CHICAGO — The University of Chicago Medical Center has once again landed top-tier recognition, securing its third consecutive No. 1 ranking in Illinois for cancer care and earning the state’s only academic medical center designation for Community Access in the latest U.S. News & World Report 2025-26 Best Hospitals rankings.
Illinois’ Top Cancer Care Center for Three Years Running
The University of Chicago Medical Center shines in national and regional rankings, highlighting its excellence in cancer care and commitment to community health equity.
The prestigious rankings place the medical center, the flagship of the UChicago Medicine health system, among the nation’s elite, with national rankings in 10 adult specialties. This impressive showing puts it in an exclusive group of just 28 hospitals nationwide out of more than 4,400 evaluated that achieved rankings in 10 or more specialties.
What makes this recognition particularly noteworthy? The University of Chicago Medical Center’s cancer program retained its impressive No. 12 national position out of approximately 900 programs. This sustained leadership is driving the development of a groundbreaking 575,000-square-foot cancer pavilion, slated to open in 2027. This facility, to be known as the AbbVie Foundation Cancer Pavilion, will be Illinois’ first and only freestanding facility dedicated solely to cancer care and research.
“These results show where we’re making meaningful progress and where we have opportunities to strengthen performance across the board,” said Mark Anderson, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs. “We remain committed to delivering high-quality, innovative care, and we’re grateful to the clinicians, researchers and staff whose dedication drives our academic healthcare mission and our momentum.”
National Recognition Across Multiple Specialties
Beyond cancer care, the medical center also earned national distinctions in Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Ear, Nose & Throat, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Geriatrics, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pulmonology & Lung Surgery, and Urology.
The Medical Center also received high-performing ratings for 17 common procedures and conditions. These include aortic valve surgery, heart bypass surgery, congestive heart failure, colon cancer surgery, COPD, diabetes, gynecological cancer, heart attack, hip fracture, kidney failure, knee replacement, leukemia/lymphoma/myeloma, lung cancer surgery, pneumonia, prostate cancer surgery, stroke, and heart arrhythmia.
Championing Community Health Equity
The “Best Regional Hospital for Community Access” designation specifically recognizes the medical center’s dedication to reaching historically underserved populations. This honor underscores a long-standing commitment to bridging health equity gaps on Chicago’s South Side and in surrounding areas.
“Being recognized for Community Access is especially meaningful as we work to address persistent disparities in health outcomes,” said Tom Jackiewicz, President of the University of Chicago Health System. “This is a reflection of the work our teams are doing every day to expand access across our service areas, and we are focused on strengthening that impact even further as we bring our high-quality care to more communities.”
Broader Health System Achievements
The excellence extends across the broader health system. In Harvey, UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial earned high-performing ratings for congestive heart failure, COPD, diabetes, and kidney failure.
In the western suburbs, several UChicago Medicine AdventHealth hospitals were also lauded. AdventHealth La Grange ranked 21st among Best Regional Hospitals and received high-performing ratings for eight common procedures. AdventHealth Hinsdale was recognized for high-performing ratings in six procedures, and AdventHealth Bolingbrook received recognition for one.
These accolades build upon the University of Chicago Medical Center’s remarkable achievement of its 27th consecutive “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a testament to its unwavering commitment to safe, high-quality care.
For a complete look at all the hospital rankings, visit the U.S. News & World Report website.
