UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital was recognized as one of the nation’s best hospitals for children in nine medical specialties, according to U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals rankings released in June.

UF Health’s pediatric programs were the most-recognized in the state, and seven of the nine were the highest-ranked in Florida.

Two UF Health specialties were new to the list this year — neurology and neurosurgery (46th) and urology (40th). They join seven other pediatric specialties that were also ranked last year: diabetes and endocrinology (tied for 18th), cancer (22nd), neonatology (23rd), cardiology and heart surgery (24th), pulmonology (27th), nephrology (tied for 32nd) and gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery (40th). Six of the seven departments improved their standings from 2015.

“The improved rankings we have seen in recent years, and especially the breadth of excellence recognized in this year’s rankings, reflect our commitment to building a world-class children’s hospital at the University of Florida,” said David S. Guzick, M.D., Ph.D., UF senior vice president for health affairs and UF Health president. “Under the leadership of Dr. Scott Rivkees, we have combined new facilities with extraordinary faculty and staff to provide the best possible patient care experience along with important research breakthroughs and superb hospitality.”

Scott Rivkees, M.D., chair of the UF College of Medicine department of pediatrics and physician-in-chief of the UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, said he was delighted to see the neurology and urology divisions take their place among the nation’s elite specialties. U.S. News’ Best Children’s Hospitals rankings list the top 50 hospitals in each of 10 specialties.

“Our physicians and researchers have focused intently on getting even better at their pediatric specialties,” Rivkees said. “These rankings speak to our continued recognition for the excellence of care we provide. We are not only a top-ranked pediatric hospital in Florida, but we are among the top-ranked in the southeastern United States.”
In the current rankings, gastroenterology made a significant jump from last year (from 49th to 40th), and neonatology, cardiology and heart surgery and cancer all moved into the top 25.

“These rankings are a result of the dedication and determination among our physicians, nurses and staff,” said Ed Jimenez, UF Health Shands CEO. “Their pride in their work is one of the many reasons that an increasing number of people choose UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital when their child has a challenging illness.”