US News & World Report ranks UCSF as the best hospital in Northern California in 9 specialties with a tie in cancer, #2 nationally for neurology and neurosurgery
By Elizabeth Fernandez
UCSF Medical Center is ranked among the nation’s top hospitals in adult care by: US News & World Reports prestigious Best Hospitals survey. It was named to the Best Hospitals Honor Roll for 2022-23, an award earned by 20 medical centers across the country that deliver the highest quality care across a variety of specialties, procedures and conditions.
The report lists UCSF as the No. 2 hospital nationwide in neurology and neurosurgery and the best hospital in the West for psychiatry and immune system disorders (rheumatology). It was in the top 10 hospitals in the country in eight areas: diabetes and endocrinology; ear nose throat; geriatrics; neurology & neurosurgery; ophthalmology; psychiatry; pulmonology; and rheumatology. (See the full list below.)
Regionally, UCSF Medical Center was the top-ranked hospital in the San Francisco Metro Area and the top hospital in Northern California in nine of 14 specialties, including a tie for cancer care. UCSF ranked among the best in the nation in all 14 specialty adult areas it was rated, the only hospital in Northern California to achieve that status.
“Patients rely on us to provide world-class care when they have complex medical needs,” said Suresh Gunasekaran, president and chief executive officer of UCSF Health. “We are honored to be recognized for the outstanding and compassionate care our teams provide every day to patients facing the greatest medical challenges, including the most vulnerable members of our community.”
UCSF was also recognized as “high performing” – the highest rating – in 16 procedures and conditions ranging from aneurysm repair and stroke care to spinal, heart and cancer surgery.
“UCSF has a legacy of innovation, excellence in translating science into innovative care, and a long-standing commitment to our local and global community,” said Sam Hawgood, MBBS, Chancellor of UC San Francisco. “These rankings reflect that spirit, which is embodied in the dedication of our clinical teams, researchers and collaborators.”
This marks the 26th year that UCSF Medical Center has been ranked among the top 5 nationwide hospitals in neurology and neurosurgery. The neurospecialties are part of the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, which brings together renowned researchers and leading physicians to solve some of the human body’s most complex challenges.
The specialty rankings, which assess hospital performance in adult specialties from cancer to urology, aim to identify hospitals that excel at treating particularly challenging conditions. The assessment uses data-driven analysis to determine the rankings for 12 of the 15 specialties, combining performance measures across three primary dimensions of healthcare: structure, process and outcomes. Rankings for the three other specialties – ophthalmology, psychiatry and rheumatology – are based solely on expert opinion.
This year, the survey evaluated data from 4,515 hospitals, of which 164 were among the top 50 in at least one specialty. The ranking was released on July 26, 2022.
UCSF Medical Center 2022-23 Best Hospital Ranking

#12 Nationwide, Best Hospitals Honor Roll 2022-23
#1 San Francisco Metro
Top 10 Nationwide (National Ranking):
#2 Neurology and Neurosurgery – Best in the West
#5 Psychiatry – Best in the West
#8 rheumatology – Best in the West
#6 Diabetes and Endocrinology – Best in Northern California
#6 (tie) Ear, Nose & Throat
#9 Geriatrics – Best in Northern California
#9 Ophthalmology – Best in Northern California
#9 pulmonology – Best in Northern California
Among the best in the nation (national rank):
#15 (tie) Cancer – Tied for Best in Northern California
#17 Urology – Best in Northern California
#22 Gastroenterology and GI Surgery
#24 (tie) Orthopedics
#37 Cardiology and heart surgery
#39 Obstetrics and Gynecology
16 High Performance Procedures and Conditions:
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
aortic valve surgery
Back surgery (spinal fusion)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Colon cancer surgery
Heart attack
Heart Bypass Surgery
Heart failure
Broken hip
Hip replacement
Kidney failure
Lung cancer surgery
Ovarian Cancer Surgery
Pneumonia
prostate cancer surgery
Heart attack
About UCSF Health: UCSF Health is recognized worldwide for its innovative patient care, which reflects the latest medical knowledge, advanced technologies and groundbreaking research. It includes the flagship UCSF Medical Center, which is among the top 10 hospitals nationwide, as well as UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, with campuses in San Francisco and Oakland, Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital and Clinics, UCSF Benioff Children’s Physicians, and the UCSF Faculty Practice. These hospitals serve as the academic medical center of the University of California, San Francisco, which is world-renowned for its university-level health science education and biomedical research. UCSF Health has ties to hospitals and health organizations throughout the Bay Area. Visit http://www.ucsfhealth.org/.