UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals’ pediatric oncology program ranks among the top 10 in the nation and best in Northern California for cancer care, as well as among the nation’s best in 11 specialties, according to U.S. News & World Report‘s 2025-26 rankings. The hospitals’ children’s cancer and blood disease program is an international leader in treating childhood cancer and blood diseases, with protocols designed specifically for children rather than adapted from adult care. High-risk tumors are analyzed using the “UCSF500 Cancer Gene Panel,” which identifies mutations in tumor DNA to help determine the best treatment course and, in some cases, clarify the exact type of cancer. Patients often gain access to large-scale clinical trials of experimental drugs and other promising therapies, and specialists are frequently among the first to offer new treatment techniques once they’re proven safe and effective. Dedicated patient navigators help families manage referrals, insurance concerns and appointment planning, while a comprehensive telehealth system extends the program’s reach to patients and referring physicians well beyond the San Francisco Bay Area. The program’s pediatric survivorship program addresses medical, psychological and social issues that arise after treatment, and helps ensure smooth transitions to adult care providers as patients leave childhood behind.
