Dell Children’s Medical Center has been nationally recognized in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best Children’s Hospitals list, earning Top 50 rankings in seven pediatric specialties. This marks the fourth consecutive year that Dell Children’s has achieved national recognition, with improvements in each specialty’s statistical performance compared to previous years.
The hospital’s Pediatric Cardiology and Heart Surgery program is now ranked No. 10 nationally, a significant rise from No. 30 last year and No. 48 in 2023. Other ranked specialties include Neonatology (No. 36), Pediatric Orthopedics (No. 31), Pediatric Neurology & Neurosurgery (No. 25), Pediatric Pulmonology & Lung Surgery (No. 27, tie), Pediatric Urology (No. 49, tie), and Pediatric & Adolescent Behavioral Health (Top 50).
“We are incredibly proud of our physicians, nurses, and staff who work tirelessly to provide the highest quality care for our patients,” said Adam Messer, President of Dell Children’s Medical Center. “These national rankings are a testament to their dedication and commitment to excellence in all aspects of the compassionate and quality care we provide on a daily basis, and we share this recognition with the pediatric provider community in Central Texas who partner with us to achieve these outcomes. Our hospital continues to be a destination for the treatment of complex conditions, and we are committed to our ministry’s mission of serving our community and beyond with the best care possible.”
The Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery program is led by Charles Fraser, Jr., MD, a leading congenital heart surgeon who played a key role in establishing the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease. The program benefits from partnerships with Dell Medical School and Ascension Seton, which have helped several Dell Children’s programs gain national attention through integrated research, education, and clinical care.
“Academic medicine doesn’t just raise the standard of care — it expands what’s possible,” said Claudia Lucchinetti, M.D., dean of Dell Medical School and senior vice president for medical affairs at UT Austin. “This progress shows the strength of our faculty and the momentum behind our mission — to build a more connected health system that delivers world-class care.”
Dell Children’s Medical Center is Central Texas’s only comprehensive children’s hospital and pediatric Level I trauma center. Founded by local pediatricians, it provides specialized family-centered care across the region. The opening of Dell Children’s Medical Center North Campus in 2023, now designated as a Level III trauma center, has increased access to pediatric emergency care as well as surgical and outpatient services.
For the 2025-2026 rankings, U.S. News & World Report worked with RTI International to gather data from 198 eligible children’s hospitals nationwide. Of these hospitals, 118 submitted sufficient information for ranking consideration. Hospitals awarded a “Best” designation demonstrated strong clinical outcomes, adherence to best practices, and high-quality resources directly related to patient care.
