UI Health has received a new round of national and regional recognition in the 2026–27 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings, placing its ophthalmology program among the highest-rated in the United States while also highlighting the hospital’s performance in cancer care and several major medical conditions.
The University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago was ranked No. 16 nationally for ophthalmology. Its cancer care program was ranked No. 5 in Illinois and No. 5 in Chicago, giving the academic medical center a prominent position in two highly competitive areas of hospital evaluation. The results are based on U.S. News assessments of more than 4,400 hospitals across the country.
The ophthalmology ranking reflects the breadth and complexity of care provided through UI Health’s Illinois Eye and Ear community. Modern ophthalmology combines highly specialized surgery, advanced imaging, retinal and corneal disease management, glaucoma treatment, pediatric eye care and the diagnosis of eye disorders linked to neurological or systemic disease. National rankings in the specialty therefore reflect not only individual procedures, but also clinical expertise, hospital resources, outcomes and the ability to manage difficult cases.
“Earning recognition as a nationally ranked ophthalmology program is a tremendous honor,” said Dr. R.V. Paul Chan, head of the department of ophthalmology and visual sciences and chief of service for ophthalmology at UI Health. He attributed the achievement to the work of faculty, staff, trainees and alumni, as well as the support of the University of Illinois System and the wider UI Health and UIC communities. Chan said the program remains focused on advancing eye health and serving patients across generations.
Dr. Jon Radosta, chief medical officer of the University of Illinois Hospital & Clinics, described the ranking as evidence of the expertise and innovative work of the hospital’s physicians. He also pointed to UI Health’s Magnet designation for nursing excellence and its “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group. Together, these distinctions address different dimensions of healthcare quality: specialty expertise, nursing practice, organizational performance and protection against preventable harm.
In addition to its nationally ranked ophthalmology program, UI Health was identified as a high-performing hospital for cancer and for neurology and neurosurgery. Cancer care requires coordinated treatment across medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgery, pathology, imaging and supportive services. Neurology and neurosurgery similarly depend on rapid diagnosis and collaboration among specialists managing conditions that affect the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves and vascular system.
The hospital also received high-performing ratings for eight common adult procedures and conditions: leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma; heart arrhythmia; heart attack; heart failure; kidney failure; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; stroke; and pneumonia. These conditions span multiple organ systems and include both acute emergencies and chronic diseases. Performance in such categories can reflect timely intervention, adherence to evidence-based protocols, intensive monitoring and the coordination of care before and after hospitalization.
UI Health’s recognition extends beyond the latest overall hospital rankings. In December 2025, U.S. News identified the hospital as high-performing for maternity care involving uncomplicated pregnancy in its ratings for maternity and perinatal care. Earlier this year, The Leapfrog Group awarded UI Health an “A” Hospital Safety Grade. The program focuses specifically on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries, using publicly reported data and peer review to assess hospital safety.
The Leapfrog Group and the American Diabetes Association also named UI Health a 2026 Recognized Leader in Caring for People Living with Diabetes. Only 37 hospitals nationwide received that designation, which acknowledges systems designed to protect hospitalized patients with diabetes and improve the management of blood glucose and related risks. UI Health has additionally earned Magnet Recognition, the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s highest designation for nursing excellence, and a four-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Together, the distinctions place the hospital’s ophthalmology ranking within a broader pattern of recognition covering specialty medicine, safety, nursing, chronic disease care and hospital quality.
Image Credits: UI Health
Keywords: UI Health, University of Illinois Hospital, ophthalmology, cancer care, U.S. News Best Hospitals, hospital rankings, Chicago healthcare, neurology and neurosurgery, patient safety, diabetes care, Magnet Recognition
Web References: https://today.uic.edu/university-of-illinois-hospital-earns-high-marks-for-maternity-care/; https://today.uic.edu/ui-health-earns-a-for-hospital-safety-from-the-leapfrog-group/; https://today.uic.edu/ui-health-named-2026-recognized-leader-in-caring-for-people-living-with-diabetes/; https://today.uic.edu/ui-health-achieves-magnet-recognition/; https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals
