In December 2024, five UNC Health hospitals — UNC Medical Center (Chapel Hill, NC), UNC Health Rex (Raleigh), UNC Health Nash (Rocky Mount), UNC Health Rockingham (Eden) and UNC Health Appalachian (Watauga Medical Center – Boone, NC) — were named to US News & World Report‘s “Best Hospitals for Maternity Care” annual hospital and medical specialty rankings list. These five system hospitals were designated as “high performing” among top hospitals in maternity care nationwide. 
Five months later, two of these UNC Health affiliates — UNC Medical Center (Chapel Hill, NC) and UNC Health Rex (Raleigh, NC) were named to Newsweek’s “America’s Best Maternity Hospitals 2025” list. Only 20 hospitals in North Carolina were included in America’s Best Maternity Hospitals 2025. Both UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill and UNC Health Rex in Raleigh were awarded the highest ranking, with 5 ribbons each. Both have also earned this award for four years in a row.
UNC Professor of Anesthesiology and Obstetrics & Gynecology and Obstetric Anesthesia Division Chief Kathleen A. Smith MD, FASA, noted: “Repeated high marks for UNC Health hospitals in maternity care are a testament to the hard work of our [Obstetric Anesthesia Care team] and all involved in Labor & Delivery across our system. We are most grateful for those who support the work of Obstetric Anesthesiology at UNC Health.”