UTMB ranked seventh of 98 academic medical centers nationally for Pediatric Hospital Services
UTMB Health has been recognized as a top performer in Vizient’s 2025 Bernard A. Birnbaum Quality and Accountability Awards for Pediatric Hospital Services, ranking seventh out of 98 medical centers measured nationwide.
The prestigious award highlights the superior performance of UTMB Health for excellence in quality and safety as measured by the Vizient Quality and Accountability Study, which has been conducted annually since 2005.
This year marks the first-ever release of the Pediatric Hospital Services award, making the UTMB Health recognition especially meaningful as it sets a high standard in the very first year of evaluation, and uniquely positions UTMB as the only health system in our region to receive this distinction.
“To be named a Top Performer for Pediatric Hospital Service in Texas is a profound honor,” said Dr. Jochen Reiser, UTMB President and CEO of the UTMB Health System. “This achievement is not just a ranking—it’s a promise fulfilled to every child and family who entrusts us with their care. It affirms that UTMB is leading the way in pediatric excellence, compassion, and innovation.”
The Vizient study helps participating hospitals and health systems understand their performance against their peers related to patient care activity. The recognition period is for work spanning July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, and—for pediatric hospital services—focused on four domains: mortality, patient safety, efficiency (length of stay), and effectiveness (readmissions).
“Being recognized as a Top Performer is a testament to the heart, skill and unwavering dedication of our pediatric teams,” said UTMB Senior Vice President and Chief Medical and Clinical Innovation Officer Dr. Gulshan Sharma. “Every child we care for inspires us to raise the bar, and this honor affirms that UTMB is a place where excellence in pediatric care is not just a goal—it’s a standard.”
Driven by a system-wide commitment to improving patient outcomes, UTMB launched its Best Care initiative aimed at delivering consistent, high-quality care to every patient, every time. And years of focused effort across departments have led to measurable improvements, culminating in national recognition.
Vizient, the largest member-driven health care performance improvement company in the country, presented the awards on Sept. 16 during the 2025 Vizient Connections Summit held in Las Vegas.