Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH), the largest academic medical center in New Jersey and part of RWJBarnabas Health, has been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s “100 Great Neuro & Spine Programs” for 2025. This marks the third consecutive year that RWJUH has received this recognition.
Becker’s Hospital Review compiles its annual list by evaluating hospitals based on patient outcomes, innovative surgical methods, and research efforts. The neuroscience program at RWJUH is led by Robert Gross, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair of Neurosurgery; Suhayl Dhib-Jalbut, MD, Professor and Chair of Neurology; and Hai Sun, MD, Chief of Neurosurgery. The program was recognized for its leadership team, specialized staff, research initiatives, and clinical trials.
RWJUH holds several accreditations including the highest level for stroke care from The Joint Commission and certifications from the American Heart Association’s Get With the Guidelines program. It is also a Level IV Adult and Pediatric Epilepsy Center. The hospital’s neurosurgery department is noted as the only one in New Jersey with access to an intraoperative MRI and advanced robotic technology used in epilepsy treatment, movement disorders, stroke interventions, vascular procedures, and more.
The hospital serves as one of three Level 1 Trauma Centers designated by New Jersey. It houses the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center—New Jersey’s only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center through Rutgers Cancer Institute—and Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital. Each year it provides care to over 45,000 inpatients and about 110,000 emergency department patients.
RWJUH features a neurocritical care unit equipped for acute neurological conditions and a hybrid operating room with biplane angiography for endovascular procedures. Educational events such as annual symposiums on stroke care and epilepsy are organized by the hospital alongside participation in various research trials.
Recent achievements include re-certification as an Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Program by The Joint Commission without deficiencies. In 2025 alone, RWJUH received multiple recognitions from the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines initiative. Other distinctions include six consecutive Magnet Awards for Nursing Excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and being listed among America’s best comprehensive cancer centers by the Commission on Cancer – American College of Surgeons. U.S. News & World Report ranked RWJUH among “Best Regional Hospitals” for 2025-2026—placing it within New Jersey’s top ten hospitals and among the top 25 in the Mid-Atlantic region.
RWJBarnabas Health operates as New Jersey’s largest academic health system with more than five million people served annually across its network of 14 hospitals and over 700 patient care locations supported by approximately 9,000 affiliated physicians.
According to RWJBarnabas Health: “RWJBarnabas Health partners with its communities to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey. It provides patient-centered care in a compassionate manner and is the state’s largest safety-net provider and leader in addressing the social determinants of health. RWJBarnabas Health provides food to the hungry, housing for the homeless and economic opportunities to those most vulnerable.”
The organization emphasizes enhancing access to healthcare through partnerships such as that with Rutgers University—including support for Rutgers Cancer Institute—and maintains a focus on both clinical excellence and community engagement.
