“Proud to be among the best in the nation—again!” reads a banner on the website of Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital.

Indeed, Penn State Hershey Medical Center was again ranked in U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Children’s Hospitals” list, after having first made the cut in 2008 and again in 2011. For 2012, the Children’s Hospital is ranked 34^th in orthopedics, 40^th in cancer, and 46^th in diabetes and endocrinology.

Penn State Hershey’s score card in pediatric cancer treatment shows “superior” ratings in categories such as “engaging parents and family”, “patient and family services”, and “advanced clinical services”. The hospital’s score cards in orthopedics and diabetes and endocrinology similarly exhibit excellence in several categories.

Penn State Hershey will build off of these 2012 rankings — literally — with the completion of the freestanding Children’s Hospital, scheduled to open late this year. According to Harold Paz — CEO of Hershey Medical Center, Penn State’s senior vice president for health affairs, and dean of the Penn State College of Medicine — the new freestanding hospital will “further enhance [Penn State Hershey Medical Center’s] ability to provide state-of-the-art pediatric care close to home for central Pennsylvania children and families.”

Penn State Hershey, in the video below, extended a “thank you” to the faculty and staff, students, volunteers, friends, and supporters for helping achieve this national award. Oh, and THONers — at the 2-minute mark, you might recognize a familiar sight.