The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the first pediatric hospital in the US.

"While this ranking is certainly a great external affirmation, what really matters is our responsibility to care for our patients and to advance the field of pediatric medicine," says Steven M. Altschuler, MD, president and chief executive officer of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

"I am humbled by this recognition. It is our responsibility to continue to work to provide the best care and to share our learning and research nationwide," Dr. Altschuler added.

Ranked by Reputation

Consistent with previous years, most specialty institutions, including pediatrics, are ranked by reputation among board-certified physicians randomly selected from the American Medical Association database.

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia also was named the top children's hospital three consecutive times by a comprehensive data-based study conducted by Child magazine in 2001, 2003 and 2005.

In 2004, Children's Hospital also was awarded Magnet status, the nursing profession's highest national recognition by the American Nursing Credentialing Center.

Founded in 1855

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its longstanding commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide.

Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country, ranking second in National Institutes of Health funding. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 430-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents.