Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv climbed to ninth place in Newsweek’s 2026 ranking of the world’s smartest hospitals, moving up one spot from last year. The ranking, conducted in collaboration with Statista, evaluates 350 medical centers worldwide for their integration of cutting-edge digital technologies and AI-driven innovation.
The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, topped the list, followed by seven other U.S. hospitals in the top ten. Only two institutions outside the U.S. made it into this elite group: Sheba and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin in Germany.
Israel continues to make a strong showing overall, with five hospitals featured on the list: Sheba (9), Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (125), Hadassah Ein Kerem (171), Rambam Health Care Campus (254) and Rabin Medical Center (270).
“This recognition, along with Newsweek choosing Tel Aviv to host the global announcement, reflects Israel’s resilience and growing prominence as a health-tech powerhouse,” said Prof. Yitshak Kreiss, director of Sheba Medical Center.
Prof. Yitshak KreissPhoto: Sheba Medical CenterAs part of its ongoing innovation strategy, Sheba recently partnered with Paradigm Health to develop an AI-powered platform for managing clinical trials. The initiative, set to launch at the ARC Innovation Summit 2025, aims to streamline patient recruitment, improve representation in trials and expand access to cutting-edge treatments.
Within two years, Sheba expects the platform to increase international clinical trials by more than 50%, drawing significant global investment while giving Israeli patients faster access to personalized therapies.
In addition to its placement among the world’s smartest hospitals, Sheba ranked prominently in Newsweek’s specialty rankings. It placed 44th globally in cardiology, 35th in gastroenterology, 56th in neurosurgery and 102nd in cardiac surgery. The hospital also ranked 162nd in oncology and secured representation across nearly every specialty assessed.
The rankings are based on a global online survey of medical professionals conducted from May to July 2025, combined with certification data, patient-reported outcomes, and international recommendations.
Alongside Sheba, the list highlights leading institutions such as the Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Toronto’s SickKids and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.