US News & World Report recognizes UTMB as a 2025 High Performing Hospital in its annual maternity care study
U.S. News & World Report named the University of Texas Medical Branch a 2025 High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care. The award is the highest a hospital can earn as part of U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care annual study.
U.S. News began evaluating maternity care hospitals in 2021, rating hospitals that provide labor and delivery services and submit detailed data to the publication for analysis. Best Hospitals for Maternity Care assist expectant parents, in consultation with their prenatal care team, in making informed decisions about where to receive maternity services that best meet their family’s needs.
UTMB earned a High Performing designation in recognition of maternity care as measured by factors such as severe unexpected newborn complication rates, birthing-friendly practices and transparency on racial/ethnic disparities, among other measures.
“This is quite a special honor but not at all surprising,” said Dr. Jerome Yaklic, chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UTMB. “Our maternity team, down to the person, is exceptional. Our patients and their families can always feel confident and comfortable in knowing they are in excellent hands here.”
“We remain committed to excellence and are honored to be trusted by our patients to bring their new family members into the world and help give them the best possible start in life,” added Dr. Deborah Mordecai, associate chief nursing officer at UTMB. “We are both so proud and humbled to receive this honor.”
U.S. News evaluated 817 hospitals from across the United States. Only half of all hospitals evaluated for U.S. News’ 2025 ratings edition have been recognized as Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.
“The hospitals recognized by U.S. News as Best Hospitals for Maternity Care showcase exceptional care for expectant parents,” said Jennifer Winston, Ph.D., health data scientist at U.S. News. “These hospitals demonstrate significantly lower C-section rates and severe unexpected newborn complications compared to hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.”
The U.S. News Best Hospitals for Maternity Care methodology is based entirely on objective measures of quality, such as C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, severe unexpected newborn complication rates, exclusive breast milk feeding rates, birthing-friendly practices and reporting on racial/ethnic disparities, among other measures.
For more information, visit Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.