San Diego hospital recognized in every ranked specialty for tenth consecutive year
SAN DIEGO – Sept. 15, 2026 – Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego has been recognized as a 2026-2027 Best Children’s Hospital by U.S. News & World Report, achieving rankings in all 11 pediatric specialties surveyed by U.S. News in its 2026-2027 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings. Two specialties, Orthopedics and Cardiology & Heart Surgery, received higher scores than any other children’s hospital on the West Coast.
The rankings assist parents, in consultation with their children’s doctors, in finding exceptional pediatric care – whether for serious illness, a high-stakes surgery or complex medical needs.
This marks the tenth year in a row Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego has been recognized among the nation’s best children’s hospitals in every ranked specialty.
“This recognition reflects the expertise, compassion and dedication our team members bring to children and families every day,” said Charles Davis, MD, President, San Diego Region. “We are especially proud of the people behind this achievement, and the confidence families place in us to be the difference in their lives when they need us most.”
“Achieving top rankings in every specialty for a decade is an exceptional accomplishment and speaks to the consistency of care Rady Children’s provides, year after year,” said Gail Knight, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego. “With only 18 children’s hospitals nationwide earning rankings in all specialties, this distinction underscores Rady Children’s place among the country’s leading pediatric health care organizations.”
Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego’s 2026-2027 rankings:
| Orthopedics | #6 |
| Cardiology & Heart Surgery | #9 |
| Diabetes & Endocrinology | #11 |
| Neonatology | #11 |
| Neurology & Neurosurgery | #16 |
| Pulmonology & Lung Surgery | #16 |
| Cancer | #18 |
| Nephrology | #18 |
| Urology | #19 |
| Gastroenterology & GI Surgery | #32 |
Additionally, the hospital’s Behavioral Health program earned recognition among the nation’s top 50 pediatric programs. U.S. News does not assign numerical rankings in this category.
For the 2026-2027 rankings, U.S. News, together with RTI International, a North Carolina-based research firm, collected and analyzed data from 114 children’s hospitals and surveyed thousands of pediatric specialists. Children’s hospitals awarded a “Best” designation excelled at factors such as clinical outcomes, compliance with established best practices, and level and quality of hospital resources directly related to patient care.
“Earning a place on U.S. News’ Best Children’s Hospitals list is a testament to Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego’s dedication to clinical excellence and patient safety,” said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. “These rankings highlight the standout hospitals in each specialty and each region.”
The full 2026-2027 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings can be found at USNews.com. For more information, explore #BestChildrensHospitals on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok and X.
About Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego
Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego is a nonprofit pediatric care facility providing comprehensive care to more than 280,000 children each year across San Diego, Imperial and southern Riverside counties. It is the only hospital in the San Diego area dedicated exclusively to pediatric health care and the region’s only designated trauma center. As the primary pediatric teaching partner of UC San Diego School of Medicine, Rady Children’s trains the next generation of pediatric specialists. In 2025, the parent companies of Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego and Children’s Hospital of Orange County merged to create Rady Children’s Health.
About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, insurance, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.