Dell Children's Medical Center has been recognized for its exceptional pediatric care, earning seven national specialty rankings in the U.S. News & World Report's 2025-2026 Best Children's Hospitals list. The hospital has earned national recognition for the fourth consecutive year and continues to climb the national rankings by improving year-over-year statistically in each specialty and achieving a Top 10 ranking for its renowned Pediatric Cardiology and Heart Surgery program.
Dell Children’s seven ranked specialties are:
- Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery - #10
- Neonatology - #36
- Pediatric Orthopedics - #31
- Pediatric Neurology & Neurosurgery - #25
- Pediatric Pulmonology & Lung Surgery - #27 (tie)
- Pediatric Urology - #49 (tie)
- 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.”
Dell Children’s Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery program, now ranked No. 10 nationally, up from No. 30 last year and No. 48 in 2023, is led by Charles Fraser, Jr., MD, one of the nation’s leading congenital heart surgeons who helped establish the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease. Through a partnership with Dell Medical School and Ascension Seton, pediatric cardiology is one of several Dell Children’s programs gaining national prominence, reflecting how research, education and care come together to improve outcomes and strengthen the region’s health system.
“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 the region's only comprehensive children's hospital and pediatric Level I trauma center serving Central Texas. Established by local pediatricians, the hospital provides world-class family-centered care to patients across the region. Dell Children's Medical Center North Campus, which opened in 2023 and now holds a Level III trauma designation, expands access to pediatric emergency care, surgical and outpatient services. With both the Main and North campuses, Dell Children's provides full access to specialized care throughout the region and beyond.
For the 2025-2026 rankings, U.S. News, together with RTI International, a North Carolina-based research firm, collected and analyzed data from 198 eligible children’s hospitals and surveyed thousands of pediatric specialists. Of the 198 hospitals in the sample, 118, or 59.6%, submitted sufficient data through the 2025 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.
