Dayton Children’s Hospital earns national recognition in three specialties from U.S. News & World Report

Dayton Children's Hospital has been recognized as a 2025-2026 Best Children's Hospital by U.S. News & World Report in three specialties:

• Neonatology (NICU) earned a national ranking for the first time, highlighting the advanced, family-centered care provided to the hospital's most fragile newborns.

• Orthopedics ranked for the sixth consecutive year for the division's excellence in treating everything from sports injuries and scoliosis to complex fractures and congenital conditions.

• Pediatric mental health services were also ranked among the nation's best, reflecting the hospital's investment in addressing the critical and growing mental health needs of children and teens.

"From broken bones to fragile newborns to supporting mental health, families can be confident they are receiving expert care right here in their backyard," said Deborah Feldman, president and CEO of Dayton Children's Hospital. "We are honored to be this community's children's hospital, and we will never stop going above and beyond for our kids."

"Being close to home is essential for families with newborns who need critical care," said Mulakkan David Yohannan, MD, division chief of neonatology at Dayton Children's. "We make sure that parents get advanced, life-saving care while remaining close to their support system."

"This team pours its heart and soul into caring for children. We are always looking for ways to reinvent the path to health, whether it be the most innovative spinal surgeries or programs tailored specifically for athletes, because our children deserve nothing but the best," said Michael Albert, MD, division chief of pediatric orthopedics at Dayton Children's Hospital.

"Behind every service we add and every program we expand is a child who deserves hope and a family who deserves support," said Kelly Blankenship, DO, division chief of psychiatry at Dayton Children's. "We are committed to building brighter futures for kids and families across our community."

While national rankings are one way to measure excellence, Dayton Children's emphasizes that the most important measure is the care families experience every day. "These rankings affirm what our families already know that Dayton Children's is a place where expertise and compassion come together," said Feldman.

For the 2025-2026 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. "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 2025-2026 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.

About U.S. News & World Report
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