The Department of Pediatrics embraces an ethic of social responsibility. Recognizing that physicians wield unique influence in society, we seek to extend our health care services and expertise into the community through clinical community partnerships, advocacy training and advocacy and policy research.

Clinical community partnerships

Committed to providing health and social services to all children in need faculty and staff and students participate in LPCH initiatives directed at meeting the needs of underserved children in the community.

Advocacy training

Stanford provides an innovative training program for medical students and residents to develop the skills they'll need as future advocates of children's health. This program is centered around hands-on service learning. Past projects of participants include developing dental screening programs for low-income children and working on childhood obesity issues in low-income Latino neighborhoods.

Advocacy and policy research

Department faculty members are exploring a range of issues in health policy and clinical practice with an emphasis on improving health care for our area's diverse and underserved communities. Among other things, the work of faculty members has, for example, assessed the impact of community empowerment through advocacy training and the ability of community-based mental health organizations to evolve organizationally.