UF Health Shands Children's Hospital

Home to the area’s first pediatric emergency room, UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital provides care in more than 20 pediatric specialties and serves as a destination for patients facing complex medical issues that require specialized attention. 

In October 2024, UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital earned national recognition in the U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals rankings in five pediatric specialties: pulmonology and lung surgery (No. 23), diabetes and endocrinology (No. 33), cardiology and heart surgery (No. 38), and cancer (No. 49). Additionally, UF Health’s pediatric behavioral health is recognized nationally as a top 50 specialty.

In 2015, UF Health Shands Hospital became the first academic health facility in Florida to receive Baby-Friendly USA’s Baby-Friendly® designation, a global initiative by the World Health Organization and UNICEF. This designation provides assurance that the highest standard of care is given regarding the health, nutrition, and bond between mothers and their newborns. We achieve this through several carefully considered initiatives such as prenatal care visits, classes on breastfeeding, access to board-certified lactation consultants, encouraging skin-to-skin contact, and providing information to help mothers make informed decisions about their infants. 

UF   Health Shands Children’s Hospital has been verified by the American College of Surgeons, or ACS, as a Level 1 pediatric trauma center, one of just 67 in the nation to earn the distinction. The verification means that the hospital meets the ACS’s highest standards for staff, resources, and equipment to optimally handle a child’s life-threatening injuries.

UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital is part of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals alliance of premier hospitals for children. Funds raised through the Children’s Miracle Network provide research funding, lifesaving pediatric equipment, and support to meet the needs of pediatric patients and their families.