Rady Children’s Health in Orange County, formerly called CHOC, announced today that Dr. Christina Greene, a highly regarded congenital cardiac surgeon, has joined its pediatric congenital heart program. The program is supported through a collaboration with UCLA Health, where Dr. Greene is a Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor.
Dr. Greene will serve as the Rady Children’s onsite surgical lead, further advancing care for children with complex heart conditions. She brings extensive experience in pediatric and congenital heart surgery, with a clinical focus on treating newborns and children with complex and high-risk congenital heart disease. She most recently served as a congenital cardiac surgeon at Seattle Children’s Hospital and as a faculty member in Surgery and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington, where she led research focused on improving surgical care in congenital heart disease.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Greene has led translational research in areas including cardiopulmonary bypass optimization and perioperative care, helping advance approaches that improve outcomes for some of the most medically fragile patients. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and contributed to ongoing innovation in congenital heart surgery.
Dr. Greene completed her congenital cardiac surgery fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital and her cardiothoracic surgery residency at Stanford University. She is board certified in general surgery, thoracic surgery and congenital cardiac surgery, a notable distinction reflecting the breadth and depth of her surgical training and expertise.
“Dr. Greene’s arrival reflects our commitment to advancing pediatric heart care,” said Rady Children’s Regional President for Orange County, Kim Milstien. “She brings an exceptional level of surgical expertise, along with a deep commitment to improving care through research and innovation.”
Dr. Glen S. Van Arsdell, chief of the joint congenital heart program, added, “Dr. Greene’s background in complex congenital cardiothoracic surgery and outcomes-focused research will support the continued growth of this program and enhance our ability to care for children with the most complex heart conditions.”
In 2025, Rady Children’s Health in Orange County opened a 24-bed, 23,000-square-foot cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU), expanding capacity for children recovering from complex cardiac surgery and those requiring advanced cardiac monitoring and support. The CVICU provides around-the-clock, multidisciplinary care for high-acuity patients, including those requiring mechanical circulatory support and other advanced therapies. The organization is also enhancing and expanding its cardiac catheterization laboratories, further strengthening its ability to diagnose and treat a wide range of congenital and acquired heart conditions using minimally invasive techniques.
“I grew up in Southern California, and my goal has always been to come back and bring world- class care to the children and communities near and dear to my heart. It seems like the right moment to join the team and help make an impact,” shared Dr. Greene.
Rady Children’s Health in Orange County is part of Rady Children’s Health, one of the nation’s largest pediatric health systems, dedicated to advancing hope, health and healing for kids and families across Southern California and beyond.
