Yale Medicine Takes Top Spots in National, State Rankings
Yale Medicine is ranked third in the nation for physician practices for 2026, according to Castle Connolly, a health care research company that recognizes doctors considered the best in their specialty.
Northeast Medical Group (NEMG), which is a part of Yale New Haven Health, ranked tenth in the nation. Yale New Haven Health System was ranked seventh among top health systems.
For state-wide rankings, Yale Medicine and NEMG ranked first and second in Connecticut, respectively. Additionally, Yale New Haven Health System ranked first in the state for top health systems. At the hospital level, Yale New Haven Hospital, York Street Campus, and Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital ranked first and second in the state, respectively.
“Once again, we are honored to earn this top national recognition for providing truly exceptional specialty care,” says Margaret McGovern, MD, PhD, CEO, Yale Medicine; Deputy Dean for Clinical Affairs, Yale School of Medicine; and Executive Vice President and Chief Physician Officer, Yale New Haven Health System. “Yale Medicine is committed to advancing health care, discovering and developing innovative treatments, and improving patient outcomes. Together with Yale New Haven Health System, we continue to strive for excellence and set ever-higher standards for patient care.”
The rankings are part of Castle Connolly’s 2026 Accolades, which recognize physician practices, health systems, and hospitals that “provide an outstanding level of high-quality health care through their top-ranked Castle Connolly Top Doctor physicians,” the company says on its website. “Accolades are presented based on the number of Top Doctors at a given institution, with consideration given to the institution type, location, and area of specialty.”
Margaret McGovern, MD, PhD
Each year, Castle Connolly seeks peer nominations from physicians for its “Top Doctors” list. After a rigorous screening process, these nominations are culled to create final national and regional lists, broken down by these specialties: cancer care, dermatology, digestive care (gastroenterology), ear, nose, and throat care (otolaryngology), heart and vascular care, kidney care (nephrology), neurological surgery, eye care (ophthalmology), orthopaedic care, pediatric care, plastic surgery, primary care, reproductive medicine, surgery care, urology, and women’s health.
The Castle Connolly research team evaluates each nomination based on criteria that include the physician’s education and training, research leadership, interpersonal skills, availability to accept new patients, and years in practice.
The 2026 “Top Doctors” are currently listed on Castle Connolly’s website. Locally, the state results will be published in the May issue of Connecticut Magazine. Last year, more than 300 Yale Medicine specialists earned a spot on the Connecticut list.
Here are the specialty-specific rankings:
For specialty care on the national level, Yale Medicine achieved these top rankings for the following physician practices:
- Cancer: Fourth place
- Dermatology: Fourth place
- Heart and vascular: Third place
- Kidney Care: Second place
- Pediatrics: Second place
For specialty care on the state level, Yale Medicine ranked first for care in cancer, dermatology, nephrology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, pediatrics, and urology.
