Wolfson Children’s Hospital named among the best in the country for Pediatric & Adolescent Behavioral Health, Neurology & Neurosurgery

Wolfson Children’s Hospital has ranked as one of the 50 Best Children’s Hospitals in the nation for Pediatric & Adolescent Behavioral Health and Neurology & Neurosurgery as part of U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings.

In collaboration with Nemours Children’s Health and Baptist Behavioral Health, Wolfson Children’s offers a range of behavioral health services, including both inpatient and outpatient consultation, evaluation and treatment. In 2024, Wolfson Children’s opened a 20-bed Behavioral Health and Wellness Unit, doubling the number of beds available to children and adolescents needing inpatient behavioral health care.

The Walter and Michelle Stys Neuroscience Institute at Wolfson Children’s provides comprehensive neurology and neurosurgery services, treating conditions from epilepsy and brain tumors to traumatic brain injury, in collaboration with Nemours Children’s and the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville.

“Our continued recognition by U.S. News & World Report, year after year, speaks to the exceptional care our clinical teams and specialized pediatric providers offer every single day,” said Allegra C. Jaros, MBA, president of Wolfson Children’s Hospital. “This ranking underscores the incredible dedication of our entire staff and affirms our goal to provide children and families with top-quality, compassionate care right here in our community.”

"Wolfson Children's Hospital's recognition among the nation's best for Pediatric & Adolescent Behavioral Health and Neurology & Neurosurgery is a testament to the collaborative efforts of our teams,” said Andrew Stec, MD, MBA, vice president and chief medical officer for Nemours Children's Health, Jacksonville. “Together, we're not only advancing care for children in our community but also setting a new standard for compassion and excellence in pediatric health care."

Philipp Aldana, MD, co-medical director of the Stys Neuroscience Institute at Wolfson Children’s Hospital shared "We’re proud that the Neurology and Neurosurgery programs at Wolfson Children’s Hospital have been consistently recognized over the past decade by U.S. News & World Report as some of best in the country. This achievement reflects the hard work and commitment of neuroscience specialists from Nemours Children’s Health and the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville, as well as the staff at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, all working together to deliver outstanding neurological and neurosurgical care to children across North Florida and South Georgia. For us, it’s all about helping each child return home and thrive, so they can realize their full potential.”

“We are deeply honored to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top Pediatric and Adolescent Behavioral Health programs for the second consecutive year,” said Kendra A. Wagner, MA, ATR-BC, ATCS, LMHC, interim executive director of Baptist Behavioral Health. “This prestigious recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to providing exceptional care and support to children and families facing behavioral health challenges. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated team, whose compassion and expertise make this achievement possible, and to the families who trust us with their care. We remain steadfast in our mission to advance pediatric and adolescent behavioral health and to set the standard for excellence in patient-centered care.”

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.