U.S. News & World Report ranks Kentucky Children’s Hospital in pediatric cardiology, orthopedics
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 7, 2025) — Kentucky Children’s Hospital (KCH) has been recognized as a 2025-26 Best Children’s Hospital by U.S. News & World Report. The rankings assist parents and caregivers, along with their physicians, in navigating the challenges of finding the best possible care for children with serious illnesses or complex medical needs. KCH was ranked nationally in two areas of specialized care: pediatric cardiology and heart surgery, and orthopedics.
“Healthy children grow into healthy adults, shaping a stronger future for Kentucky,” said Scottie B. Day, M.D., physician-in-chief for KCH. “Our pediatric cardiology program — recognized through our joint ranking with Cincinnati Children’s — remains among the best in the nation, and our partnership with Shriners Children’s in Lexington brings nationally recognized expertise in orthopedics. These achievements reflect the dedication of our teams and the strength of our collaborations, ensuring families across Kentucky can access the most advanced treatments and technology without leaving the state.”
The Joint Pediatric and Congenital Heart Program, a collaboration between KCH and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, is ranked 11th in the country in pediatric cardiology and heart surgery. This ranking also includes patients treated through the adult congenital heart program, a collaboration with UK HealthCare’s Gill Heart and Vascular Institute for adult patients who were born with congenital heart defects.
“We are proud to once again be ranked among the nation’s top programs for children’s heart care,” said Carl L. Backer, M.D., director of the KCH section of the Joint Pediatric Heart Care Program. “Through our collaboration with Cincinnati Children’s, we are ensuring that every child in Kentucky has access to the most advanced treatments and technology. Families can trust that they are receiving world-class heart care close to home.”
KCH also ranks in the top 50 nationally in pediatric orthopedics, offering expert care for children with bone and joint conditions while supporting healthy growth and development.
“This national recognition highlights the advanced care and outcomes our team delivers,” said Vishwas R. Talwalkar, M.D., professor of pediatric orthopedics and chief medical officer for Shriners Medical Center in Lexington. “Together, KCH and Shriners Children’s can leverage cutting-edge techniques and collaborative expertise to treat complex musculoskeletal conditions, helping children to thrive and be active.”
For the 2025-26 rankings, U.S. News, together with RTI International, a North Carolina-based research firm, collected and analyzed data from 118 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.
“Being a top-ranked pediatric hospital means more than just excelling in a single specialty — it means being a pillar of outstanding care for your entire region,” said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News & World Report. “Our rankings acknowledge these hospitals for their comprehensive excellence, helping families find the very best care conveniently located within their state and community.”
The full rankings for the 2025-26 Best Children’s Hospitals national, regional/state and specialty rankings can be found at USNews.com. For more information, explore #BestChildrensHospitals on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok and X.
UK HealthCare is the hospitals and clinics of the University of Kentucky. But it is so much more. It is more than 10,000 dedicated health care professionals committed to providing advanced subspecialty care for the most critically injured and ill patients from the Commonwealth and beyond. It also is the home of the state’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that cares for the tiniest and sickest newborns and the region’s only Level 1 trauma center.
As an academic research institution, we are continuously pursuing the next generation of cures, treatments, protocols and policies. Our discoveries have the potential to change what’s medically possible within our lifetimes. Our educators and thought leaders are transforming the health care landscape as our six health professions colleges teach the next generation of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health care professionals, spreading the highest standards of care. UK HealthCare is the power of advanced medicine committed to creating a healthier Kentucky, now and for generations to come.