U.S. News and World Report ranks Winship at Emory University Hospital as among the most “high performing” 10 percent of hospitals providing cancer care across the U.S. — and as number one in Georgia and metro Atlanta.
According to U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best Hospitals rankings, cancer care provided by Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University at Emory University Hospital is rated “high performing,” placing it among the top 10% of hospitals nationwide — and as number one in Georgia and metro Atlanta.
For the 14th year in a row, the national news outlet has ranked Emory University Hospital the No. 1 hospital in Georgia and metro Atlanta in the regional rankings. Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital ranked No. 2 in Georgia and metro Atlanta for the tenth consecutive year and Emory University Hospital Midtown ranked No. 5 in Georgia and No. 4 in metro Atlanta.
“This recognition is a testament to our impact on improving the lives of patients with cancer and those at risk for cancer in the state of Georgia and beyond through our exceptional research, clinical, educational and community outreach programs,” says Suresh S. Ramalingam, MD, FACP, FASCO, Winship’s executive director and Roberto C. Goizueta Chair for Cancer Research at Emory University School of Medicine. “Winship is proud to be a place ‘Where Science Becomes Hope.’”
“We are delighted that Winship once again has been recognized as one of the country’s top centers for cancer care and continues to be the best in the state of Georgia,” says Sagar Lonial, MD, FACP, FASCO, Winship’s chief medical officer and professor and chair of the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. “Winship’s recognition reflects the commitment of our people to delivering the highest quality cancer care, and the women and men who are constantly working to develop newer and better treatments, and educate next generations of clinicians and researchers.”
How rankings are determined
U.S. News & World Report ranks the top 50 hospitals in 15 adult specialties and 11 children's specialties. Its national rankings are based on evaluations of patient outcomes, hospital resources, best practices and physician experts' recommendations of where to send their sickest patients. Hospitals must treat a certain number of high-complexity cases to be eligible for ranking. Hospitals not ranked but which are in the top 10% are rated High Performing; the remaining hospitals eligible to be evaluated are unranked.
The magazine explains in its FAQ “How and why we rank and rate hospitals,” that its rankings “are a tool to help patients and their families — in consultation with their doctors — find hospitals that provide skilled inpatient care.”
To rank the best hospitals for cancer care, “U.S. News evaluated nearly 886 hospitals for cancer treatment and ranked the top 50 that treat cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma, breast, kidney, colon, prostate, pancreatic, head and neck, orthopedic, uterine and ovarian cancers.”
Background on the rankings
U.S. News & World Report began publishing hospital rankings in 1990, as “America’s Best Hospitals,” to identify medical centers in various specialties best suited for patients whose illnesses pose challenges because of underlying conditions, procedure difficulty, advanced age or other medical issues that add risk.
Hospitals are assessed in 15 specialty areas for the rankings. In 12 of the 15 specialties, ranking is determined by an extensive data-driven analysis combining performance measures in three primary dimensions of health care: structure, process and outcomes. In the three other specialties, ranking relies solely on expert opinion. More than 4,500 hospitals were evaluated this year, with 1,624 rated High Performing in at least one procedure or condition. Nineteen hospitals were rated high performing in all 22 areas of care.
U.S. News & World Report first published Best Regional Hospitals in 2011. Within a state or major metropolitan area, regional hospital rank is determined by a hospital's performance in the national adult specialty rankings analysis and by its scores across 20 procedure and condition areas evaluated.
Joon S. Lee, MD, executive vice president for health affairs of Emory University and CEO of Emory Healthcare, says, “These regional and national rankings showcase our focus on and commitment to quality, patient-centered care provided every day by our skilled and compassionate team members. Thank you to our many clinicians for helping us achieve these successes this year, and congratulations to all.”