Yale New Haven Health (YNHHS) has been named the seventh best health system in the United States by Castle Connolly, a healthcare research company known for recognizing top doctors across specialties. The organization also ranked YNHHS as the leading health system in Connecticut.
Yale Medicine, which is the clinical practice of Yale School of Medicine, achieved third place nationally among physician practices. Northeast Medical Group (NEMG), YNHHS’ physician foundation, was ranked tenth in the nation. In Connecticut, Yale Medicine and NEMG were first and second respectively among physician practices. Additionally, Yale New Haven Hospital’s York Street Campus and Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital took first and second places statewide.
“Castle Connolly’s recognition of Yale New Haven Health as the top health system in both Connecticut and the nation is an extraordinary honor,” said Christopher O’Connor, CEO of YNHHS. “This achievement reflects the dedication, expertise and compassion of every member of our organization. I am immensely proud of our physicians, caregivers and staff, whose commitment to excellence ensures that our patients receive the highest quality care.”
The rankings are part of Castle Connolly’s 2026 Accolades program. According to Castle Connolly's website, these awards recognize institutions “that provide an outstanding level of high-quality health care through their top-ranked Castle Connolly Top Doctor physicians.” Accolades are determined by factors such as number of Top Doctors at each institution along with institution type, location, and specialty area.
Physicians nominate peers annually for inclusion on Castle Connolly’s “Top Doctors” list. After a detailed screening process considering education, training, research leadership, interpersonal skills, availability for new patients and years in practice, national and regional lists are compiled.
The 2026 Top Doctors can be found on Castle Connolly’s website. State-specific results will appear in Connecticut Magazine's May issue. In 2025 alone, over 300 specialists from YNHHS were included on Connecticut's list.
YNHHS is Connecticut's largest healthcare system with five hospitals—Bridgeport Hospital, Greenwich Hospital, Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, Westerly Hospital and Yale New Haven Hospital—as well as several specialty networks and Northeast Medical Group. The system partners with Yale University and its medical school practice group.
