Nine medical specialties rank among the nation’s best, three others rank among the top 25 percent and UAB is the best in the metropolitan area. Nine University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital medical specialties are among the nation’s top 50 in the 16 categories evaluated at U.S. hospitals this year by U.S. News & World Report, and three others are classified as high performing. The rankings appear in the magazine’s 21st annual “America’s Best Hospitals” issue, accessible online July 19, 2011. The Best Hospitals 2011-2012 guide will be available at newsstands Aug. 30. Highlights for UAB Hospital this year include: Rheumatology program, 11th Gynecology, 20th Nephrology, 22nd Pulmonary, 25th Urology, 27th Neurology and Neurosurgery, 32nd Geriatrics, 36th Ear, Nose and Throat, 36th Gastroenterology, 37th In addition, the magazine rated UAB’s cancer program, orthopedics and cardiology/heart surgery as “high-performing” specialties, placing them in the top 25 percent nationally. “UAB continues to demonstrate the utmost commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate patient care, and we are very honored to be recognized once again in this important listing,” said UAB Hospital CEO Michael Waldrum, M.D., MS, MBA. “It is a credit to the caring and professional UAB Hospital employees and medical staff who strive each and every day to make a difference in people’s lives.” According to the magazine’s published methodology, the ranking for 12 of the categories is based on reputation, mortality, patient safety and a mix of care-related factors such as nursing and patient services. The 50 hospitals in each of these specialties with the highest scores are listed. Rankings for ophthalmology, psychiatry, rehabilitation and rheumatology are based strictly on reputational scores, and the magazine lists the top 25 programs for each.