West Orange, N.J., September 15, 2026,– RWJBarnabas Health Children’s Health hospitals have been ranked among the nation’s Best Children’s Hospitals for 2026–2027 by U.S. News & World Report, with The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital (BMSCH) at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital named the #1 Children’s Hospital in New Jersey (tie), ranked #11 in the Mid-Atlantic Region (tie) and earning the highest ranked programs in the state.
The three RWJBarnabas Health Children’s Health pediatric specialties to garner the prestigious ‘gold badges’ are: Pediatric Urology (23), Pediatric Nephrology (#38), and Pediatric Behavioral & Mental Health (Top 50). This is the fourth consecutive time that urology has been nationally ranked and the first-ever gold badges for nephrology and behavioral health.
RWJBarnabas Health provides New Jersey’s largest and only network of pediatric academic care with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital (BMSCH) at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel, Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center, and the McMullen Children's Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care. In addition, the network also includes Children’s Specialized Hospital, the nation’s leading provider of inpatient and outpatient care for children from birth to 21 years of age facing special health challenges — from chronic illnesses and complex physical disabilities to a full scope of developmental, behavioral and mental health concerns.
“These rankings send a simple and clear message to families across New Jersey that the specialized care their children deserve is being delivered across RWJBarnabas Health,” said Mark E. Manigan, president and CEO, RWJBarnabas Health. “Further, they are the result of the dedication of our network of world-class pediatric doctors and nurses, and a broad team who treat every child as they would their own.”
“Recognition as a top children’s hospital and New Jersey in achieving the highest programmatic rankings in the state is a meaningful achievement for our children and families,” said Fernando Ferrer, Chief Pediatric Officer for RWJBarnabas Health. “This is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our physicians, nurses, researchers and staff who work across our pediatric network of care every day to provide children and families with highest quality care for serious health conditions and outstanding preventative care.”
For the 2026-2027 rankings, U.S. News, together with RTI International, a North Carolina-based research firm, collected and analyzed data from 114 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.
“This recognition underscores our commitment to providing children and families across New Jersey with access to exceptional pediatric care,” said William Faverzani, Senior Vice President, Children’s Services, RWJBarnabas Health. “We are proud to continue advancing our programs and expanding access to high-quality, specialized care across our network.”
The full 2026-2027 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings can be found at USNews.com. For more information, explore #BestChildrensHospitals on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok and X.
Learn more at rwjbh.org/ChildrensHealth.
About RWJBarnabas Health
RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive academic health system, caring for more than five million people annually. Nationally renowned for quality and safety, the system includes 14 hospitals and 9,000 affiliated physicians integrated to provide care at more than 700 patient care locations.
RWJBarnabas Health partners with its communities to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey. It provides patient-centered care in a compassionate manner and is the state’s largest safety-net provider and leader in addressing the social determinants of health. RWJBarnabas Health provides food to the hungry, housing for the homeless and economic opportunities to those most vulnerable.
RWJBarnabas Health’s commitment to enhancing access to care includes a transformative partnership with Rutgers University, including the Rutgers Cancer Institute — the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers, with more than 45,000 employees, contributing more than $7 billion to the state economy every year. For more information, visit www.RWJBH.org.
About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, insurance, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.
Contact: Carrie Cristello
Carrie.Cristello@RWJBH.org