Barrow Named Among America’s Best Neurological Hospitals by Newsweek
Newsweek has again named Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, one of the top hospitals in the country for neurological care. The No. 23 ranking for 2026 recognizes the Institute’s commitment to providing top-tier care for neurological conditions, specifically noting its expertise in Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, neurological infections, brain tumor surgery, and epilepsy surgery.
With more than half of the United States population living with a disease or disorder of the nervous system, Newsweek sought to create a trusted resource for individuals seeking high-quality neurological care. The media organization partnered with the global data firm Statista, Inc. to compile the third annual list of “America’s Best Hospitals for Specialized Care,” which recognizes a total of 200 hospitals in the “neurological care” category. Newsweek invited tens of thousands of medical professionals and hospital managers to participate in an online survey, and combined those results with publicly available hospital quality metrics and patient-experience survey data.
“I am proud that Newsweek has, for the third consecutive year, recognized the outstanding neurological care provided by the faculty and staff at Barrow Neurological Institute,” said Brad Racette, MD, FAAN, Chair of the Department of Neurology at Barrow. “Clinical excellence is at the core of our mission. Every research project we undertake, lecture we present, and trainee we mentor supports one overarching goal: to improve the lives of patients with neurological conditions.”
The Barrow Difference
The neurology faculty at Barrow consists of more than 60 neurologists, scientists, and other providers, whose expertise spans 14 neurological subspecialties. The Department of Neurology is home to designated centers of excellence in multiple conditions, from common to rare. These include epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), Lewy body dementia, muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), ataxia, hereditary neuropathy, Huntington’s disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, restless legs syndrome, and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Because neurological conditions are often complex, they frequently require a team-based treatment approach. Barrow neurologists work closely with a range of clinicians across the Institute to deliver comprehensive, individualized care. These experts include neurosurgeons, ENT surgeons, neuropsychologists, neuroradiologists, neuroscience nurses, neuro-rehabilitation physicians and therapists, and advanced practice providers.
“Clinical excellence is at the core of our mission. Every research project we undertake, lecture we present, and trainee we mentor supports one overarching goal: to improve the lives of patients with neurological conditions.”
-Brad Racette, Chair of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute
This dedication to providing highly specialized care across the continuum has not only positioned Barrow as a national leader in the neurosciences but as a global destination as well. Barrow continuously opens its doors to visitors from around the country and world, whether they’re patients seeking internationally renowned care or medical professionals pursuing unparalleled learning experiences.
“I am proud of this ranking for the Department of Neurology at Barrow,” said Barrow President and CEO Michael T. Lawton, MD. “This Department is on an ambitious mission to double its size in five years under the leadership of Dr. Racette. This growth is fueling the expansion of programs like epilepsy, stroke, neuro-analytics, and neuro-critical care—which all overlap with and enhance ongoing work in the neurosurgical arena. Many neurology recruits are clinician-scientists with research programs as well, further elevating the profile of the Department.”