National Honors Highlight Advances in World-Class Care

Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah continues to earn national recognition for its commitment to exceptional patient care, groundbreaking research, and compassionate support for patients and families. Recent accolades underscore the institute's ongoing dedication to advancing cancer care and improving outcomes for cancer patients throughout the world.

Among this year's honors, Huntsman Cancer Institute received an A+ rating from Money. The online publication selected honorees after reviewing more than 6,000 hospitals. Its methodology focused on treatment quality, research strength, and provider experience, including analysis through Denniston Data’s Provider Ranking System. The system evaluates more than one million providers based on procedure volume, billable costs, and comparative percentile performance. Qualifying hospitals also needed at least one A-rated oncologist across five key specialties: medical oncology, radiation oncology, hematology, surgical oncology, and gynecological care.

The institute also earned recognition as the #1 cancer hospital in Utah and the Salt Lake City metro area, and “High Performing” recognition nationally in cancer from U.S. News & World Report. The designation highlights hospitals and health systems that demonstrate excellence in cancer patient outcomes, quality measures, and clinical performance. For 2026–27, U.S. News considered more than 4,400 hospitals. Those that were rated “High Performing” in a specialty are considered significantly better than the national average. The publication also found that Huntsman Cancer Institute excelled at several cancer treatments and procedures, earning a “High Performing” rating in leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma care, lung cancer surgery, as well as prostate, gynecological, lung, and colon cancer surgery. Through collaboration with affiliate hospitals across the region, including in Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, and Wyoming, Huntsman Cancer Institute works closely with other organizations to provide specialty cancer care to more communities across the region.

Huntsman Cancer Institute is part of University of Utah Health, which was also recognized as the top health system in the Salt Lake City metro area for the 13th year in a row.

In addition, Huntsman Cancer Institute was once again recognized by Becker's Healthcare’s prestigious 2026 list of “100 hospitals and health systems with great oncology programs.” Becker’s Healthcare highlighted the institute's leadership, specifically praising its integrated approach to genetic research, compassionate care, and management of more than 400 active clinical trials.

Huntsman Cancer Institute was also named a “2026 Great Workplace for Nurses” by Nursegrid, an inaugural recognition based on direct feedback from working nurses who use the platform. According to Nursegrid, the recognition reflects input from 50,000 nurses nationwide and was determined by responses to a single survey question: “Would you recommend your workplace to another nurse?” The acknowledgment offers an opportunity to celebrate the nurses whose expertise, compassion, and teamwork are central to the institute’s superb cancer care.

“We are grateful for this recognition because it reflects what we see every day: Huntsman Cancer Institute nurses bring extraordinary skill, compassion, and dedication to patients and families during some of the most important moments in their cancer care,” says Julia Beynon, MHI, RN, senior nursing administrator at Huntsman Cancer Institute. “Their commitment helps create the healing, supportive environment our patients deserve.”

Huntsman Cancer Institute’s Kathryn F. Kirk Center for Comprehensive Cancer Care and Women’s Cancers has also achieved LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, recognizing the hospital’s sustainable design and construction practices. The certification reflects the institute’s commitment to creating spaces that support healing, innovation, and environmental stewardship. 

“Achieving LEED Gold certification reflects our commitment to creating an environment that supports patients, families, caregivers, and staff,” says Alyson Harding, senior director, patient support, at Huntsman Cancer Institute. “Sustainable design helps reduce energy and water use, which can lower operating costs over time. Healthier indoor environments, better lighting, improved ventilation, and greater comfort contribute to the healing experience for patients and the people who care for them.”

Bradley Cairns, PhD, CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute says, "Huntsman Cancer Institute's greatest achievement is the trust patients and families place in us during some of the most challenging moments of their lives. While national recognitions are appreciated, they are most meaningful because they reflect the dedication of our physicians, researchers, nurses, advanced practice providers, caregivers, staff, and trainees who work every day to deliver exceptional care and advance discoveries that will benefit future generations."

National recognition provides an important external measure of quality. More importantly, these distinctions reinforce Huntsman Cancer Institute's commitment to delivering evidence-based care, expanding access to innovative clinical trials, and supporting patients and families through every stage of the cancer journey.

Huntsman Cancer Institute remains focused on making cancer a thing of the past through world-class scientific discovery, cutting-edge cancer care, and education and prevention efforts that empower people and communities to reduce risk, detect cancer earlier, and improve health.