Stony Brook University Hospital Achieves Elite ANCC Magnet® Designation for Nursing Excellence and Patient Care Innovation

STONY BROOK, NY, July 22, 2026 - Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) announced today that it has officially achieved Magnet® Recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). This prestigious designation serves as the gold standard for nursing excellence, outstanding patient outcomes, and innovation in professional practice.

With this achievement, SBUH joins an elite tier of healthcare institutions. Globally, only 675 hospitals hold this designation, and fewer than 11% of hospitals across the United States have met the rigorous standards required to earn Magnet status.

"This historic achievement reflects Stony Brook University Hospital's unwavering commitment to excellence and reinforces our mission as Long Island's leading academic medical center," said William A. Wertheim, MD, MBA, Executive Vice President at Stony Brook Medicine. "Magnet recognition is earned through years of exceptional performance and continuous improvement. It is a testament to the collaborative culture that empowers every member of our healthcare team to deliver the highest quality care to the patients and communities we serve."

"Magnet designation recognizes what our patients experience every day: exceptional nursing care delivered with skill, compassion and professionalism," said Carol A. Gomes, MS, FACHE, CPHQ, Chief Executive Officer of Stony Brook University Hospital. "Our nurses are the healthcare professionals who remain at the patient's bedside throughout the care journey, providing continuous assessment, treatment, education and support. Their commitment to excellence reflects the mission and values of Stony Brook Medicine and is fundamental to the outstanding outcomes we achieve."

The ANCC Magnet® Recognition Program evaluates healthcare organizations through an extensive, evidence-based review process. Hospitals must document years of superior patient experience outcomes, nurse-sensitive clinical indicators, low turnover rates, and advanced nursing education. The multi-year, comprehensive process culminated in a highly anticipated onsite appraisal where ANCC reviewers evaluated SBUH's interprofessional culture, patient-centered care delivery, and leadership support systems.

SBUH's more than 2,500 nurses play an integral role in advancing patient care, education, research and innovation across the healthcare system. Practicing in one of New York's leading academic medical centers, nurses care for patients across every specialty-from the region's only Level 1 Trauma Center for adults and children to nationally recognized programs in cancer, cardiovascular health, neurosciences, transplant, pediatrics, orthopedic care and women's health. Through evidence-based practice, professional development opportunities and close collaboration with physicians and interdisciplinary teams, SBUH nurses help drive quality improvements and clinical innovation while mentoring the next generation of nursing professionals.

Magnet designation provides tangible benefits for both healthcare professionals and the communities they serve. Independent research shows that Magnet-recognized hospitals consistently deliver:

• Higher patient satisfaction rates and improved clinical safety.
• Lower rates of nurse burnout and turnover.
• Increased engagement through collaborative governance and professional growth.

"Magnet recognition is not just a badge, it is a living reflection of the excellence our nursing staff brings to our hospital floors every single day," said Carolyn Santora, MS, RN, Chief Nursing Officer at Stony Brook University Hospital. "Our environment actively empowers and supports nurses to practice at the absolute highest standards of care. This honor belongs to our entire healthcare community, whose daily teamwork drives clinical innovation and saves lives."

To learn more about nursing at Stony Brook University Hospital, visit stonybrookmedicine.edu/nursing.

About Stony Brook University Hospital:

Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH), part of the State University of New York, is Long Island's premier academic health center. With 628 beds, SBUH serves as the region's only tertiary care center and Regional Trauma Center, and is home to the Stony Brook University Heart Institute, Stony Brook University Cancer Center, Stony Brook Children's Hospital and Stony Brook University Neurosciences Institute. SBUH also encompasses Suffolk County's only Level 4 Regional Perinatal Center, state-designated AIDS Center, state-designated Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program, state-designated Burn Center, the Christopher Pendergast ALS Center of Excellence, and Kidney Transplant Center. It is home of the nation's first Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center. To learn more, visit stonybrookmedicine.edu/sbuh.

About ANCC's Magnet Recognition Program:

The Magnet Recognition Program - administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the largest and most prominent nurses credentialing organization in the world - identifies health care organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and professionalism in nursing practice.

The Magnet Recognition Program is the highest national honor for nursing excellence and provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark for measuring quality of care. For more information about the Magnet Recognition Program and current statistics, visit https://www.nursingworld.org/magnet.