Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health Hospitals Ranked #1 in New Jersey for Fifth Year on U.S. News & World

Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive health network, is proud to announce that Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health hospitals are ranked #1 in New Jersey for the fifth year and Top 10 in the Mid-Atlantic region, and top 3 in the NY-NJ Metro area according to the U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals 2025-26report. Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center, and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center are nationally ranked in five specialties - behavioral health, diabetes & endocrinology, nephrology, neurology & neurosurgery, and urology. Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health are the only hospitals in NJ with five nationally ranked specialties.

“We take great pride in providing world-class care for children and their families where and when they need it most,” said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, chief executive officer, Hackensack Meridian Health. “Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health brings together exceptional pediatric specialists, advanced treatments, and a compassionate approach that ensures families are at the center of everything we do. We are redefining pediatric care with innovative care models that give every child the best opportunity to thrive.”

Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, which filed jointly under a single hospital system, are ranked nationally in the following pediatric specialties:

• Pediatric & Adolescent Behavioral Health
• Diabetes & Endocrinology
• Nephrology
• Neurology & Neurosurgery
• Urology

“Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health is setting a new standard in pediatric medicine, and we are proud to once again be recognized among the best in the nation,” said Jose Azar, M.D., executive vice president, chief quality and clinical service line officer, Hackensack Meridian Health. “We know how important it is for families to be confident in their children’s care, and these rankings are a testament to the commitment of our team at Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health hospitals in providing innovative treatments, compassionate support, and the highest quality outcomes at every stage of life.”

U.S. News & World Report determines the annual Best Children’s Hospital Rankings by gathering key clinical data from 100 medical centers through a detailed survey examining patient safety, infection prevention and adequacy of nurse staffing. Part of each hospital’s score is derived from surveys of more than 15,000 pediatric specialists who are asked where they would send the sickest children in their specialty.

For more information on the U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals 2025-26 list, visit here. For more information on Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/kids.