New combined healthcare system aims to transform pediatric care in Southern California
SAN DIEGO/ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. (Jan. 8, 2025) – Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) and Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego (Rady Children’s) announced today that the merger between their parent companies has closed, creating a new combined healthcare system called Rady Children’s Health.
Following a rigorous process that included approval by the California Office of the Attorney General, community hearings, and other regulatory reviews and approvals, the merger closed on Dec. 31, 2024. The first official day of Rady Children’s Health was Jan. 1, 2025.
CHOC and Rady Children’s announced merger plans in December 2023, after more than a decade of collaboration. Both approached the merger from positions of clinical excellence and financial strength, and with the goal of creating one of the nation’s most advanced pediatric healthcare systems dedicated to:
- improving patient outcomes in Southern California;
- accelerating research and innovation that lead to new treatments and cures;
- retaining and attracting top talent across all functions and specialties;
- increasing access to pediatric care;
- promoting health equity; and
- training the next generation of pediatric physicians and health care workers.
Kimberly Chavalas Cripe, who has served as the president and CEO of CHOC since 1997, and Patrick A. Frias, MD, who was appointed president and CEO of Rady Children’s in 2018, will be co-CEOs of Rady Children’s Health.
“This merger marks a pivotal moment in our organizations’ rich histories and highlights our commitment to achieving unparalleled excellence in patient care, education, research and advocacy,” says Cripe. “Together, we are poised to make an even greater impact on the health and well-being of children for generations to come.”
“Our shared vision puts children and their families first,” added Patrick Frias, MD. “Our goal is to ensure families have access to the very best practitioners, treatments and technology available in pediatric medicine.”
CHOC and Rady Children’s will build on their respective affiliations with the University of California and its medical schools at UC Irvine and UC San Diego—relationships that are vital to advancing pediatric research, training and education.
“Children require access to health care, from prevention to critical care, that is tailored to their unique needs and provided by specially trained clinicians in collaboration with families involved at every stage,” said Matthew Cook, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital Association. “By combining the strengths of two outstanding organizations, Rady Children’s Health will enhance access to top pediatric providers, and advocate for policies, practices and performance improvements that will benefit children and families throughout the region.”
Rady Children’s Health is comprised of three hospitals – CHOC Hospital in Orange, CHOC at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, and Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego – and a growing network of primary and specialty care centers spanning six counties.
Each hospital will maintain separate medical staff, local governing boards and onsite leadership to ensure they continue to meet the unique needs of their respective communities, while providing the new benefits of an integrated healthcare system.
Families and patients should expect no interruption to services or access to resources and will remain the decision-makers on where they bring their children for care. All hospitals, clinics and facilities will continue their daily operations as usual.
For more information about Rady Children’s Health, including career opportunities, visit radychildrens.org
Media Contacts:
Ben Metcalf (Rady Children’s Hospital)
(619) 822-8593
bmetcalf@rchsd.org
Denise Almazan (Children’s Hospital of Orange County
(714) 509-8680
pr@choc.org
About Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC)
Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), a nationally recognized pediatric healthcare system based in Orange County, California, is committed to being a leading destination for children’s health by providing exceptional and innovative care. CHOC’s community includes two state-of-the-art hospitals in Orange and Mission Viejo and a regional network of primary and specialty care clinics serving children and families. CHOC offers several clinical programs of excellence providing the highest levels of care for the most serious pediatric illnesses and injuries, physical and mental. CHOC’s research and innovation institutes are focused on translating real patient needs into real-world treatments so every child can live the heathiest and happiest life possible. In affiliation with the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, CHOC collaborates to train future physicians, future pediatric specialists, conduct groundbreaking research, and develop innovative care coordination to serve the children in our community. For more information, visit choc.org or find us @chocchildrens on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and You Tube.
About Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego
Ranked as one of the 10 best children’s hospitals in the nation by U.S. News and World Report for 2024-2025, Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego includes a 511-bed pediatric hospital that serves as the largest provider of comprehensive pediatric medical services in San Diego, southern Riverside, and Imperial counties. With more than 40 locations, Rady Children’s is the only health system in the San Diego area dedicated exclusively to pediatric health care and is the region’s only designated pediatric trauma center. Rady Children’s is a nonprofit organization that relies on donations to support its mission. For more information, visit rchsd.org and find us on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
About Rady Children’s Health
Rady Children’s Health (RCH), a premier pediatric healthcare system in Southern California, unites the trusted expertise of Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), distinguished as a Leapfrog Top Hospital for quality and safety, and Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, ranked as one of the nation’s top 10 children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. With three hospitals, a growing network of primary and specialty care centers spanning six counties, and the region’s only Level 1 pediatric trauma centers, RCH is a trusted partner for families seeking safe, high-quality care. Building on a combined legacy of more than a century of clinical excellence, RCH is dedicated to advancing children’s health through leading-edge research, innovative treatments and compassionate care. For more information, visit radychildrens.org.
