A Space Designed for the Whole Child

In March, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals launched a new, state-of-the-art pediatric clinic in the Gateway Medical Building at Mission Bay, designed to inspire exploration and comfort for young patients and families facing chronic conditions. The clinic is now home to three of the nation’s most innovative pediatric programs: The Stad Center for Pediatric Pain, Palliative, and Integrative Medicine; the Wellness Center for Youth with Chronic Conditions; and Pediatric Rehabilitation.

The new space was designed to meet the unique needs of children who experience chronic pain, physical disabilities, and sensory sensitivities — many of whom spend significant time with their care teams. The goal was clear: Create a setting that doesn’t look or feel like a traditional medical clinic but instead fosters healing in a welcoming, engaging, and fun environment. The unique design features include a multisensory room, a digital waterfall, and a climbing wall, alongside varied therapeutic clinical services including acupuncture, massage, cooking classes, music therapy, psychotherapy, and physical rehabilitation.

"Pediatrics isn't just about fixing kids' bodies. It's about healing and wellness that encompasses their entire being," says Nicholas Holmes, MD, MBA, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals’ president. "That's why this new clinic includes wellness, pain medicine, integrative services like acupuncture and massage, and rehabilitation — because research shows that this kind of holistic approach leads to better outcomes. Programs like these, which literally transform what’s possible for kids and families, only exist because of philanthropy."