UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital ranks among nation’s best

Press release from UF Health

BY BILL LEVESQUE

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Five specialties at the University of Florida Health Shands Children’s Hospital were ranked among the best in the nation today (Oct. 8) in the latest U.S. News & World Report survey of pediatric hospitals across the United States.

UF Health remains a top Florida and regional pediatric hospital, reflecting the excellence and commitment to outstanding care that have long drawn families from throughout the state and Southeast.

Specialties ranked are pulmonology and lung surgery (No. 23), diabetes and endocrinology (No. 33), cardiology and heart surgery (No. 38), and cancer (No. 49), the U.S. News 2024-25 Best Children’s Hospital survey shows. UF Health’s pediatric behavioral health is recognized nationally as a top 50 specialty.

This is the first year U.S. News has offered a ranking in behavioral health, and it’s the first new specialty added to the ranking by the publication in more than 15 years. A behavioral health specialty is either in the nation’s top 50 or not, with no numerical ranking.

“I’m very proud of our pediatrics team and the critical work they do each day to ensure that a community’s greatest asset, its children and adolescents, receive superb care and attention,” said Steve Motew, M.D., M.H.A., president and CEO of the UF Health clinical enterprise. “Families entrust us with this great responsibility. And we’re all deeply committed to give them our best.”

Rashmin C. Savani, M.B., Ch.B., chair of the UF College of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics and physician-in-chief of UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, said UF Health offers outstanding care in every corner of pediatrics, from common diseases to rare conditions.

He said that an exhaustive range of treatments and multidisciplinary care across many specialties helps ensure that patients and families never lack crucial expertise.

“We’re thrilled to be ranked among the nation’s top children’s hospitals,” Savani said. “We will continue to strive to advance the excellent pediatric care that we provide North Central Florida, the state, and beyond. We’re committed to reaching every child who needs us and providing the life-changing care that can make an enormous difference and help families navigate the difficult time when their child is sick.”

Savani applauded the tireless efforts of the doctors, nurses, other medical professionals, and support staff at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital.

He said he is especially pleased to see U.S. News recognize UF Health’s pediatric behavioral health program. Developmental and behavioral health sees more patients than any other area of pediatrics, and the care provided is a crucial community and family resource.

“The United States has a huge need for developmental and behavioral pediatrics,” Savani said. “These issues are an epidemic that isn’t really talked about.”

He said UF Health pediatrics developed a model that has now been adopted elsewhere in the U.S. Given the national shortage of board-certified developmental and behavioral specialists, UF Health trains its pediatricians to do initial evaluations. This allows them to triage patients who need more immediate care so they can see a board-certified behavioral pediatrician as quickly as possible.

This eliminates long wait times, allowing patients to receive counseling, medication, or other treatment faster than the national norm.

The U.S. News rankings incorporate an extensive array of metrics in its hospital surveys, including patient safety, infection prevention, nurse staffing, and reputation scores from pediatricians outside UF Health.

Of the more than 100 children’s hospitals surveyed, only 88 placed at least one specialty in the top 50 nationally.

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