AdventHealth for Children named a 'Best Children's Hospital,' earns national recognition for NICU and GI programs

ORLANDO, Fla. — For families facing a child’s most uncertain moments, expert care can be the beginning of hope.

AdventHealth for Children has been recognized as a 2026–2027 Best Children’s Hospital by U.S. News & World Report, with two specialized programs ranked among the nation’s best.

AdventHealth for Children’s neonatology program ranked No. 33 nationally, marking the ninth consecutive year the program has received national recognition from U.S. News and World Report. And its gastroenterology and GI surgery program ranked No. 43 nationally, making it the No. 1 program of its kind in Florida.

These distinctions reflect the advanced care, clinical expertise and compassionate whole-person care AdventHealth for Children teams provide to kids and their families navigating complex medical needs.

Whether in the NICU, pediatric specialty clinics or the operating room, our physicians, nurses and care teams stand beside families through some of life’s most fragile and defining moments.

“Our national recognition is meaningful because of what it represents for children and families,” said Kristi Baker, senior executive officer for AdventHealth for Children. “Behind every ranking are team members and physicians who bring extraordinary expertise, compassion and hope to some of the most important moments a family will ever experience.”

The U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals rankings evaluate pediatric hospitals nationwide using measures designed to assess the quality and complexity of care. These measures include clinical outcomes, adherence to best practices, hospital resources and input from pediatric specialists.

For families seeking care for a child with complex needs, the recognition offers another resource as they consider where to turn for specialized pediatric expertise.