Dell Children's Medical Center Earns Top 50 National Rankings in Six Specialties in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-2027 Best Children's Hospitals List

Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery Ranks No. 9 Nationally

Dell Children's Medical Center has been recognized for its exceptional pediatric care, earning six national specialty rankings in the U.S. News & World Report's 2026-2027 Best Children's Hospitals list. For the fifth consecutive year, the hospital has received national recognition, highlighting our role as a destination for complex pediatric care and treatment, while achieving a Top 10 ranking again for its renowned Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery program.

Dell Children's six ranked specialties are:

• Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery - #9
• Neonatology - #21
• Pediatric Neurology & Neurosurgery - #21
• Pediatric Pulmonology & Lung Surgery - #23
• Pediatric Urology - #50
• Pediatric & Adolescent Behavioral Health - Top 50

"We are proud of the extraordinary dedication our doctors, nurses and associates show every day when treating children with complex conditions," said Adam Messer, President of Dell Children's. "Earning a place among the nation's top pediatric programs highlights the high caliber of specialists we have brought to Austin. Above all, it gives local families confidence that high-quality, comprehensive care is available right in their community."

Under the leadership of Charles Fraser, Jr., M.D.,-a nationally renowned congenital heart surgeon who helped found the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease-Dell Children's Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery program has achieved a Top 10 national ranking for the second consecutive year. Fraser, who is also the inaugural Raymond Family Chair in Cardiovascular Health at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin, has guided the program through remarkable growth since its inception in 2018, highlighted by a major milestone of performing over 50 heart transplants. As one of several Dell Children's specialties earning national recognition through a collaboration with Ascension Seton and Dell Medical School, the program highlights how combining clinical care, research, and education advances patient outcomes and enhances the regional healthcare system.

That partnership extends well beyond Pediatric Cardiology and Heart Surgery. Dell Medical School faculty and learners are drivers of excellence across several of Dell Children's nationally ranked specialty programs, uniting advanced discovery with next-generation medical education and care delivery.

"These rankings underscore the value of academic medicine," said Claudia Lucchinetti, M.D., senior vice president for medical affairs at UT and dean of Dell Medical School. "Through our partnership with Ascension Seton, we are advancing care, training future physicians and recruiting exceptional talent to Austin, helping people with complex conditions access the expertise they need close to home."

For the 2026-2027 rankings, U.S. News, together with RTI International, a North Carolina-based research firm, collected and analyzed data from 199 eligible children's hospitals and surveyed thousands of pediatric specialists. Of the 199 hospitals in the sample, 114, or 57.3%, submitted sufficient data through the 2026 Pediatric Hospital Survey to be considered for ranking. 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.

Since opening its doors in 2007, Dell Children's Medical Center has grown into a premier destination for high-quality, patient-centered care. As a faith-based healthcare provider, Ascension is driven by a Mission to deliver comprehensive care that treats the body, mind, and spirit of every child. Over the last 19 years, our doctors, nurses, and care teams have continuously expanded access to advanced clinical treatments, ensuring everyone, regardless of their ability to pay, receives the highly specialized care they need close to home.