
Stad Center for Pediatric Pain, Palliative & Integrative Medicine
Seeing your child suffer is heartbreaking. And as a parent, you naturally wish there was something you could do to take the pain away.
The Stad Center for Pediatric Pain, Palliative and Integrative Medicine can help, whether your child is living with a complex condition, facing a life-threatening illness, or preparing for a routine but uncomfortable procedure. We're dedicated to reducing children's pain and improving quality of life for our young patients and their families.
Drawing on a range of techniques – from the latest medical innovations to ancient healing methods – we work to relieve pediatric pain, distress and other symptoms while supporting healing and well-being. We care for children in UCSF's San Francisco and Oakland pediatric hospitals and in our outpatient clinics.
Our team includes experts from many fields:
- Pediatric pain anesthesiologists, pain hospitalists (doctors who specialize in treating pain in hospitalized patients) and palliative care doctors
- Integrative medicine practitioners, such as massage therapists and acupuncturists
- Psychologists
- Nurses
- Social workers
- Spiritual care providers
- Grief support specialists
We're committed to doing everything possible to help your child live well while supporting your family every step of the way.
A note about our new Walnut Creek clinic: We plan to expand our offerings at this location in the coming months. Integrative therapies are available now, and we'll begin providing pain management and palliative care services in August 2023.
Our services
Pediatric pain management
We treat pediatric pain with a blend of child-safe medications, psychotherapy, mind-body methods like hypnosis, and physical rehab. We're experts at treating the discomfort of cancer, sickle cell disease and more, including amplified pain, which makes pain feel unusually intense.
Integrative medicine
To complement our advanced medical care, we offer healing practices not found in most U.S. hospitals, from acupuncture to massage, meditation and more for soothing children's pain and stress. Having many options empowers patients and families to discover what works best for them.
Psychological support
Our goal is to care for the whole child: mind, body and spirit. Methods include relaxation training, short-term therapy and biofeedback (to control the body's stress responses). Addressing mental health is key because anxiety, depression and stress can make pediatric pain worse.
Need more support?
Serious illness is challenging in so many ways, especially when it affects your child. We're here to help your family cope with those challenges, whether you're faced with important medical decisions, the grieving process, or identifying the goals of care that matter most to you.
Our locations (3)
Our team
-
Stefan J. Friedrichsdorf
MD, FAAP
Pediatric pain and palliative medicine specialist -
William Bernal
MD, MPH
Pediatric rheumatologist -
Denise Chang
MD
Pediatric anesthesiologist -
Marla Ferschl
MD
Pediatric anesthesiologist -
Thomas McNalley
MD, MA
Pediatric palliative care and rehabilitation medicine physician -
Vivienne Newman
MD
Pediatric critical care medicine specialist -
Thomas T. Reid
MD, MA
Palliative care physician -
David L. Robinowitz
MD
Pediatric anesthesiologist -
Elizabeth Seashore
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist and palliative care specialist -
Karen I. Sun
MD
Pediatric hospitalist -
Stephen Wilson
MD, PhD
Pediatric hospitalist -
Maurice Zwass
MD
Pediatric anesthesiologist and pain management specialist -
Cristina Benki
PhD, MA
Pediatric psychologist -
Lena Ngo
RN, CNS, MSN
Nurse -
Summer Segal
PhD, MS
Grief and loss specialist
Plan your visit
What to Bring
- Photo I.D.
- Health insurance card
- Insurance authorization, if required
- Doctor's referral, if required
- Recent test results related to your child's condition
- List of medications, including dosages, plus any your child is allergic to
- List of questions you may have
- Device or paper for taking notes
Support services
Saving future lives
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