Recent Medical and Health Science News Stories

CU Anschutz Physicians Recognized Among Colorado's Top Doctors for 2026

Written by Kelsea Pieters | July 31, 2026

Physicians affiliated with the University of Colorado Anschutz once again earned broad recognition in 5280 Magazine's 2026 Top Doctors list, with more than 650 physicians honored – nearly 50% of all physicians recognized.

The recognition underscores CU Anschutz's role as the Rocky Mountain region's only academic medical campus and a global leader in health sciences research, ranking among the world's top hospitals in health sciences.

The campus is home to CU's health professional schools, more than 60 centers and institutes and two nationally ranked hospitals UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and Children's Hospital Colorado. CU’s experts are also affiliated with several hospitals across the state.

In this year’s Top Doctor’s list, faculty physicians at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine earned recognition across a wide range of medical, surgical and pediatric specialties, particularly in complex and highly specialized care.

Highlights from the 2026 rankings include:

  • Physicians were honored across more than 70 medical and surgical specialties.
  • CU Anschutz physicians comprise 100% of Top Doctors in numerous highly specialized disciplines, including pediatric critical care medicine, pediatric cardiology, pediatric radiology, pediatric infectious disease, pediatric gastroenterology, clinical genetics and genomics, complex pediatric otolaryngology and critical care medicine.
  • CU Anschutz physicians represent the majority of Top Doctors in several additional specialties, including emergency medicine, pulmonary disease, rheumatology, pediatric pulmonology, child neurology and infectious disease.
  • The largest concentrations of recognized physicians are in internal medicine, pediatrics, emergency medicine, pulmonary disease, family medicine, orthopedic surgery and medical oncology.

“This recognition is a testament to what makes CU Anschutz unique: exceptional physicians working together to solve medicine's toughest challenges,” said John H. Sampson, MD, PhD, MHSc, MBA, dean of the CU Anschutz School of Medicine. "From routine care to the most complex cases, our teams are transforming discoveries into better treatments and better outcomes for patients across Colorado and far beyond.”

The annual 5280 Top Doctors list is based on peer nominations from physicians across the Denver metropolitan area and recognizes doctors who are highly regarded by their colleagues for clinical excellence.

Some CU Anschutz Top Doctors moving the needle in patient care and medical discoveries: