For the fourth year in a row, the University of Miami’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute was ranked the No. 1 hospital in the country for ophthalmology in the 18th annual survey of “America’s Best Hospitals” in the July 23 issue of U.S. News & World Report. Three additional specialties at UM/Jackson were also ranked among the nation’s best.

“One of our most important missions is to provide excellent patient care, to always do the right thing for the patient, and these prestigious rankings recognize the superior quality of that care,” says Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Miller School.

Continuing an upward trend that started in 2002, the ear, nose and throat -specialty has climbed from No. 36 five years ago to No. 17 this year, up from No. 22 last year. Digestive disorders and kidney disease were both ranked at No. 32.