Scottish Rite for Children Honored Again as No. 1 in the Nation for Pediatric Orthopedic Care by U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report ranked Scottish Rite for Children No. 1 in the nation for pediatric orthopedic care in its 2026-2027 Best Children’s Hospitals specialty rankings. 

For nearly two decades, Scottish Rite has placed among the nation’s top pediatric orthopedic programs in collaboration with Children’s Medical Center Dallas and UT Southwestern Medical Center. This marks the first time the organization has earned the No. 1 ranking in consecutive years. 

“We are deeply honored by this recognition because it represents the exceptional care we provide to children and families every day,” said Robert L. Walker, president and CEO of Scottish Rite for Children. “Our greatest measure of success will always be the difference we make in their lives. This honor belongs to the people across Scottish Rite who make that possible.” 

U.S. News develops its annual rankings in partnership with RTI International, which collected and analyzed data from 114 children’s hospitals and surveyed thousands of pediatric specialists. The rankings consider factors including clinical outcomes, compliance with established best practices and level and quality of hospital resources directly related to patient care.

“This recognition reflects Scottish Rite’s continued work to advance pediatric orthopedic care,” said Daniel J. Sucato, M.D., M.S., chief of staff at Scottish Rite for Children. “Every advancement we make starts with a simple question: How can we provide better care for this child?”

This year, Scottish Rite performed the first U.S. implantation of a newly FDA-cleared device to treat early-onset scoliosis, expanding treatment options for children with complex spinal conditions. 

In recent years, the National Institutes of Health awarded Scottish Rite R01 grants totaling $4.1 million to advance research for osteonecrosis. 

Scottish Rite also advances the field through education. The Dorothy & Bryant Edwards Fellowship in Pediatric Orthopedics and Scoliosis, the largest pediatric orthopedic fellowship in the world, graduated its 200th fellow this year.

“Our strength comes from the way clinical care, research and education work together at Scottish Rite,” Sucato said. “That approach allows us to advance pediatric orthopedics and, most importantly, provide the best possible care for every child.”