BIRMINGHAM-- Children's of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham hospitals both were judged to be among the nation's best by U.S. News & World Report magazine.
The magazine's hospital rankings will be included in its August issue, but were made available online today.
Nine of Children's specialties ranked among the top 50 in the United States, as did nine specialties at UAB. Children's ranked in the top 50 in cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology, neonatology, nephrolgy, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology and urology.
UAB Hospital ranked in the top 50 in gastroenterology, geriatrics, gynecology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, pulmonology, rheumatology, urology and ear, nose and throat.
UAB ranked best overall among hospitals in metro Birmingham, with Brookwood Medical Center ranking second, Walker Baptist Medical Center third and Princeton Baptist Medical Center fourth. Children's hospitals were rated separately.
Mike Warren, Children's president and CEO, said the rankings will help the hospital tell its story "at a national level."
"We are proud that nine of our programs were ranked among the nation's best," he said in a prepared statement.