Pediatric Specialists

 

What is a Pediatric Specialist?

 

Pediatric specialists are the only physicians uniquely qualified to treat children with complex, chronic conditions.  The specialized treatment they provide is far different from the primary care given by general pediatricians, who concentrate on colds, fevers, and other common illnesses and injuries.

 

The developing bodies and emotions of children are significantly different from those of adults and require a high degree of specialization and individualized care.  The skilled care provided by pediatric specialists dramatically increases the quality of life and survival rates for children with rare, serious, and chronic health conditions.

 

What kind of patients do Pediatric Specialists treat?

 

Pediatric specialists care for children from newborns to young adults.  They diagnose, treat, and manage children’s specialty care needs, including those with:

 

Cancer	Cerebral palsy	Congenital heart disease
Cystic fibrosis	Birth defects	Hemophilia
Diabetes	Spina Bifidea	HIV

 

What kind of training is required of a Pediatric Specialist?

 

Pediatric specialists have a commitment to treat children with special health care needs and have the advanced training and experience necessary to treat children’s complex medical and surgical conditions.

 

• Four years of medical school
• Three years of training in pediatrics
• Additional three years of training in the area of their specialty
• Three to eight years of residency
• Graduate level education in their medical specialty in the form of on-the-job training in a hospital setting
• Board certification

 

Pediatric surgeons undergo additional:

• Five years of general surgery training
• Two years training in pediatric surgery
• Board certification

 

Regional Locations for Specialized Pediatric Care

 

Northern/Central California:

Department of Pediatrics – UC Davis Children’s Hospital (Sacramento)

The Children’s Center at Sutter Medical Center (Sacramento)

ChildNet/Specialty Medical Group – Children’s Hospital Central California (Madera)

 

Bay Area:

Children First Medical Group – Children’s Hospital and Research Center (Oakland)

Department of Pediatrics – California Pacific Medical Center (San Francisco)

Department of Pediatrics – Stanford University School of Medicine (Palo Alto)

Department of Pediatrics – UC San Francisco Children’s Hospital (San Francisco)

 

Southern California:

Children’s Specialists of San Diego – Rady Children’s Hospital (San Diego)

Department of Pediatrics – Mattel Children’s Hospital, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (Los Angeles)

Department of Pediatrics – UC Irvine Medical Center (Irvine)

Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Medical Group (Loma Linda)

Miller Children’s Subspecialty Group (Long Beach)

Pediatric Subspecialty Faculty – Children’s Hospital Orange County (Orange)

University Children’s Medical Group – Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (Los Angeles)

 

Statewide:

California Association of Neonatologists