palliative Care: Myths and Barriers to Integration into Clinical Care. Volume 13 of Issue 1. Current pediatric reviews 2017. PMID: 27848889


  30. Walther-Larsen S, Pedersen MT, Friis SM, Aagaard GB, Rømsing J, Jeppesen EM, Friedrichsdorf SJ. Pain prevalence in hospitalized children: a prospective cross-sectional survey in four Danish university hospitals. Volume 61 of Issue 3. Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica 2016. PMID: 28032329


  31. Friedrichsdorf SJ, Giordano J, Desai Dakoji K, Warmuth A, Daughtry C, Schulz CA. Chronic Pain in Children and Adolescents: Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Pain Disorders in Head, Abdomen, Muscles and Joints. Volume 3 of Issue 4. Children (Basel, Switzerland) 2016. PMID: 27973405


  32. Friedrichsdorf SJ. Four steps to eliminate or reduce pain in children caused by needles (part 1). Volume 7 of Issue 2. Pain management 2016. PMID: 27901408


  33. Osenga K, Postier A, Dreyfus J, Foster L, Teeple W, Friedrichsdorf SJ. A Comparison of Circumstances at the End of Life in a Hospital Setting for Children With Palliative Care Involvement Versus Those Without. Volume 52 of Issue 5. Journal of pain and symptom management 2016. PMID: 27693899


  34. Fife A, Postier A, Flood A, Friedrichsdorf SJ. Methadone conversion in infants and children: Retrospective cohort study of 199 pediatric inpatients. Volume 12 of Issue 2. Journal of opioid management 2016. PMID: 27194197


  35. Friedrichsdorf SJ, Sidman J, Krane EJ. Prevention and Treatment of Pain in Children: Toward a Paradigm Shift. Volume 154 of Issue 5. Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2016. PMID: 27130944


  36. Widger K, Friedrichsdorf S, Wolfe J, Liben S, Pole JD, Bouffet E, Greenberg M, Husain A, Siden H, Whitlock JA, Rapoport A. Protocol: Evaluating the impact of a nation-wide train-the-trainer educational initiative to enhance the quality of palliative care for children with cancer. Volume 15. BMC palliative care 2016. PMID: 26818836


  37. Horvath R, Halbrooks EF, Overman DM, Friedrichsdorf SJ. Efficacy and Safety of Postoperative Dexmedetomidine Administration in Infants and Children Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Volume 4 of Issue 3. Journal of pediatric intensive care 2015. PMID: 31110863


  38. Friedrichsdorf SJ, Postier AC, Foster LP, Lander TA, Tibesar RJ, Lu Y, Sidman JD. Tramadol versus codeine/acetaminophen after pediatric tonsillectomy: A prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Volume 11 of Issue 4. Journal of opioid management 2015. PMID: 26312955


  39. Friedrichsdorf SJ, Postier A, Eull D, Weidner C, Foster L, Gilbert M, Campbell F. Pain Outcomes in a US Children's Hospital: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Survey. Volume 5 of Issue 1. Hospital pediatrics 2015. PMID: 25554755


  40. Downing J, Jassal SS, Mathews L, Brits H, Friedrichsdorf SJ. Pediatric pain management in palliative care. Volume 5 of Issue 1. Pain management 2015. PMID: 25537696


  41. Friedrichsdorf SJ, Postier A, Dreyfus J, Osenga K, Sencer S, Wolfe J. Improved quality of life at end of life related to home-based palliative care in children with cancer. Volume 18 of Issue 2. Journal of palliative medicine 2014. PMID: 25401507


  42. Friedrichsdorf SJ, Postier A. Management of breakthrough pain in children with cancer. Volume 7. Journal of pain research 2014. PMID: 24639603


  43. Postier A, Chrastek J, Nugent S, Osenga K, Friedrichsdorf SJ. Exposure to home-based pediatric palliative and hospice care and its impact on hospital and emergency care charges at a single institution. Volume 17 of Issue 2. Journal of palliative medicine 2013. PMID: 24380448


  44. Friedrichsdorf SJ, Nugent AP. Management of neuropathic pain in children with cancer. Volume 7 of Issue 2. Current opinion in supportive and palliative care 2013. PMID: 23635878


  45. Friedrichsdorf SJ, Nugent AP, Strobl AQ. Codeine-associated pediatric deaths despite using recommended dosing guidelines: three case reports. Volume 9 of Issue 2. Journal of opioid management 2013. PMID: 23709324


  46. Feudtner C, Kang TI, Hexem KR, Friedrichsdorf SJ, Osenga K, Siden H, Friebert SE, Hays RM, Dussel V, Wolfe J. Pediatric palliative care patients: a prospective multicenter cohort study. Volume 127 of Issue 6. Pediatrics 2011. PMID: 21555495


  47. Friedrichsdorf SJ. Pain management in children with advanced cancer and during end-of-life care. Volume 27 of Issue 4. Pediatric hematology and oncology 2010. PMID: 20426516


  48. Hechler T, Blankenburg M, Friedrichsdorf SJ, Garske D, Hübner B, Menke A, Wamsler C, Wolfe J, Zernikow B. Parents' perspective on symptoms, quality of life, characteristics of death and end-of-life decisions for children dying from cancer. Volume 220 of Issue 3. Klinische Padiatrie 2008. PMID: 18478489


  49. Friedrichsdorf SJ, Remke S, Symalla B, Gibbon C, Chrastek J. Developing a pain and palliative care programme at a US children's hospital. Volume 13 of Issue 11. International journal of palliative nursing 2007. PMID: 18073700


  50. Friedrichsdorf SJ, Kang TI. The management of pain in children with life-limiting illnesses. Volume 54 of Issue 5. Pediatric clinics of North America 2007. PMID: 17933616


  51. Friedrichsdorf SJ, Finney D, Bergin M, Stevens M, Collins JJ. Breakthrough pain in children with cancer. Volume 34 of Issue 2. Journal of pain and symptom management 2007. PMID: 17553659


  52. Friedrichsdorf SJ, Menke A, Brun S, Wamsler C, Zernikow B. Status quo of palliative care in pediatric oncology-a nationwide survey in Germany. Volume 29 of Issue 2. Journal of pain and symptom management 2005. PMID: 15733807


  53. Friedrichsdorf S, Prosnitz EH. [Green urine. A case report and review of the literature]. Volume 42 of Issue 1. Der Urologe. Ausg. A 2003. PMID: 14655641