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Surgery

General Surgery Clinic

UCSF's Pediatric General Surgery Clinic provides compassionate state-of-the-art surgical care for children of all ages. We treat a wide variety of conditions and have expertise in some of the most challenging types of procedures, including:

  • Fetal surgery to repair severe defects before birth
  • Newborn surgery
  • Surgery for traumatic injuries
  • Surgical treatment of childhood cancers
  • Minimally invasive surgery

We're equally dedicated to providing exceptional surgical care for common conditions, such as appendicitis and hernias. Our surgeons are skilled in using minimally invasive techniques, with advantages that include less postoperative pain, less scarring and a lower risk of complications compared with traditional surgical methods.

All of our surgeons are board-certified in pediatrics and treat children exclusively. We work closely with other subspecialists to ensure that our patients receive all the care and services they need.

Part of our rich history of groundbreaking patient care and research, UCSF developed many of the pediatric surgery methods that are now standard, including certain minimally invasive techniques for newborns and most fetal surgical procedures. We continue to conduct innovative studies to improve the understanding and treatment of many conditions, and our patients are among the first to benefit from new findings.

Caring for children who need surgery is one of the greatest responsibilities and privileges any doctor could have. Our team of world-renowned surgeons, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants and support staff is honored to care for patients and families from all over the Bay Area and across the nation.

Our team

Awards & recognition

  • Ranked among the nation's best in 10 specialties

Our locations (6)

    Conditions we treat

    Preparing for surgery

    Read before your visit

    Preparing for your child's surgery

    Learn what to expect and how you can help ensure that your child's procedure and recovery go smoothly.

    Learn more

    Watch with your child

    Surgery day at Oakland

    Visualization can help kids, especially those with autism, feel less anxious before a procedure. Follow Beni the Bear's experience at our Oakland hospital, so your family knows what to expect.

    Watch with your child

    Surgery day at Walnut Creek

    Beni's adventure continues at our Walnut Creek campus. See what surgery day is like at this location, from check-in to discharge.

    Watch with your child

    Surgery day at Mission Bay

    If your child is having surgery at our Mission Bay hospital, watch this video together to get a look inside our facility and find out what to expect.

    Vea con su hijo

    Día de la cirugía en Mission Bay

    Si su hijo se somete a una cirugía en nuestro hospital de Mission Bay, vean juntos este video para echar un vistazo dentro de nuestras instalaciones y averiguar qué pueden esperar.

    Plan your visit

    Preparing for your appointment

    What to Bring

    • Your photo I.D.
    • Your child's health insurance card and co-pay, if applicable
    • A CD or flash drive with any medical imaging studies done at an outside facility (X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, MRI with a dictated report). Speak to your team about how to upload these in advance.
    • The name, address and telephone number of your child's primary care provider and of the physician who referred your child
    • Any additional documents you were asked to bring
    • List of questions you may have
    • Device or paper for taking notes

    For visitors

    Before you head to the hospital, check out our guidelines for visitors and caregivers.

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    Your Stay

    We offer valuable information to help you plan for your child's upcoming hospital stay. Find out about food services, family accommodations and more.

    Learn more
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    Your Child's Care Team

    Our doctors, nurses, child life specialists and other providers have special training to care for children. Meet your child's care team.

    Learn more
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    Interpreter Services & Communication Assistance

    Interpreter services in many languages and TDDs are available for families that need help communicating with care teams. Here's how to access them.

    Learn more

    Related clinics (3)

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    LIFE Clinic

    LIFE Clinic

    1825 Fourth St., Fifth Floor
    San Francisco, CA 94158

    pediatric-intensive-care-unit-picu-320x320-2x 2

    Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

    Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

    San Francisco / Oakland
    oncology-clinic-320x320-2x 3

    Pre-Surgery Clinic

    Pre-Surgery Clinic

    San Francisco / Oakland / Walnut Creek

    Support services

    View All

    Child Life Services

    Activity rooms, pet therapy and more to help kids feel at home.

    Child Life

    Certified child life specialists ease the stress and anxiety of childhood illness through therapeutic play, schooling and family-focused support.

    Family Amenities

    Family-friendly amenities help you relax and take care of yourself while staying close to your child. We offer lounges, kitchens, showers, breastfeeding rooms and more.

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    Social Services

    Social workers ease the effect of illness, injury and hospitalization on your family with counseling and assistance to help you navigate the challenges.

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    Activity Rooms

    Activity rooms offer a relaxed environment for children of all ages. Features include a playroom, digital arts studio and teen lounge. Find out more.

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    Art Therapy

    Art therapy helps kids and families express themselves, making it easier to cope with pediatric health issues. Group and bedside services are available.

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    Music Therapy Program

    Board-certified music therapists help kids cope with illness and the feelings that come with it. Find out about group activities and bedside therapy.

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    School Program

    Our schoolroom services and individual learning programs help children hospitalized at UCSF continue their education and get ready to return to school.

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    School Re-Entry Program

    We help kids return to school after hospitalization by educating staff and students about their needs and recommending needed accommodations. Read more.

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    Individual Playtime & Instruction

    If your child can't be around other kids for medical reasons, you can sign up for private sessions in our activity and school rooms. Find out how.

    interpreters-2x

    Interpreter Services & Communication Assistance

    Interpreter services in many languages and TDDs are available for families that need help communicating with care teams. Here's how to access them.

    Family Resource Center

    We help families cope with the challenges of childhood illness and hospitalization in a relaxing environment where parents can get a much-needed break.

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    Parent Support Program

    Weekly activities, including knitting, scrapbooking, chair massage and more, help family caregivers get a much-needed break. Find out more.

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    Patient Relations

    Patient relations reps and nursing supervisors are here to answer questions and address concerns. Learn about your rights, how to reach us and more.

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    Spiritual Care

    Chaplains help UCSF patients, families and staff cope with the spiritual and emotional challenges of childhood illness. Learn more.

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    International Services

    If you're coming to UCSF from outside the U.S., we coordinate your child's appointments and provide other helpful services. Here's how to get started.

    Decorative Caduceus

    Pediatric Cervical Spine Clearance: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study

    The sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values of CT, XR, and MRI for clinically significant injury will be calculated.

    Recruiting

    More about this study
    See all clinical trials

    Our research initiatives

    • ucsf-division-of-pediatric-surgery-research-2x

      UCSF Division of Pediatric Surgery Research

      Learn more

    Staff superheroes

    It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s a window washer! Dressed as a superhero to clean and brighten your day.

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