Stony Brook University Hospital named top hospital for pediatric care in New York

Stony Brook University Hospital has been rated the top hospital for pediatric care in New York State by personal finance publication Money.

The hospital also was ranked seventh in the nation by the magazine.

"Our team of dedicated professionals works tirelessly to ensure that each child receives the best possible care," said Dr. William Wertheim, executive vice president of Stony Brook Medicine, in a news release.

There are a total of 75 hospitals on the list of top hospitals for pediatric care by Money. Dedicated, standalone children's hospitals were not included on the list.

To rate the hospitals, Money narrowed the list of facilities down to those that received a four- or five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Five-Star Quality Rating System, according to the publication's methodology explainer. The publication then identified hospitals with high-performing doctors and other providers, and took into consideration health care costs.

Stony Brook University Hospital's evaluation used data from Stony Brook Children's Hospital. The children's hospital has more than 180 pediatric specialists in more than 30 specialties, according to Stony Brook Medicine, and is a Level 1 Regional Pediatric Trauma Center.

The hospital lists pediatric specialties including neonatal intensive care, muscular dystrophy, celiac and gluten sensitivity, weight and wellness, cystic fibrosis, hematology/oncology, cardiology and HIV and AIDS.

"We have come a really long way [with the children's hospital]," said Dr. Eric Morley, chief quality officer at Stony Brook Medicine. "It's been a progression, a long, steady process of getting to this place."

Dr. Carolyn Milana, physician in chief at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, said when she joined the hospital 25 years ago, the children's hospital was "just a floor. We've tried to build up all of our services over the years." This included building out their Level 1 Regional Pediatric Trauma Center with specialized surgeons and health care staff, she said.

The rating is the latest accolade for Stony Brook Medicine in 2025. This year, Stony Brook also received an A in The Leapfrog Group's patient safety rating; a four-star rating from CMS Five-Star Quality Rating System; a place on U.S. News & World Report's national honor roll; and was named one of America's 50 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades.

Hospital rankings should be one of several criteria for choosing a place of treatment, and patients should speak to their health care provider and families before making a decision, experts said, as Newsday previously reported.

Wendy Darwell, president of the nonprofit advocacy group Suburban Hospital Alliance of New York State, said "this is another sign of the very high quality care that is available on Long Island and families should take comfort in knowing these are amazing resources for top quality care."

Darwell emphasized that pediatric medicine is different from adult medicine and that it's important to get recommendations from specialists before choosing a hospital for your child if they have a rare condition. And she said, "if it's an emergency, you take your child to the nearest emergency room."