Pelandale image via Valley Children's Healthcare

A celebration took place in Modesto this morning as Valley Children’s Healthcare officially opened the $33-million Pelandale Specialty Care Center with a ribbon cutting, program and tours of the new outpatient center.

Among the more than 300 people to come out and celebrate were Mayor Ted Brandvold, Stanislaus County Supervisor Terry Withrow, Stanislaus Community Foundation CEO Marian Kaanon and Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.

“When I lived in Fresno, having my son Dallas under the exceptional care of doctors and nurses just minutes from my home was such a blessing,” Carr said. “My wish is for all families to have that experience and I’m so happy to be here supporting Valley Children’s”

Pelandale Specialty Care Center currently offers outpatient services in cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology, nephrology, neurology, orthopedics, otolaryngology (ENT), pediatric surgery, plastic surgery, pulmonology and urology. Valley Children’s has been serving in Stanislaus County for nearly 20 years.

“It is important for our families to have the convenience of the specialty care they need close to their homes,” said Todd Suntrapak, president and CEO of Valley Children’s Healthcare. “Our goal remains to have every single family in our region be within 30 minutes or 30 miles of Valley Children’s specialists.”

In addition to Modesto, Valley Children’s currently has specialty care centers in Bakersfield, Fresno, Merced and Visalia, with one under construction in Fowler to open in May. Plans are also underway to build new specialty care centers in Visalia and Merced to replace the existing outpatient centers there and an additional center in north Fresno.