University Hospital Zurich (USZ)

University Hospital Zurich (Universitatsspital Zurich, USZ) is one of Europe's most prestigious and technologically advanced university hospitals, located in the heart of Zurich, Switzerland's largest city. Founded in 1842, USZ has a distinguished history spanning nearly two centuries of medical innovation, clinical excellence, and academic leadership. With 900 beds, 43 specialized clinics and institutes, and over 8,500 employees, USZ treats approximately 40,000 inpatients and 500,000 outpatients annually, serving as the primary teaching hospital for the University of Zurich's Faculty of Medicine. The hospital holds dual accreditation from Joint Commission International (JCI) and the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM), confirming its adherence to the highest international standards of patient safety, clinical quality, and organizational excellence. USZ has been consistently ranked among the top 50 hospitals worldwide and frequently appears in Newsweek's World's Best Hospitals listing. The Cardiac Sciences department at USZ is among the most advanced in the world, performing comprehensive cardiovascular diagnostics and interventions. Services include coronary artery bypass grafting, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), MitraClip for mitral valve repair, complex interventional cardiology including chronic total occlusion (CTO) procedures, electrophysiology with catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia, cardiac MRI and CT for advanced imaging, mechanical circulatory support with VADs and ECMO, and heart transplantation. The department is internationally recognized for its research in cardiovascular imaging and structural heart disease. Oncology at USZ's Comprehensive Cancer Center is nationally and internationally recognized, offering cutting-edge cancer diagnostics and treatment including precision oncology with molecular tumor profiling, immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapy, targeted molecular therapy, advanced radiation therapy with proton beam referral, surgical oncology with robotic-assisted techniques, bone marrow transplantation, and participation in over 200 international clinical trials annually. The center holds European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) designation and is a member of the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI). The Organ Transplant program is one of the largest in Switzerland, performing kidney, liver, heart, lung, and pancreas transplants. The program is part of Swisstransplant, the national organ allocation network, and maintains excellent long-term survival rates. Living donor kidney and liver transplantation programs are well established, and the center participates in crossover kidney exchange programs. Neurosciences at USZ are world-class, with the Department of Neurosurgery performing advanced brain tumor surgery with intraoperative MRI and fluorescence-guided resection, cerebrovascular surgery for aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations, deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease and dystonia, epilepsy surgery with stereo-EEG monitoring, endoscopic skull base surgery, and complex spinal surgery. The department also houses a comprehensive stroke center with 24/7 thrombectomy capability and participates in major international neurosurgery research collaborations. Orthopedics and Traumatology at USZ is one of the largest orthopedic departments in Switzerland, offering total joint replacement (hip, knee, shoulder, ankle) using computer-navigated and robotic-assisted techniques, complex revision joint surgery, arthroscopic surgery, sports medicine with FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence designation, spinal surgery, hand and microsurgery, and polytrauma management as a Level I trauma center. Fertility services at the USZ Reproductive Medicine Center offer IVF, ICSI, preimplantation genetic testing, egg and sperm cryopreservation, fertility preservation for cancer patients, and comprehensive reproductive endocrinology. Robotic Surgery using the Da Vinci system is extensively utilized across multiple departments including urology, gynecology, general surgery, and thoracic surgery. International patients benefit from USZ's dedicated International Office, which provides concierge-level services including personalized treatment planning, appointment coordination, interpreter services in multiple languages, visa assistance, accommodation arrangements at premium Zurich hotels, and post-discharge follow-up. While Switzerland's healthcare costs are among the highest in the world, USZ offers unparalleled medical expertise, cutting-edge technology, and Swiss precision in healthcare delivery. Many patients from the Middle East, Russia, and Asia seek treatment at USZ for its reputation as one of the finest hospitals in the world. USZ is centrally located in Zurich, approximately 20 minutes from Zurich Airport, with excellent public transportation connections.