Becker’s Hospital Review included UAB Hospital on its 2025 list of “Great Hospitals in America. This annual report recognizes institutions that deliver exceptional clinical care, prioritize patient safety, and drive innovation through research, education, and continual improvement.
“This recognition reflects the daily work of our teams who care for patients with some of the most complex needs in our state and region,” said UAB Hospital CEO Brenda Carlisle. “Being named among the nation’s great hospitals is not about a single achievement. It is about consistently delivering safe, high-quality care, advancing clinical innovation, and expanding access, so that more patients can receive the care they need, close to home.”
Why we were recognized
In its profile of UAB Hospital, Becker’s highlighted the organization’s role as Alabama’s top-ranked hospital and its position as one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers. The publication cited our nationally ranked programs, supported by advanced clinical capabilities and ongoing investment in innovation.
Becker’s also recognized UAB Hospital’s leadership in emergency and acute care, noting that it’s home to the nation’s first accredited Level 1 Emergency Department and the region’s only Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department. Additional highlights included advancements that have significantly reduced treatment times for heart attack and stroke. It also noted the hospital’s status as one of the country’s most active transplant centers, performing more than 400 organ transplants annually.
Access and investments
The profile further emphasized UAB Hospital’s expansion of access across Alabama through telehealth, regional clinics, and the acquisition of what today is UAB St. Vincent’s. Also noted were major facility investments such as the new UAB Rehabilitation Pavilion, the UAB Medical West campus, the new Cooper Green Mercy Health Services outpatient clinic, and the ongoing Emergency Department expansion.
This recognition places UAB Hospital among a select group of hospitals nationwide that are shaping the future of health care while meeting the complex needs of patients today. It reflects the collective work of teams across the organization that continue to strengthen outcomes, access, and the patient experience.