Congratulations to our entire UCSF Pediatric Orthopaedics team. From left: Drs. Donald Kephart, Nirav Pandya, Jaclyn Hill, Ishaan Swarup, Jason Jagodzinski, Eliana Delgado, Sanjeev Sabharwal, Mohammad Diab, Rhonda Watkins and Celina de Borja. Not pictured: Dr. Steven Garcia. (Photo: UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery)
UCSF Pediatric Orthopaedics is also ranked No. 21 in the nation
SAN FRANCISCO (Sept. 15, 2026) — The UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is proud to share that UCSF Pediatric Orthopaedics is the top-ranked pediatric orthopaedics program in Northern California and No. 21 in the nation in the 2026–27 U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals rankings.
The recognition reflects the work of the entire Pediatric Orthopaedics team, which provides comprehensive, family-centered care for children and young adults at seven locations across the Bay Area: Mission Bay, Zuckerberg San Francisco General, Greenbrae, Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Oakland and Berkeley.
“Our entire team made this possible,” said Dr. Ishaan Swarup, chief of the UCSF Division of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery. “From our surgeons, APPs and nurses to our schedulers, coordinators, assistants, cast technicians and administrative team, every person plays an essential role in caring for our patients and families. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together.”
UCSF specialists treat the full range of pediatric musculoskeletal conditions, from fractures and sports injuries to complex spine, hip and neuromuscular conditions and limb differences and deformities. Care is tailored to each child’s physical, emotional and social needs, with the goals of improving quality of life, decreasing pain and enhancing function.
For children with multiple or complex conditions, Pediatric Orthopaedics works closely with specialists across UCSF, including anesthesiology, endocrinology, general surgery, infectious disease, neurology, neurosurgery, pediatrics, rehabilitation medicine and rheumatology. Physical therapists, occupational therapists and child life specialists are also integral members of the multidisciplinary care team.
Pediatric Orthopaedics rose 17 places nationally—the largest gain among UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals specialties this year.
“This significant rise reflects the strength of our pediatric orthopaedic program and the extraordinary people behind it,” said Dr. C. Benjamin Ma, chair of the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. “Their expertise, compassion and commitment to working together make exceptional care possible for children and families throughout our region. We are deeply proud of Dr. Swarup and the entire team for this well-earned national recognition.”
The UCSF Pediatric Orthopaedics faculty includes Drs. Michael Chau, Celina de Borja, Mohammad Diab, Steven Garcia, Jaclyn Hill, Jason Jagodzinski, Donald Kephart, Nirav Pandya, Coleen Sabatini, Sanjeev Sabharwal, Ishaan Swarup and Rhonda Watkins.
UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals tied for the top ranking in Northern California, ranked No. 2 in California and ranked No. 3 in the Pacific region. For the ninth consecutive year, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals were nationally ranked in every pediatric specialty evaluated by U.S. News.
The 2026–27 results represent UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals’ strongest showing to date as an integrated pediatric health system.
For the full story, please visit: https://www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org/lp/us-news-bch-2026.