In 2026, Castle Connolly introduced a new recognition framework – Castle Connolly Accolades – designed to highlight hospitals and health systems with an exceptional concentration of Castle Connolly Top Doctors across specialties and within specific fields.
These Accolades offer a system-level view of excellence, recognizing institutions where individual physician distinction consistently aggregates into nationally visible impact.
National Recognition in Urology
Under this new framework, UNC Health’s North Carolina Memorial Hospital has been recognized as the third-ranked practice nationally for the absolute number of Castle Connolly Top Doctors in Urology, tied with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and The Mount Sinai Hospital. Only NYU Langone Health – Tisch Hospital and Cleveland Clinic Main Campus ranked higher.
As Castle Connolly’s Accolades are based on the total number of Top Doctors at a practice location, rather than the proportion of recognized physicians relative to overall faculty size, UNC Urology’s national standing reflects a notably high level of faculty representation among Castle Connolly Top Doctors.
Leadership Across North Carolina
At the state level, the 2026 Accolades further reinforce UNC Urology’s leadership:
- #1 Health System in North Carolina for most Castle Connolly Top Doctors in Urology
- #1 Hospital in North Carolina for most Castle Connolly Top Doctors in Urology (North Carolina Memorial Hospital)
- #3 Health System in North Carolina across all specialties
- #2 Hospital in North Carolina across all specialties
Together, these recognitions highlight UNC Urology’s role not only as a leading academic program, but as a cornerstone of excellence within North Carolina’s healthcare landscape.
From Individual Excellence to Institutional Impact
“These Accolades highlight what distinguishes UNC Urology: a deep and consistently recognized faculty within a health system that supports excellence at scale. Leading the state in Castle Connolly Top Doctors in urology while also ranking among the top institutions nationally reflects both the strength of our program and the environment fostered by UNC Health.”
Matthew Nielsen, MD, MS, FACS
Professor and Chair of Urology
Castle Connolly Accolades are determined through the same rigorous, peer-driven methodology used to identify Top Doctors, with additional analysis of institutional representation by specialty, geography, and care setting. More information about the Accolades methodology is available on Castle Connolly’s website.