Since 1975, the Stramski Children’s Developmental Center has been dedicated to helping children and families. As part of MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital and the MemorialCare Health System, the Center provides expert, compassionate care for children from birth through age 21 with developmental, behavioral and other medical conditions.
The Center Treats a Wide Range of Conditions, Including:
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Behavioral disorders
- Cleft lip and palate
- Down syndrome
- Fragile X syndrome (FXS)
- Learning disabilities
- Sleep disorders
- Other birth defects and developmental delays
The Stramski Center also serves as a transitional care center for infants and toddlers with developmental delays after hospitalization in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Cherese Mari Laulhere Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), often continuing care for many years.
The Center was founded by developmental pediatrician Dr. Geraldine A. Stramski in 1975 and was renamed in her honor in 1991. Dr. Stramski recognized the importance of a team approach in addressing the complex health issues that children with developmental conditions often face. Today, under the direction of Medical Director Dr. Gary Feldman, the multidisciplinary team provides individualized care designed to help each child reach their highest potential.
Many conditions treated at the Stramski Center are not visible but can have lifelong effects. Families may face cultural, educational or language barriers that make access to care more challenging. The Center helps bridge these gaps by connecting families to services, coordinating care and monitoring progress.
Each year, the Stramski Center cares for more than 4,000 children and remains at the forefront of research in areas such as Fragile X syndrome. Community support plays a vital role in its mission, including significant contributions from the Steel Magnolias, an all-volunteer organization in Long Beach that has raised over $5.7 million throughout 25 years to benefit children and their families cared for at the Center.
The Stramski Children’s Developmental Center continues to provide specialized programs and comprehensive care to help children overcome challenges and achieve their fullest potential.
Advancing Care through Research
The Miller Children's & Women's research team seeks to produce more meaningful, applicable discoveries that directly improve the health of women and children across our region, both in real time and for future patients.
Centers & Programs
The Behavioral & Neurodevelopment Program evaluates and coordinates care for children with developmental delay, cerebral palsy, autism, intellectual disability, attention deficit disorder, and other problems that may interfere with the typical mental, emotional, social and academic development of a child.
Our Craniofacial Program provides care to children with congenital birth defects (present at birth) such as cleft lip/palate, skull or ear problems and other craniofacial abnormalities, these anomalies are a group of congenital deformities in the growth of the head and facial bones, some of which are mild and others that are more severe and require surgery.
Our Stramski Center is home to Southern California’s only Fragile X Program. Fragile X is a family of genetic conditions that’s caused by changes in the same gene. Fragile X Syndrome is the most common known single gene cause of autism. Approximately one-third of all children diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome also have some degree of autism. Clinical evaluations and treatments of patients with Fragile X is an important component of the Behavioral Neurodevelopment Program at the Stramski Center.
Parents may have questions or concerns about caring for their infant who is experiencing developmental delays or is transitioning out of the NICU. The expert developmental care team starts building a relationship with the family and the patient during their stay in the NICU and may continue through the age of 3. This ongoing care is provided in a warm, friendly environment.
Sleep disorders are common in children and often are underdiagnosed. According to the National Sleep Foundation, nearly 70 percent of children 10 and under experience some type of sleep problem. Children who have sleep disorders wake up often at night, which can negatively affect a child’s behavior and learning. The Stramski Children’s Developmental Center at Miller Children’s has one of the only accredited children’s sleep disorders programs in Southern California.
Physicians in the Genetics Program, also called geneticists, provide complete diagnostic evaluations for newborns and children affected by a wide range of genetic conditions.
Your Care Team
Providers
Other Team Members
A registered nurse with special training for providing primary health care, including many tasks customarily performed by a physician.
Nurse specialists are responsible for arranging authorizations for procedures, appointments, special tests and studies and communication among the child, family, school, primary care physician, team and others involved in the care of the child. The nurse specialist also assists the child and family in obtaining medical supplies, laboratory appointments and other care as needed.
Social workers are trained in psychotherapy and helps the child deal with a variety of mental health and daily living problems to improve overall daily life.
A psychologist supports the medical team through psychological assessments, appropriate referrals, treatment recommendations and support for the patients and their families.
Locations
Main Location
Other Locations
Success Stories
