The Sacramento region is home to internationally renowned medical professionals who are leading the way in life-changing medical advancements at Shriners Children’s Northern California. “These experts are at the top of their fields. They could practice medicine and conduct research anywhere in the world, but they choose Shriners Children’s,” says Alan Anderson, senior director of philanthropy. “We deliver excellence in specialty pediatric care with measurable impacts felt worldwide.” 

Patients with cerebral palsy, the number one cause of motor disability in children, benefit from an innovative approach to care that integrates the motion capture technology of the Motion Analysis Center with expertise across a range of disciplines to develop a customized long-range plan. The value of this approach is also driving this team to develop an application for mobile devices that would make accurate motion analysis accessible in any environment. 

Burn injuries push the limits of human resilience. Shriners Children’s has been at the forefront of transforming care beyond saving lives to promoting quality of life. Research by this team has raised the standard of care for children everywhere, including advances in physical therapy and prosthetic and orthotic devices, which provide patients with the ability to participate fully in life. 

Spina bifida is a condition that affects the neuromusculoskeletal systems of children. Patients benefit from a team of experts whose work informs research, which holds promise for children around the world. Research funded by Shriners Children’s is pioneering in-utero interventions that have shown success in preventative outcomes during clinical trials. 

“Donors to Shriners Children’s are not only saving and improving the lives of 12,000 children annually, but with medical breakthroughs and advancements, we’re ensuring better lives for hundreds of thousands of children in future generations,” says Anderson. “Our research and innovations raise the expectations across all medical care realms, setting new standards that will eventually benefit all children around the world.”