Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), now part of Rady Children’s Health, has once again earned national recognition from U.S. News & World Report, ranking among the 2025-2026 Best Children’s Hospitals. The Orange, California-based pediatric healthcare system was honored in nine specialties: cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, neonatology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pediatric and adolescent behavioral health, pulmonology, and urology. According to U.S. News, the rankings assist parents and caregivers, along with their referring physicians, in navigating the challenges of finding the best possible care for children with serious illnesses or complex medical needs.
For the 2025-2026 rankings, U.S. News partnered with RTI International, an independent research firm, to collect and analyze data from 118 children’s hospitals and survey thousands of pediatric specialists. Children’s hospitals awarded a “Best” designation demonstrated excellence in clinical outcomes, adherence to best practices, and the quality of resources available to support 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. “Our rankings acknowledge these hospitals for their comprehensive excellence, helping families find the very best care conveniently located within their state and community.”
CHOC has earned numerous accolades for excellence in pediatric care, research, and innovation. From national recognition in specialty rankings to honors for nursing, safety, technology, and more, these distinctions reflect the organization’s extraordinary commitment to advancing positive health outcomes for children. In January 2025, CHOC took an even greater step forward by joining with Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego to create Rady Children’s Health—an important milestone that underscores a shared commitment to building healthier futures for children and families.
“The U.S. News recognition is a testament to the inspiring dedication of our physicians, nurses, researchers, and staff who, across every one of our healthcare settings, work as one team to enhance pediatric medicine,” said Sandip Godambe, MD, PhD, MBA, chief medical officer and senior vice president of medical affairs, Rady Children’s Health Orange County. “Through innovation, collaboration, and an unwavering partnership with families, we are dedicated to providing children the safest care, the most advanced treatments, and the best chance at a healthy future.”
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