Valley Children’s Recognized as Top Children’s Hospital by Leapfrog Group for Sixth Time

Published December 15, 2025

MADERA, Calif. – Valley Children’s Hospital has been named a Top Children’s Hospital by The Leapfrog Group for the sixth time, a rare national distinction that highlights the hospital’s sustained excellence in patient safety and quality.

The Leapfrog Top Hospital award is among the most competitive honors American hospitals can receive. Selection is based on rigorous quality and safety standards, including infection rates, safe surgery practices and the ability to prevent medication errors.

“We are honored and proud to be recognized once again by The Leapfrog Group,” said Todd Suntrapak, President and CEO of Valley Children’s Healthcare. “This award is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our entire team to provide the highest standards of care and safety for our patients. Above all, it’s about the care our kids deserve. Every child who walks through our doors is at the heart of everything we do.”

Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, said Valley Children’s earned its place on this year’s list through “an unwavering focus on safety and quality.”

“This recognition reflects a culture of transparency and continuous improvement – one embraced by every member of the organization,” Binder said. “We commend the entire team at Valley Children’s for reaching this outstanding milestone.”

More than 2,400 hospitals nationwide were considered for the award, with only 156 selected across all categories. Valley Children’s is one of only 15 children’s hospitals to receive the honor this year. Performance is publicly reported through the Leapfrog Hospital Survey.

“This recognition from Leapfrog reflects our ongoing dedication to advancing pediatric care, embracing innovation and setting the highest standards for safety,” said Dr. David Christensen, chief physician executive and president of Valley Children’s Medical Group. “This award, based on objective criteria like eliminating hospital-acquired infections, highlights our success at setting the highest standards for safety.”

“Families trust us with their children’s health and our teams work tirelessly to honor that trust and to ensure the best possible outcomes for every child,” Suntrapak added.

Valley Children’s quality and safety metrics, which continue to set the benchmark for pediatric care nationwide, can be viewed here.

The full list of 2025 Top Hospitals is available here.