Anticipation is building in the Bay Area for a model children's hospital for the 21st century. Most premier research institutions now have children's hospitals, as experts believe these facilities are better able to address the unique needs of young people. While UCSF's worldwide reputation has long been an attraction for the best and brightest, its ability to compete with this trend toward specialty hospitals will be greatly enhanced by the new UCSF Children's Hospital at Mission Bay, slated to open in 2014.

The new, 183-bed facility will house the city's only pediatric emergency department as well as pediatric urgent, primary and specialty ambulatory care. It will be part of a cutting-edge integrated hospital complex that also serves women and cancer patients – and one of the largest LEED-certified hospitals in the world. (LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system).

Health care providers will work in treatment areas that feature child-sized tools, and will use the most sophisticated technology to diagnose, treat and cure childhood diseases and disorders. As with the current Children’s Hospital, the young patients will have access to a uniquely designed schoolroom operated in conjunction with the San Francisco Unified School District, where they can keep up with their studies and enjoy art, music, creative writing and more.

Amanda Wallis (right) presents the second installment of a $1 million gift to UCSF Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann.

Partnering with UCSF in making this vision a reality, Bank of America has devoted a total of $6 million to the Mission Bay Campus. Five million dollars came during the first phase of construction and another $1 million has been pledged since, devoted specifically to the new hospitals.

For Amanda Wallis, director of US Trust at Bank of America, the partnership is both professional and personal. "I've always had a special bond with UCSF because our daughter has been a patient there since she was 12 hours old. She's a wonderful success story. Born with a single ventricle, she underwent three surgeries at UCSF in her childhood and grew up to become a rower in high school."

Wallis summarized, "The three things I love most about the institution are its world-class medical care, the pastoral care we've received as a family with a sick child – from doctors to nurses to the people scheduling our appointments – and the transitional care that has followed our daughter throughout her 20 years. I just think the place is amazing."

As an institution, Bank of America has a long-standing tradition of investing in the communities it serves and believes this can be done by supporting nonprofit organizations engaged in improving the health and vitality of their neighborhoods, such as the UCSF Children's Hospital. This investment will help spark economic growth while supporting the continuation of critical services to the region – a win-win for everyone in the Bay Area.

For more information on the new Children's Hospital at Mission Bay, contact The Campaign for UCSF Medical Center at 415/476-5640 or missionbayhospitals@support.ucsf.edu.