Demand for massage therapy across life stages, medical conditions, and medical settings is rapidly increasing as evidence of its effectiveness grows. The UCSF Stad Center for Pediatric Pain, Palliative and Integrative Medicine offers specialized advanced training for professional massage therapists interested in serving individuals undergoing medical treatments or living with an illness. 

Each training session includes didactics, demonstrations, and/or hands-on practice. The yearlong program offers comprehensive training for massage therapy in hospital settings. Our three-day courses are crafted to the needs of clients experiencing a particular medical issue, such as oncologic or neurologic conditions. Our one-day retreat, is an opportunity for self-care and reflection on the provider-client relationship. Continuing Education credits are available for all trainings.

Our massage therapy instructors bring robust clinical experience, engagement in the latest research, and expertise in innovative teaching methods. Our lead instructor, Carolyn Tague, MA, CMT, has over 17 years of hospital-based massage therapy experience from working in four distinguished medical centers and over 15 years of related teaching experience. She serves on the board of the Association of Massage Therapists in Healthcare (AMTiHC). Ms. Tague co-authored the textbook Hands in Healthcare: Massage Therapy for the Adult Hospital Patient published by Handspring Publishing in 2021. Additionally, she has published in Massage Magazine, the Journal for Alternative and Complementary Medicine, the Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies, and Global Advances in Health & Medicine. She served on the Accademic Collaborative (now AHIM.org) task force for HBMT competencies.

Training program eligibility requirements, tuition, and dates are detailed in the course descriptions below. To stay updated on Stad Center massage therapy trainings, sign up for the massage therapy training email list here. 
          
At the Stad Center for Pediatric Pain, Palliative and Integrative Medicine, we are transforming what we know about pediatric integrative medicine and its practice by working at the intersection of research, clinical care, and education. Learn more about our vision, mission, and values here.